Have you ever only spent time on art projects because you knew other people were going to see them? Have you created piece after piece as a gift for others but can never seem to put the same creative effort into art that only you will see?
Art is a gift
I love giving my art as a gift to others and seeing the smile on their faces that my art brings. Art is truly a way to unify people and giving your art to others is a way to show your love for them. Giving people your artwork feels like you're giving a tiny part of your heart to them too, as most artists pour their heart into their drawing. I personally can spend hours on a single card, because I never feel like the gifts I create are quite the way I want them. Either the color is slightly off, the lettering doesn't look right, or it needs one more coat of paint. I constantly am worried that the art I make for other people isn't good enough to give to them. So, I continue working on pieces for HOURS until I finally feel satisfied. I am so proud of the artwork I have given to others, and I always hope that it brightens their day when they look at it.
There are several reasons why it may be easier for you to make art for others. It may be because you know the person you are giving the art to and may want to make it worthy of their admiration. Even if you aren't making a gift, you could feel pressured to make art pieces for the audience and not yourself. Art lends itself to connecting with an audience, so making art just for yourself may feel selfish. Art is constantly being shown off in galleries, book covers, billboards, it's literally all around us! So, it's only natural to feel like you need to create for others. Creating for others is amazing and it gives us a sense of belonging, but there are also downsides of just creating art for others.
The downsides
Making art just for others may mean that you never experiment with art styles and stay inside your comfort zone because you want the art piece to be your best work. Art is about pushing the boundaries, but when it comes to making art for other people there is a terrifying feeling of failure. This means if you just create for others that you may be slowly lose the joy that drew you to make art in the first place. I personally put so much thought into the art I create for others and feel like I never put that much effort into piece that I'm just going to hang in my room that will eventually end up in a drawer.
Although art is great to use as a gift, it is also important to spend time on artwork that only you will see. Art is very personal, as no two drawings will look exactly the same. You bring different techniques, a new perspective, and a unique style to your art that no one else can bring. Because of how personal art can be, it's important to spend time creating art just for yourself as an artist. Spending time on yourself is important, both in art and life in general. If you were baking a cake for yourself, you wouldn't undercook it just because you're the only one who will eat it. So don't undercook your art. It's okay to spend a long amount of time on an art piece that only you will see.
Creating for myself
Before this year, I didn't have any watercolor paintings that I made just for myself and my enjoyment, so I decided to start on one. This painting took me months to finish and there were some days where I wanted to work on it for several hours straight. Then there were other days where I did a couple minutes of line work and moved on to other tasks. It's okay to vary in the time you spend creating art as long as you are enjoying yourself!
Putting time into creating art just for yourself can be extremely gratifying. I am so proud of my artwork and am planning on framing it in my room. I started this piece months ago with nothing but an idea in my head and I created this piece. It was a long and hard journey, especially making everything bird's eye view, but it was worth it. Making art for others can be a fantastic experience, and I always love seeing their face when I show them my art. However, knowing that this art piece is just mine and mine alone brings me so much joy. It reminds me how far I've come in my art journey and how far I've come in taking care of myself and putting myself first.
I hope this piece has inspired you to go take some time for yourself. That doesn't even have to be creating for yourself. It could be cooking, talking a walk, even showering. Just do something just for yourself because you truly do deserve it. We all do. Thanks for coming with me on this crazy adventure and I hope we all can conquer our dragons. (That was cheesey, I know). See you next time!
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