Being an artist is an ongoing evolution. It is a life path with moments of total bliss and moments of complete frustration. When I reflect back on what I’ve learned so far, I can see some things that–now knowing what I know–I wouldn’t consciously do again. Here are the….

10 Biggest Mistakes I’ve made as an Artist

 

1.Comparing myself with others.

I made this mistake for years!  Comparison is detrimental to the creative spirit; it shrinks power. Being your own authority strengthens true power and unleashes your creative genius.

2. Selling before I was ready to sell. 

This was a big mistake! I felt the pressure to make money, so I sold art before I had fully “been” with it. Now, I honor my own process and let the art go once I’ve had enough time with it.

3. Lowering my prices because I was afraid no one would buy.

Ouch!  This is a painful mistake. This is more about limiting beliefs than anything.  The greatest damage comes when we let our unconscious, limiting beliefs run our lives.  The way I cleared this mistake was by investing in myself and seeking help to clear my limiting beliefs.

4. Keeping it all to myself.

I have two storage rooms full of ART!  Now I can see that it is a mistake to keep it all tucked away, I need to let my art out more.  It is easy to keep our art all to ourselves, but we need to remember we are channels for divine creative spirit. It is our responsibility to share what flows through us.

5. Assuming people wouldn’t get it.

This mistake stunted many connections and blocked many opportunities for me. I wouldn’t bother talking about my art because I thought it was going to be a hassle because they probably wouldn’t understand anyway. As an artist, part of our job includes educating and enlightening others about our art.

6. Feeling ashamed about the way I spend my time.

As an artist, there is a lot of time spent doing absolutely nothing. I used to feel ashamed about this because I thought I was supposed to be productive.  Now I understand how important “nothing time” is to the creative process.

7. Skimping

Sometimes I would buy really cheap supplies because I didn’t want to waste money. Then I would be upset that I created a masterpiece painting on a cheap canvas.  It is a mistake to skimp on your art. Now I make sure I have quality supplies for everything I create.

8. Seeking validation

Looking to others to tell me if something was good or not weakened me as an artist.  Only when I decided I was in charge of my own value and worth did my creativity really take off.

9. Thinking locally

My art career started locally, which was a blessing. My mistake was staying local for too long.  Now I see the importance of reaching a much wider audience. The Internet has made it possible for me to go beyond this mistake.

10. Forgetting the people!

Although art is often a solitary process, it isn’t complete until it has been connected and shared with people.  I made the mistake of thinking my art was just for me, when in truth, spirit moves through me to serve a greater purpose.  When I forget the people, I forget my purpose.

Recognizing mistakes liberates us from them.

What mistakes have you made that you can learn from?

Today you can start fresh.  Let your biggest mistakes guide you to your power and purpose by claiming the teachings they offer.

What is one mistake you would like to acknowledge and release?