If you think your art is ugly it’s ok you are not alone. In this post, I will discuss why we think our art is ugly and what to do about it so we can move on and paint our best art. We have and can paint beautifully. Ok, let’s get rid of the noise and on to the music!

Do you find yourself scrolling through and admiring an artist’s work? Carrie Schmitt and Suzanne Allard mix lovely colors and paint beautiful flowers. I feel like yes I have my style too. I have painted beautiful flowers. Then I get out my supplies and with high hopes, I paint.

I am painting. Wonderful ideas are there. Then out of nowhere doubt appears. Should I have done that? Can I paint flowers?

I smudge wet paint. Dip my brush in a lovely pink. When my brush touches the paper I realize there is a little leftover green on the brush. My bright painting becomes muddy. Oh, but I keep working!

Dip my finger in the paint. I paint round shapes. At first, the finger strokes are soft. I keep layering. It doesn’t look right. I keep layering by adding brighter colors. The strokes are more detailed. It’s blue, then orange. Suddenly, I take a breath. Out with the noise and in comes, we go this! Sound familiar?

This is a summary of my process. Painting is a beautiful process!

Here are the reasons why you probably think your art is ugly

There is Only Make

During your painting process, there can only be you and the idea. Oh, and the tools you need to bring your idea to life. The number one reason why we think our work is ugly is because we are not fully in the process. We judge as we create. Some artists say your work will go through an awkward phase or call them happy mistakes. I am with Corita Kent who says that none of that thinking should exist because there is only make.

Keep Working

At the beginning of this post, I described my process. Three times I thought I was done. For some reason, this painting kept saying no you’re not. I had to keep going. Once I let go of comparing and doubt, magic happens. I say this all the time, so proud when I get to create with children because they just do what they do unapologetically. So embrace the mess because that is what beauty is.

You Have Skills. Paint Like It!

Your painting doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s. It shouldn’t because your art is you and their art is them.

Listen to you. There is a voice within you that knows. This is the voice that knows love and peace. Love your art because you made it. Love your art because the process satisfies the soul. Keep making art. Along with the process being the most important rule, listening to your voice is an important rule too. The more that you surrender to the process and be there for the sake of making art because it warms your soul, you’ll be distracted from the noise. And that is where the magic happens.

So here’s to being an active painter and enjoying the process. Don’t impress. Make a mess. Maybe you’re making art that is on trend and you don’t like that. Don’t paint it then. You know the art that you make because you want to? That is what you should be making.

With Love, Mireya