Dear Amber,
How is the art-making coming? Making progress? Still doubting yourself? I've seen what you can do, how far you've come since you started, and I think you can push yourself even farther! The potential to be really great is there, if only you could stop worrying and concentrate on making. I know it's hard when you compare yourself to other artists, but you just have to let them motivate you, rather than discourage you. No one makes perfect art all the time, if there is such a thing. What one person thinks looks amazing, another will think is utter garbage. So you can't depend on approval and acceptance with your artwork. Sure, you need to be noticed and liked to make it in this industry, but you need to make art for YOU. What do you like in a piece of art? What attracts you? What repels you? Don't copy anyone's style. You can learn from what others have done in the past, but ultimately, you need to find your own unique voice.
I know it's easy to be distracted by books, TV, the Internet, etc., and it's so much easier to save things for later rather than working on something right now. But right NOW is the only time you can do anything. If you keep putting off your artwork, you'll never know what you can do, or what you're good at. The only way to become an artist is to BE an artist. You know what they say (and I know you hate this saying, but it does work), "Fake it 'till you make it!"
Start taking yourself more seriously. Don't dismiss everything you make as "boring, stupid, or uncreative". Someone might actually want to buy that "boring, stupid, uncreative" piece! And, trust me, nothing you make is as bad as you think it is. Just think how good you'd be if you stopped caring what people might think of your art. The pieces where you cared less and just drew, painted, sculpted, etc., ended up better than anything you spent hours planning and conceptualizing.
Okay? Now, get back to work!
-Sol Lewitt
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