We all struggle some days. Self-doubt creeps in. We wonder if we will ever be good enough. Will people like us? Will people like what we produce? It’s those days that we all need some encouragement. So read this if you need inspiration.
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If you’ve been reading this blog for any length of time then you know I draw a lot of inspiration from Vincent van Gogh. I think you can too. I love the recent book Vincent van Gogh ∼ Creative Inspiration. The book shares his thoughts (culled from his letters) on creativity, daily work, doubt, and even inspiration among other topics. Each quote is juxtaposed not with one of his famous paintings but with a sketch or drawing. His practice. I think his words can give all of us the encouragement and inspiration that we need.
Why We Must Create
Anyway, it’s not a bad idea for you to want to become an artist, because if one has fire in one and soul,
one can’t keep stifling them and–one would rather burn than suffocate. What’s inside must get out.
Don’t you feel that way about your art? Whether it’s painting or writing or photography or filmmaking. There is something that you feel you must create. It needs to come out and see the light of day. What we do matters to us and first, we must get it out. You’ve probably known this since you were a child.
When We Falter On The Path
If something in you says “you aren’t a painter,” IT’S THEN THAT YOU SHOULD PAINT…
Feeling inadequate happens to everyone. Even great painters. Although he created over 800 paintings, drawings, and sketches, van Gogh only sold one painting during his lifetime. He struggled with doubt and mental illness throughout and yet he kept drawing and painting. And when self-doubt crept in, he continued to paint because that is the way you become a painter.
What To Do When We Are Blocked
One becomes a painter by painting.
But the way to do it better later is to do it as well as one can today, there can’t be anything but progress tomorrow.
I believe so strongly in your artistic ability that to me you’ll be an artist
as soon as you pick up a brush or a piece of chalk and, clumsily or not clumsily, make something.
The only thing to do is to do. Pick up the brush or the chalk or the pen and put something, anything on paper. That’s how you start. That’s how you progress. The only way to do better tomorrow is to do something today. Do it badly today in order to do it better tomorrow. You can only be a painter by painting and a writer by writing.
You Must Practice Your Craft
Through working hard, old chap, I hope to make something good one day. I haven’t got it yet, but I’m hunting it and fighting for it,
I want something serious, something fresh – something with soul in it! Onward, onward.
When he wasn’t painting, van Gogh was still working. He was drawing and sketching. He would sketch out a painting to get the details the way he wanted them before he started painting. He drew hands over and over again in order to get them right. This practice, these drawings were just as important to his work as the final product was. It takes practice to get better.
It’s OK To Change
Last year I painted almost nothing but flowers to accustom myself to a colour other than grey,
that’s to say pink, soft or bright green, light blue, violet, yellow, orange, find red.
Many people don’t realize that when van Gogh first started painting, he painted drab, grey pictures. It was the style of the Dutch Masters of his time. Potato Eaters is one famous painting from that time period. But he showed that it was possible to change his style and he did this by practicing, by getting used to using brighter colors. If you don’t like the work that you’re currently doing, maybe it’s time to change it up and do something new.
I hope that you found something here that will inspire you and give you encouragement along the way. I highly recommend Vincent van Gogh ∼ Creative Inspiration. It’s a book that I keep handy. I originally bought it in the Kindle version but loved it so much I bought the Hardcover version. It’s small enough and light enough to drop into your bag when you think you might need some inspiration on the road. And if you have any specific creative concerns that I haven’t addressed, please let me know.
I think it’s so true that the more you do something, the better you get and the more you discover what’s right for you and what reflects your true soul. The more I blog, the more in touch I get with what I want to say and how I want to say it. I love that creativity never runs dry – it ebbs and flows but is still there when we dig for it.
I love that about creativity too. Yes, some days we’re not feeling it, but other days it flows. And on the days that I’m not feeling it, I still have my Morning Pages to fall back on. They are my practice.
I keep reading about Morning Pages – it seems to be a favourite with a lot of bloggers. I still keep a paper journal but only write in it once a week. Maybe when I retire I’ll look into doing something every day and see what it does to my writing.
Thanks for linking up to #MLSTL and I’ve shared this on my SM xx
I think morning pages helps to clean up the crap. It certainly helps to focus me. Without them, I’m all over the place.
When I first started selling my artwork I was so filled with self-doubt. Your first para had it about right! Then when I started to blog, who would have any interest in what I have to say? LOL. It gets better over time and as you find your niche… I think …
Yes! It does get better over time. And most likely, as you pointed out, it’s because we’ve found that perfect topic that belongs to us to write or paint, our niche.
Love how you used Van Gogh as the example, but that it can apply to any creative endeavor. Creativity takes work and persistence, but it worth it. I keep plodding along with my blogging and sometimes I even feel inspired!
I’m such a Van Gogh fan and read almost anything about him. When I saw the title of the book and then read it I realized how it all related. Creativity is different for everyone. But the key things are the same.
I have a book of Van Gogh’s letters but not this one of his creative inspiration. It sounds like just what I need right now. I love the quotes you’ve selected, and how brilliant that the book is of practice pieces rather than finished work. Thanks for sharing. #MLSTL
I’m glad that you enjoyed the post. I think what I loved most about the book were the drawings and sketches because they showed how even masters have to practice…and practice…and practice.
Some great inspiration here today, thank you. Sometimes it’s so easy to fall into self doubt and wallow in the mire. I like the quote, “If you’re a painter, you must paint.” It says a lot about perserverence and just believing in oneself.
I love that quote too and since the 70’s I’ve always had the similar quote “Writers write” on my wall.
Thanks for the inspiration this morning Jennifer. I love all of these quotes and the messages behind them. I especially love the idea that the cure to feeling blocked is to practice your craft and be willing to do it badly at times. It reminds me of the quote, “If you wish to be a writer, write.”
I like that too. The only way to cure any block is to do that thing in which you are blocked whether it’s painting or writing or whatever. Even if your attempts are bad, bad writing is better than no writing because bad writing can be edited. There is nothing to edit when you don’t write at all. I have a quote similar to that on my wall. It simply says, “Writers write.”
Hi Jennifer, thanks for linking up at #MLSTL. Yes, I needed inspiration and Yes, you provided that. You may have read before that I’ve always felt I wasn’t creative because of an offhanded comment said to me years ago. I know realise that yes, I am creative but still have those doubts. I would love to paint but again the voice of ‘I can’t even draw a stick figure’ comes to mind. I am putting that creative pursuit on my list of things I would like to try, thanks to you. Have a beautiful day and thanks for the inspiration.
Sue from Sizzling Towards 60 & Beyond
Sue, thanks for stopping by and it made my day to read that you’re crediting me with reminding you that you are creative. Because you already are so creative, I see it in everything you do on your blog!
I believe the more you do something the better you get at it. I have always wanted to write but thus far I haven’t gotten any better.
Thanks Jennifer. I am always on the lookout for inspiration, as I find that all the creative things I want to do (mainly writing-related) overwhelm me at times, so I end up doing nothing, rather than the practice that you and Van Gogh talk about! I love Van Gogh–thrilled to have seen originals in Paris and the National Gallery in Ottawa–so perhaps he can return the favour and move me to do the work!!
For the longest time I would do nothing as well. Almost paralyzed from fear of sharing what was inside me. It took morning pages from The Artist Way just to get me into the habit of writing anything. I restarted them recently and figure that if all I do today is write my morning pages then at least I wrote something.
Van Gogh is right! I’ve procrastinated all my life about sketching and writing ….. just a dabbler off and on. Now in retirement it’s full steam ahead. And you know what? I’ve literally surprised myself with what comes out of me. Why did I wait so long! ? Thank you for the inspiring post on #MLSTL. I’ll be sharing!
http://www.meinthemiddlewrites.com
Thanks for stopping by Mary Lou. I feel the same way about waiting so long. But now that I’ve started I have no intention of stopping.
Hi Jennifer,
Enjoyed reading this. When we do something creative, it sort of activates a number of faculties within us: physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual.
I particularly liked this portion of your post: “The only thing to do is to do. Pick up the brush or the chalk or the pen and put something, anything on paper. That’s how you start. That’s how you progress. The only way to do better tomorrow is to do something today. Do it badly today in order to do it better tomorrow.”
This is really inspirational. Thank you.
(Came here via MLSTL. Shared this post on social media.)
— Pradeep | bpradeepnair.blogspot.com
Pradeep, I’m so glad my writing made a connection for you. Thank you for stopping by my blog!
Jennifer, you would love Amsterdam 🙂 Sorry not sure if you have visited there or not? Enjoyed the post and it was very inspirational!
I have not visited there yet, but it is on my list!
Love this post! As an author I struggle with self doubt. Especially now that I’m taking my writing to the next level, but I keep writing! 🙂
And that’s the whole key. Keep writing, self-doubt and all.
I love that you pop the book into your bag and take it with you as inspiration- now that’s inspiring. Love your wiring and Van Gogh’s too ?
Thanks Deb and thanks for stopping by while your biking around the world! 🙂
This is a great post lots of useful advice and inspiration!!
I sometimes get blocked when it comes to writing so will remember these tips.
I hope they help!