Recently, I have noticed that a fair amount of people seem to want to create things – be it art, music, literature or even culinary arts – purely for recognition of being good at something, rather than out of a genuine passion. That said, while it is completely natural to want to improve at something and be recognized for it, I cannot think why you would strive to become good at something you do not truly enjoy doing. While achieving proficiency in your passion and seeking recognition is important and natural, it shouldn’t be your sole motivation to engage with the activity.
Out of every book I have read, every movie or television show I have watched and every game I have played, the ones that have stood out the most to me are those that have clearly been made with passion. The amount of passion that a piece of art is made with bleeds through to its quality, and those that lack fervor do not reach the same level of quality as those that have it.
This is one of the many reasons that it is important to make things for yourself, rather than for commendation. It is worth noting that, as humans, we are a social species. It only makes sense to seek out validation for the things we create. I admit, I am guilty of this whenever I make a new drawing; I look forward to people saying I did a good job. But I do not draw because I want people to think I am talented. I primarily draw things for myself because I have the most fun drawing things from the media I enjoy. I allow myself to feel proud of the things I make, regardless of whether they are objectively good or not, because I know I have put effort into them.
Part of having an intrinsic motivation to make art and maintaining a healthy relationship with creating, involves allowing oneself to be proud of ones efforts. I stress this because I know of some friends who have posted art that they have made online and have struggled to gain traction, even on well-made pieces. This eventually led to them giving up on making art. The issue there is that gaining any sort of following takes quite a while. This is why popularity is one of the worst things you can have as a motivator.
I find it frustrating how many people do poorly at something and then give up, saying they just do not have what it takes. While they may think they are naturally untalented, it seems to me that they don’t actually care to put any effort in. Things are not always going to be perfect, especially not on the first try. It can really take a while before you get a feel for something.
Do not be mistaken; I can relate to being disappointed with the quality of one’s own work. “You are your own worst critic” is a popular saying for a reason. But good quality or not, you can always simply choose to not share what you made. A failed attempt is not the end of the world, and there is still an opportunity to see what parts you think you did well on and can apply that to the things you make in the future.
Not worrying too much about quality allows you to be experimental with whatever it is you are making – write from different perspectives, try different drawing techniques, try new sounds in music. Whatever it is, do not be afraid to do something new. I have had times where trying out a new technique to draw something yielded far greater results than things I have made before, and I continued to use those new techniques going forward. Overall, I think the most important thing a person can do is go where their passion takes them. Again, things do not have to be perfect, what matters is that you put effort into them. Do it for the love of it, rather than forcing yourself to do something you do not truly care for.
