COLUMNIST
ABOVE Laura
Boswell, Road to
Rosedale, Evening
Light, woodblock,- 5 x 1 9 c m
When you are working, do you give
your art the attention it deserves?
When you do get the opportunity to
focus on your creativity, away from
distractions and obligations, do you
give it your full attention and apply
yourself the best you can? Again, I’m
guessing, but I bet you can get lost
in your art for hours and there never
seems as much creative time as you
wouldlike.Maybeyoufindarttrickyat
timesandfrustrating,butsomehow
youalwayscomebacktoit andkeep
trying,right?Thoseallsoundlikethe
characteristicsofa dedicatedworker,
goodattheirjobanddoingtheirbest.
Acceptthatyoumaynotalways
makethebestjudge.Self-doubtcan
havea fielddaywithfinishedworkif
youletyourselfbetheonlyjudgeand
jury.Makingartis intenselypersonal,
requiringyourfocusanddecision
makingeverystepoftheway,it
leavesyoutooclosetoseethe
finishedpieceobjectively.That’swhy
otheropinionsaresouseful,provided
youlistenashardtothegood
commentsasthebad.
Thenexttimesomeonepointsout
thepositivesinyourwork,shovethat
self-doubttooneside.Dothemthe
justiceofbelievingtheirwordsand
acceptthatmaybeyouaren’tsuch
animposterafterall.
Lauraco-hostsa podcast,AskanArtist.
Listentonewepisodesatwww.
artistsandillustrators.co.uk/askanartistThe more creative we are, the
more likely we are to have
imposter syndrome
Banishing self-doubt is easy if you think
hard about how and why you make art
saysourcolumnist LAURABOSWELLArtist
The Working
D
o you suffer from imposter
syndrome? That slight itch
that suggests that everyone
else – those with the talent, skills and
know-how – is enjoying a party
somewhere while you aren’t quite good
enough for the guest list. I certainly
feel it and perhaps you do too?
Research papers point out that the
more creative we are, the more likely
we are to have imposter syndrome.
While I like to see imposter syndrome
as a badge of creativity, there are
times when self-doubt needs taming.
Here are a few thoughts to help banish
those niggles – temporarily, at least.Firstly, think about why you make
art. My guess is that you do it
because it means something to you.
It might be a passion or a mildly
enjoyable pastime. It could be that
it allows you to socialise. It may get
your message out to the world.
Perhaps it makes you an income
and pays the bills? Maybe it is
educational or therapeutic.
These are all universal, valid
reasons for making art. They
absolutely justify your place at the
creative table. I promise you there is
no secret society of artists who work
for other, more justifiable purposes.