The Artist Comparison Trap: A Common Struggle
As artists, we are constantly bombarded with images of other people’s work, whether it’s on social media, in galleries, or on display in public spaces. It’s easy to fall into the trap of constantly comparing ourselves to others and feeling like we’ll never measure up. But the truth is, there is room for everyone in the art world. In this post, we’ll explore the harm in constantly comparing ourselves to others, the importance of embracing our unique voice, and the power of community in finding success and fulfilment as an artist. So, let’s put down the microscope and start focusing on our own art and growth.
The Harm of Comparing Yourself to Others
When we constantly compare ourselves to other artists, it can be easy to fall into the trap of feeling like we’ll never measure up. We might look at someone’s work and think, “I’ll never be as good as that,” or “Why even bother trying?” This kind of thinking can be incredibly damaging to our creativity and motivation. It can make us feel like we’re not good enough to be an artist, and that’s not true.
The constant comparison can also lead to feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt. We might start to question our own abilities and wonder if we’re cut out for this field. This kind of negative thinking can be incredibly harmful, and it can stop us from even starting a project, let alone finishing it. The truth is, every artist has their own unique voice and perspective, and that’s something to be celebrated, not compared. We should focus on our own art and growth, rather than constantly trying to measure up to others.
Embrace Your Unique Voice
Finding your own style as an artist and not comparing yourself to others is important. One way to do this is by trying out different ways of creating art, like using different materials or subjects. This can help you find what you are most excited about and what makes your art special. It’s also good to embrace your own imperfections and quirks because they make your art unique.
Another way to find your own voice is by looking inside yourself and thinking about your own experiences, feelings, and point of view. This can help you make art that is honest and meaningful to others. It’s important not to compare yourself to others and focus on your own journey as an artist. Every artist’s path is different, so it’s good to trust the process and let your art change over time.
The Importance of Community
As artists, it can be easy to feel like we’re working in a vacuum. But the truth is, making art is not just about the act of creating, it’s also about connection. Building a community of other artists can be incredibly powerful. When we surround ourselves with people who understand what we’re going through and can offer support, encouragement, and feedback, we’re better able to overcome the comparison trap and find inspiration and motivation. Having a community of other artists can also be a great way to learn new techniques, get feedback on our work, and grow as an artist. But most importantly, it allows us to connect with others who share the same passion, and it helps us to not feel isolated.
When we’re part of a community, we have the opportunity to learn from others, share our own knowledge, and collaborate on projects. This can be incredibly fulfilling and can lead to new opportunities that we never would have considered otherwise. A supportive community can be an invaluable resource for you, helping you to overcome the comparison trap, find connections, and find success and fulfilment in your work.
Practical Steps for Success and Fulfillment
The artist comparison trap is a common struggle, but it doesn’t have to be. To overcome it, we can take practical steps such as:
- Mindfulness practices: Practices like prayer, meditation and keeping a journal can help you focus on the present moment and let go of negative thoughts and comparisons. I often just pause and ask God for peace.
- Positive affirmations: Using positive phrases or mantras can help change negative thoughts and beliefs, which can help to reduce feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt. I find something as simple as cutting off negative thoughts by saying aloud, “It’s okay,” or “I can do this, one thing at a time,” helps me a lot.
- Time management: Setting specific times for social media use and limiting the amount of time spent looking at other artists’ work can help reduce feelings of comparison and inadequacy. I enjoy taking a break from Facebook or Instagram to keep a clearer mind throughout the day and have fewer images in my brain to process when I sleep. Try it out, and see how it feels.
- Support groups: Joining a group of other artists can provide a supportive environment where individuals can share their experiences and learn from each other. See if there is an art society in your area. Nothing beats face-to-face conversations. When I was a teenager, I used to go to a community art group held at our local church. I must’ve been the youngest there. Everyone else was retired but that also meant they had so much experience and wisdom to share with me.
- Therapy or coaching: Talking with a therapist or coach can provide an opportunity to explore deeper feelings of comparison and inadequacy and develop strategies to overcome them.
- Practice gratitude: Regularly writing down things you are grateful for can help shift your focus away from negative thoughts and comparisons to things you are grateful for in your life and in your art.
- Setting realistic goals: Having clear goals and working towards them practically can help you focus on your own growth and progress rather than getting caught up in comparing yourself to others. I have to write my goals and ideas down in notebooks and refer to them daily, otherwise, I’ll feel overwhelmed by the backlog of creativity in my mind and get nothing done.
By taking these steps we can overcome the artist comparison trap and find success and fulfilment in our work. Remember, making art is not just about the act of creating, it’s also about connection, so let’s make sure to connect with others and not isolate ourselves.
You got this!
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Share your thoughts:
How do you currently handle comparisons in your own creative process, and what steps can you take to shift your perspective and focus on your own growth and development as an artist? Let’s encourage each other in the comments!
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”
– James 1:17
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Good stuff. Yeah for me I think putting down the phone when I need to focus and just get on with what I’m doing. I spend a lot of time on instagram when I should just go paint!