The Confident Artist Intro: Creativity & Courage

“Creativity takes courage.”

- Henri Matisse

 A Common Question

I had just locked the storage room door and was walking out of my studio when a woman caught my attention. She had come in and wanted to find out more about my painting classes. After I gave her the schedule, she asked, “But what if I really don’t know what I’m doing?”

I hear that a lot. The words might be different, but the underlying questions are the same: Do I have what it takes? Am I good enough to be creative? Am I creative enough to be good?

The Need For Courage

Whether it is voiced or not, I believe we all deal with insecurities when it comes to artistic pursuits. Perhaps that’s why the French painter, Henry Matisse, famously said, “Creativity takes courage.”

So, that’s what this is about. I’m writing this to encourage you, or as the word is defined, to “inspire [you] with courage.”

 We’ve All Been There

Here’s the truth. Whether you’ve been painting for two months or twenty years, there are always those days when you feel like you suck at it.

A couple years ago, I was teaching a plein air workshop. The morning was clear and bright. I set up to paint a beautiful ivy-covered barn, dappled in sunlight. Students pulled up chairs in a semi-circle around me, and I introduced what I would be working on. I was feeling good. Then I started painting.

Wanting To Run Away



Have you had a situation you wanted to flee, but there was nowhere to go? That was how I felt thirty minutes into my painting. I felt like a deer in headlights. Nothing seemed to be working in my painting. My composition didn’t look good. I was having a hard time with colors. What started out as a simple, fun demonstration was quickly derailing into a disaster. I was tense, and inside I could tell my confidence in painting had almost completely disappeared. I was miserable, and I was surrounded by students who were waiting to see something good happen. It was awful.

Ruts Are Easy

It doesn’t take much to get stuck in a bad frame of mind. Maybe you’re there right now. Maybe you’re constantly second-guessing yourself. Maybe you just can’t seem to paint what you see in your mind. Maybe you’re making one bad painting, in your opinion, after another and can’t figure out what to change. You look around at other painters, and they're all creating masterpieces while you consider burning yours.

You Have What It Takes

But somehow, you’re here. And you know what? I am so excited to be able to encourage you. Because no matter the state of your mind right now, trust me. You have what it takes to be a good painter.

Just like so many things, the most important factor in our success is what is happening between our ears. I am confident you have what it takes, but the question is do you believe you have what it takes to be a good painter? As Henry Ford said, “Whether you think you can, or think you can’t – you’re right.”

Fake It ’Til You Make It



(Back to my story.) So, there I was: tense, feeling intimidated, painting in front of a group of students, lacking vision, lacking confidence, and wanting to run away. Every thought was so negative. Suddenly, I thought, “Why am I so miserable?” The day was still clear and bright. I was healthy. Standing outside doing something most people would dream to do. Why was I being so negative?

I decided to make a change in my thinking. It was forced at the start. I started thinking and saying phrases like, “This is fun!” “I’m really enjoying this!” “Isn’t this great?!” And you know what started happening? I started feeling the words I was thinking and saying. On top of that, I also started feeling much better about my painting – even to the point that I was excited about it again.

It Actually Changed Things



Experiences like the one described have helped me see how important it is to think correctly. My whole perception of the situation changed when I changed my thoughts. I went from being negative and not wanting to be there to being excited about my painting and happy to share that experience with the students. My painting even turned out better because of my attitude change.

Now I’m not suggesting that by simply thinking or saying, “This is a masterpiece I’m working on,” we will automatically create beautiful, museum-quality works of art. No, there’s more to our journey than just changing our thoughts. However, if we don’t replace the negative thoughts that all-too-easily creep into our heads, we will end up short-circuiting our endeavors to grow.

 Training for Growth



The great news is that you can train your mind away from this black hole thinking and toward real success. You can move in the direction of growth and vibrant confidence. That’s why I wrote this. I want you to fully realize who you can be as you express your creative self. There is only one you, and I’m thrilled to see where you end up.

 “Blessed are they who see beautiful things in humble places where other people see nothing.”

- Camille Pissarro