How to be confident in your art

For most of my life, I was waiting for that magical day when I’d wake up brimming with unshakable confidence in my art. I probably expected this kind of transformation in other areas too, but let’s stick to art for now. I wasn’t just sitting around waiting passively, of course. Oh no—I worked. I worked hard. I read books, practiced relentlessly, watched tutorials, meditated, discussed art, and devoured every YouTube video I could find.

I tried it all.

Yes, there is a slight possibility I am oversharing a bit, but I know a lot of artists, especially younger ones, go through this same cycle of self-doubt and endless effort. I want to help you skip at least part of that exhausting waiting period. Because the sooner you let go of waiting to “become confident,” the sooner you’ll enjoy the journey of being a productive, joyful, and more interesting artist.

Where I thought will happen

I believed that all my hard work would lead me to a place where I’d love and appreciate everything I create, forever. I believed I’d reach a point where I’d always feel calm, fulfilled, and “good enough” in my art. I imagined a time when I’d be able to say, “Thank you for your feedback, I’ll consider it,” without feeling a sting of criticism. I thought confidence would come once I reached a certain skill level, got the right validation, or landed big-name clients.

Surely, once a major institution or a respected brand praised my work, confidence would be inevitable… right?

But those milestones came and went. Did I have moments of joy, accomplishment, and gratitude? Absolutely! I felt validated and proud, but that magical, unbreakable confidence? Nowhere to be found. Long-term, transformative self-belief doesn’t arrive on a single magical day. 

What Actually Happened

Instead of thrill of confidence, what I found was much more down to earth but so much better. What I found was trust. Through consistent practice, successes, failures, and the grind of improving my skills, I gradually developed trust in myself and my creative process.

For example, once I mastered constructing a face and drawing it from various angles, I started trusting my hand. I trusted myself enough to experiment, to let go of the need for each stroke to be perfect. Over time, my lines became less rushed, less tentative. My hand wasn’t confident because it “knew” there wouldn’t be mistakes; it was confident because it knew that if a mistake happened, I could find my way back.

With this new sense of trust, I could break down forms, experiment with expressions, and explore different styles. I finally felt free to play, knowing that I could recover from any artistic misstep.

And most importantly, I learned to “fail” and keep going. Instead of every error feeling like proof that I wasn’t good enough, mistakes became stepping stones. Trusting myself made mistakes feel manageable rather than catastrophic.

The Surprising Bonus of Trust: Freedom from Comparison

One unexpected perk of developing trust was that I stopped constantly comparing myself to other artists. Comparison used to be my go-to method of self-sabotage, a way to feel small and unworthy. When I saw the work of artists I admired, it felt like a slap in the face—a reminder of all the ways I didn’t measure up.

Now, I still admire their work, but I view it as a source of inspiration, not a weapon against myself. I can appreciate their skills and learn from them without feeling inadequate. My brain still sometimes drifts into comparison mode (brains are tricky like that), but it’s much easier to steer it back.

So, Here’s the Real Secret: Confidence Isn’t the Goal—Trust Is

That magical moment of complete artistic confidence? It’s a myth. You’ll never wake up and suddenly “know” you’re a great artist, with unshakable certainty. It’s an illusion that will only keep you waiting and doubting.

Instead, focus on building skills until you can consistently recreate your desired results. With time, you’ll start to trustyourself. You’ll know that even if things don’t go as planned, you have the skills and resilience to figure it out. And this trust—this inner assurance—will fuel your creative growth far more than fleeting confidence ever could.

Remember: the ability to create meaningful art comes not from perfection, but from the trust you develop in your own process. This trust is what ultimately frees you to explore, take risks, and find your own voice in art.