Episode 45 - Overcome Artistic Anxiety (With Clayton Barton)

If there’s one thing that holds us back creatively, its artistic anxiety. In this episode of the HTDC Podcast you’ll learn what it is, why it happens and what to do about it. For the most part, thinking too much is to blame. In the beginning we start out with the best of intentions, pondering the next grand idea we intend to realize. In our mind we figure out every detail it’ll entail, bringing it into focus with sharper clarification before pencil ever goes to paper. Then it begins to ferment. Now that we’ve built that idea up so much in our head, the train of thought transitions into worry. A state of nervousness at the sheer scale of the task we’ve set for ourselves. Because as we dwell on an idea, it grows, and sometimes it grows so much that it becomes a monster. It’s at this point the perfect storm occurs and anxiety is bred. From that a reluctance comes about as we put that project we were once so excited about off for as long as we can hold out. We stall, and if we ever do eventually bite the bullet and get started on it, we’re dragging our heels the whole way. Of course overthinking things might not be the only cause of your artistic anxiety. There are plenty of insecurities and fears that are just waiting to catch you off guard and pull you into procrastination. Because doing nothing is much safer than facing the fear. For example, you might compare your level of skill to that of a pro that you consider to be far better. Trying to make your work meet an imaginary standard of elitism that you’ve set for yourself is one of the most sure fire ways to become paralysed. A good term for what we’re going to be talking about in this podcast episode is ‘analysis paralysis’ because that’s precisely what’s happening regardless of the cause of your artistic anxiety. At the end of the day it begins in the mind, and like a virus it spreads until you’re completely and utterly fatigued by it. Everything that’s holding you back, all that fear, nervousness and worry resides within you. So how do we overcome it? What’s the cure? There’s a profoundly simple solution to crushing artistic anxiety and getting back on track. If our worry and fear resides within the confines of the mind, then we must switch it off and force ourselves out onto the stage. I’m talking about less thinking and more doing. But here’s the key, you want to nip your negative, toxic trains of thought in the bud before they ever get a chance to prosper. Not all thoughts are bad. Some are certainly productive and getting clarity on your idea by fleshing it out in your mind first can aid you when it comes to putting it down on paper. However if they transgress into a more negative train of thought, that’s when your will to begin the project weakens. The worst part is that if you try to work in this less than optimal state of mind, you’ll probably end up producing subpar work. You won’t enjoy the experience of actually realizing your idea, and so those negative feelings, that anxiety will become anchored to the act. That means the very thing you love to do becomes the thing you fear most. In this episode I’ll share my insights and give you some suggestions as to how you can pull yourself out of this awful rut if you’ve found yourself in such a place. I hope that you get a ton of value out of it and that it truly does help you out. Thanks for listening, and until next time keep on creating and keep on practicing! -Clayton If you liked this podcast episode, show your support by commenting, sharing or subscribing. Comic Art Community - https://www.howtodrawcomics.net/comic-art-community/ How to Draw Comics .NET - http://www.howtodrawcomics.net/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/howtodrawcomics/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/howtodrawcomics Twitter - https://twitter.com/howtodrawcomics Tumblr - http://howtodrawcomics.tumblr.com/ Pinterest - http://www.pinterest.com/howtodrawcomics/