7 Days to Better Paintings – Additional Lesson: The Fear of Failure (Continuation of Lesson 1)

7 Days to Better Paintings - Lesson 1 (bonus): Fear of Failure

Fear of Failure

A subscriber emailed in earlier:

“You forgot “fear of failure” as a roadblock”.

How could I forget! It is such a chronic problem for so many artists.

So, I quickly put together a simple addition to the first lesson.

I will start with a quote by Impressionist master, Camille Pissarro (read this before you continue).

"I have just concluded my series of paintings, I look at them constantly. I who made them often find them horrible. I understand them only at rare moments, when I have forgotten all about them, on days when I feel kindly disposed and indulgent to their poor maker. Sometimes I am horribly afraid to turn round canvases which I have piled against the wall; I am constantly afraid of finding monsters where I believed there were precious gems! Thus it does not astonish me that the critics in London relegate me to the lowest rank. Alas! I fear that they are only too justified! - However, at times I come across works of mine which are soundly done and really in my style, and at such moments I find great solace. But no more of that. Painting, art in general, enchants me. It is my life. What else matters?" Letter from Pissarro dated 20 November 1883 (recipient unknown)

If you are not familiar with Pissarro, you should check out my spotlight on him .

In short, he was a figurehead of Impressionism, brushed shoulders with other masters like Monet and Cézanne, and today his paintings are held in our most prestigious museums.

Many would consider this to be the principle of artistic success.

But, even HE had a chronic fear of failure.

There are two ways you could look at this.

One way—that you may never escape the fear of failure, no matter how great you become.

That sounds a bit depressing though doesn’t it?

The other way is to seek comfort in the idea that you are not alone. Even the great masters like Pissarro experience times of doubt. It is just part of the journey which we all share.

Kind regards

Dan Scott

drawpaintacademy.com