Six Stereotypes that Block your Artist Self

By: Katie Curtin Click author's name for more of his/her articles

Stereotypes may be getting in the way of you being as creative as you are capable of being. Start questioning some of the myths and assumptions you've heard all your life about artists and you will be on your way to releasing your creative energies and talents.

These are some beliefs that may be getting in your way.

1. I bet you've heard that to be an artist you have to sacrifice your desires for economic security.I heard this at home, and my parents were both talented and successful artists.

2. How many times do we think of artist's as happy, contented people. It's often thought that the greater sensitivity that many artists show
necessarily means that they are doomed to unhappiness.

3. While many of the arts involve a collaborative effort, our predominant cultural stereotype is of the lone artist struggling by him or herself. Often this comes along with the idea of the artist as an outcast or rebel.

4. On the other hand, there is often a mystique about being creative. It's often thought that artists are somehow special, and have abilities that most people can't access. It is often assumed that you have to have artistic genes to be creative. Art becomes a spectator sport with only the cultural elite having the right to participate.

5. Another belief is that if you are a “real” artist, you spend all your time dedicated to your art. If you must take another job, it is low paying work like waiting on tables, work which you will quit when you “make it”

6. Even if you are a full time artist, you may think that you can only excel in one field. We are told that we have to specialize and focus, and it is often assumed we can’t excel at many forms.

If all these stereotypes about art-making aren’t enough to discourage you from doing it, your early experiences with the creative process may. Maybe you were criticized in second grade for the way you sang in choir, or weren't picked for the role you coveted in the school play. Or somebody in your family or a friend said you had no talent in the arts.

Or maybe you are just plain scared of the vulnerability that the artistic process opens up. You might think that it's way too stressful or difficult to be worth it. After all, performing or having our work up in front of people can be extremely frightening. We risk criticism and even public humiliation if we fail.

Given these stereotypes and fears, it’s no accident that most of us have difficulties following our creative dreams and urges. We concentrate on bread and butter issues and often wind up trying to consume our way to happiness. However, this is very rarely satisfying. While we may be more affluent, we certainly don’t feel like we are living fulfilled lives. When we give up our artistic impulses and desires, we become increasingly separated from a vital source of happiness and energy.

In order to release the endless fount of creativity and artistic abilities that lie in each of us, we must break the spell these stereotypes hold over us. We do this both by standing back and realizing that our belief systems are simply beliefs, not eternal truths, and by finding techniques to dispel their power.

Article Source: ABC Article Directory

About The Author: Katie Curtin has many years of experience as a professional theatre artist, writer and life coach. She works with modern renaissance souls and creative entrepreneurs, helping them to develop their creative gifts, and to develop a lifestyle that incorporates their many passions. You can get more information, and obtain a copy of her free report by going to => www.katiecurtin.com