Dealing with Stress as an Artist

4 Points to Keep Art Fun

Surprisingly, dealing with stress as an artist is not uncommon, even more so if you make a living as a professional artist. Those deadlines make the difference between paying the bills or not. Anyone on the outside though might wonder why you have stress at all. Playing with paints and pencils, or sculpting clay all day sounds like fun!

The fact of the matter is, even student artists experience tons of stress. Multiple teachers, multiple assignments…I remember it all too well. Depending on the art school you attend, you may very well spend most of the term without sleep.

Stress can turn what you love doing into a chore. If you’re no longer having fun, what’s the point?

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That much pressure can make you forget why you started a career in art. Stress like that makes what you once loved seem like W-O-R-K. Not to mention that stress can cause any number of illnesses. In Arianna Huffington’s book Thrive, she relates her own experience with incredible success and being hospitalized for stress related injuries. Is that what success is all about? What good is it if you’re too burned out to enjoy it?

It is intensely stressful for student artists and rightly so. You are being prepped to make it as a professional artist. Know that your time as a student is temporary. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. If at all possible, take the time for rest and relaxation. Meditation can help keep you sane. Even 10-15 minutes can make a difference.

The four points highlighted here are all about you in the best ways possible. It might take a little thought, but it’s important to know who you are, what you like doing, and how you function best.

1. Do what you like. Stress as an artist is a real thing, especially if you’re trying to create something that doesn’t light you up inside. For professional artist, this means being very clear with yourself about the kind of work you accept. If it’s not fun for you, don’t make a habit of doing it. ……………………………………………………………………………
   

   You know yourself best. Don’t put too much of a time crunch on yourself if you don’t perform well under that type of pressure. (Photo Credit: 123RF.com Copyright: Igor Zakharevich)

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2. Time crunch. Some people work well under the pressure of a time crunch. I am one of those people. However, I don’t make it an impossible time crunch. If you don’t do well under pressure, make sure you and your client work out something within reason. ………………………….. ……………………………………………………………………………..
   

   Don’t forget to take time for yourself. Even if it’s just a 15 minute power nap. (Photo Credit: 123RF.com Copyright: szefei)

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3. Take time for yourself. Go for a walk or to the gym. Do yoga or tai chi. Meditate. Do some sketches just for you. Enjoy a cup of coffee or tea while reading a book. Or heck, just take a nap! However you prefer to take a break is up to you. The point is to step away from your work for brief periods of time. This one is actually more than a suggestion. It’s really essential.
4. There is no perfect. And saving the best for last, drop the idea that everything has to be perfect. We are our own worst critics and where we might see glaring mistakes, our clients are none the wiser. Remember that they are not artists and for the most part, don’t notice things that we do. They love the work anyway and you’ve stressed yourself out for nothing. That’s not to say you shouldn’t do your best. Just don’t drive yourself crazy trying to achieve the illusion of perfection. Lighten up a bit.

Dealing with stress as an artist is not rocket science. And thank the powers that be cuz rocket science would really be stressful! It’s really just about taking care of yourself. You know yourself better than anyone else. Stress comes when we don’t listen to that voice within, that inner wisdom. Honor what you like doing and how you work best and you’ll find that stress levels should drop significantly.

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