Self-Doubt Usually Isn’t Your Fault - Why Artists Struggle

#artcareeradvice #selfdoubt #artmotivation #musicforpainting
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PAINTING APPS USED IN THIS VIDEO:
- ArtStudio Pro (iPad Pro)
- Photoshop (Desktop)
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DRAWING EQUIPMENT USED IN THIS VIDEO:
- Wacom Cintiq 27QHD
- M2 iPad Pro (2022 model)
- Wacom Intuos Pro
- MagFlott iPad Stand by CharJenPro

AUDIO EQUIPMENT
- Sennheiser MKH416 Shotgun Mic
- Sennheiser AVX MKE 2 Lav Mic
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VIDEO RESOURCES
All video motion graphics, intros and transitions are produced by MotionVFX
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ART RESOURCES
all artwork is produced using Adobe Photoshop

My drawing tablets of choice is the Wacom Cintiq

My portable tablet of choice is the iPad Pro 12.9"

Art Talk: (0:00)
Full Song - Obscurity by Artie Son: (36:14)

[lugiavn]

Even if I sometime don't believe in myself, I will believe in Adam, who believes in me.

[Numonique]

These art talks mean so much to me. They calm down and inspire and lift up all at the same time and are perfect to listen to in the background while working on my projects. Thank you so much Adam!

[ChakLok]

Thank you for keeping it real in the art community where it’s filled with gaslighting and putting the blame on the artist not only to put themselves up and to make you feel like shit

[daviddaveydave]

Came at the right time. For the past couple of weeks, I've been in a slump. Not only with art, but with my life in general. Nothing but depression and self-doubt. I feel so confused and lost. I don't know where to go. If I try to improve the motivation just lasts a week and I burn out. I make my fun projects way too ambitious. Even when I try to make them small and manageable, I always set myself up for disappointment. The list of problems I have is so long, and I don't know where to start with helping myself. It feels like I have nobody to talk to about it, no one to help me. But these videos have been helping me, and I appreciate your advice/mentorship with a burning passion. Thank you

[george-cristiansorinca]

wow, literally uploaded 1min ago. Adam is always there when you need him

[snowpanther]

Sometimes I wish I'd get that 'empty' praise. It's been years since anyone has said anything nice about me or the work that I make. Literally years. Every time I show someone my work, all they do is tear it to shreds and then say it's for my own good because compliments will stifle me not realizing that criticisms do far more harm than good. My family, friends and teachers have all told me that I will fail. Meeting other artists have not helped. Artists in my experience treat each other so horribly that I've started avoiding meeting them. I like my art but art is worthless if I'm the only one who likes it. I think that the focus on criticizing and being harsh and tough love is the most damaging things to people. It's hard to keep moving forward when there's no one to support you. It's hard to judge your worth when everyone tells you that your art is worthless. Me liking my own art doesn't mean that I can sell it. It's starting to feel as if I'm wasting my time

[ALSG-bekm]

I was literally feeling down cause of self doubt
Adam Duff is at it again with perfect timing

[shelbyjackson]

Adam stop, you're gonna make me cry man... You don't even know me and I feel like you understand me entirely. Thank you for taking the time to make these videos.

[gabudaichamuda]

I've been struggling with this for a while now. In my head, a lot of my most powerful ideas come from anger, hate, revenge, and sorrowful pain. In the same vein, that pain is screaming things like, *"You're too late now!"* *"The world is going to shit anyway; why bother?"* *"You're a monster, and you'll never be anything more than that."*

I've spent the last three out of five or so days at my job, crying my eyes out for one reason: *Being convinced I am not worth loving.* My parents didn't love me, the school system despised me.

Since I don't feel I am worth loving, I don't give myself what I want most: My art. Writing. Reading.

[nyanya]

I legit see you as papa artist always with the right words knowing what most of us are going trough, thank you for making these videos

[merullaart]

I would repeat myself many times if I could tell you how much you mean to me (and for others I see).
I am with you for more then 2 years - with your beautiful soul, voice, wisdom of life and art and in my darkest times of life your art talks keeped me alive. Really.

But today I want to share wisdom and help too.
As someone one who struggle with incurable bone disease and other "mental health" problems, I feel your pain. Literally.
It turned my life upside down many years ago but what I have learn from struggle (and from my love who is an alternative doctor)?

1) Everything happens for reason. Even things that seems like worst thing possible have good reason for you at the end. You don't know it yet but this will set you on right path.
2) Listen and take care of your body. It will tell your everything:
If your back hurts that means you carrying too much in life. If your legs hurt you need to slow down. If it is your head, you are thinking to much. And so on...
3) If left side of your body hurts thats mean you dont have resolved past. If it is right side you are worrying too much about uncertain future.
4) Be present and accept things as they are. Don't get angry or be sad about "bad" news. Dont worry about things you can not change. But if you can, change it.
5) Always listen to your intuition (!) because it will lead you on right place in right time. Dont try to logically find out what to do. Just let it flow otherwise you will go against your own nature (or fate if you wish).
6) Don't get frustrated from slow progress, you will get there when you (and your soul) will be ready because we need to learn much before next step in life.
7) Always help yourself first, then you can help others. Put your self on first place. It's not selfish. I found out this by hard way.
8) Do what you love, spread the happiness and your passion and you will see people around you will become inspired and happy too.

Life is sometimes hell, sometimes rainbow, but it's up to you what you want to see and live.

This is the key for happy life.

And with that said I love you all. See ya next time :)
Mike

[mochimona]

This came at the right time, honestly. I was burned out because of my job as a kindergarten teacher. I love working with children, because we teach each other a lot of things (children are great) but the circumstances beyond working and educating weren't bearable anymore. So I got a depressive phase, went for help. And that help is what got me rejected for the job I "wanted" (civil servant/public official). I wanted to study and work in peace and quiet (I am nearly deaf on my left ear). Being stigmatized and rejected because I got into a problem and got myself help to move on from my learned job (did it for 12 years now) was really hard. It was even harder to admit that, deep down, I don't want to sit in an office 9-5 but to do something with art. But this field isn't something "safe" and I don't think I am skilled enough to do anything in that field (there, self doubt). I'd love to teach people art and having fun with creating and the fact that art can help a lot when someone feels down or sad. But than again, I feel stuck and overwhelmed, because I learned I have to work (and I don't "see" art as work, for myself at least) and earn my money in a certain way. I feel miserable, because I got diagnosed with something and I feel that this disease is now my identity, because everyone who gets to know I have depression declines my job application (or application to study). It's hard to move forward and decide what to do. So this art talk came at the right time. At least to believe in myself that I am not the disease but what I choose to be. Thanks adam.

[crynnn]

I've finally started sharing my art in the past couple of weeks, after taking a break to focus on my studies. But at the same time I've started going to therapy to work through a lot of stuff and my art is the only thing that I can hold on to for stability. It gives me a sense of purpose and accomplishment. However, I've reached a point in the last couple of days where I doubt not only my skills, but also my ideas, concepts, captions, the engagement I receive, you name it. This overlap of doubting my art and realising through therapy just how broken I perceive myself to be is really tough and makes for an excellent set up for me to spiral into an anxious mess if I'm not careful. This feeling has been bothering me endlessly but I haven't really been able to pin point it until I watched this.

Thank you for all that you do, truly.

[Houdini_Bob]

If you were not making a living as an artist I would say you missed your calling, you could easily be a psychotherapist. you have an easy way of talking TO people, you put people at ease. even as a "non-artist" your words help smooth my soul. Thank you so much.
Peace be with you.

[crazyimaginations]

Through life and it's many ups and downs we often forget to give our selves credit and just think of everything we go through as "just life" and all we can do respond to it a certain way but through everything we become more resilient, stronger and over all have more foresight and become more equipped for what we will have to face in the future

[rexdounut]

the music at the beginning hits me everytime

[ventiristretto]

I needed this. Trying to navigate my life after a complicated foot fracture and your video gave me that little push I needed to believe in myself again. Or at least be closer to believing in myself again. It is a whole journey. The fun is not over just yet. Thank you, Adam!

[rizwanzaman]

I am struggling because of the thought of A.I. replacing artists.
I might have to change career paths, but I'll never stop doing artworks and illustrations.

[rachidarachida]

Lesting to this while practicing anatomy, I love it.

[Shaun.is.typing]

Zdzisław Beksiński has so made so many bangers