Forum - Fear of Success

I think too much success could change what you do, maybe to its detriment ...and perhaps irreversibly. A lot of the most relevant artists over the last 100 years or so had, what we would consider, pretty desperate lives, and that fact almost certainly shaped their work. Maybe they would not have achieved what they did if they'd had a more comfortable existence.

Ok ...I lead a pretty comfortable life, by comparison, at whatever level of 'success' it is that I have already achieved ...but I certainly wouldn't want to lose the drive or passion for what I do by becoming that successful that it didn't matter any more.

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And from what I've read, they were all pretty mentally unstable and emotionally unbalanced.
But is there no such thing as a happy, successful, working artist? Whatever artistic success means. Would you consider yourself a happy, successful, working artist, Robert?

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yep, very much so ...but then others might (and probably do) think I've yet to achieve real success with my stuff ...it depends how you measure these things. I think age has something to do with it ('it' being how you feel about your work) i.e. I've tended to become less competitive and more prone to spontaneous outbursts of contentment as the ions have drifted by ...so success? ...if I haven't got it now, I don't need really it! ;o)

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that's great!

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So how about you then?

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I fear the responsibility of success. I have a hard time dealing with the responsibility of stuff that I volunteer to do. I have no discipline. No follow-through. I'm working on it.
And I'm not all that confident in my art. I'm kind of a big people-pleaser. I have a lot of confidence in myself, but it doesn't transfer over. It's something I'm really going to have to work on. Any tips?

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arrh! do not worry self-cofidence is what you read in stupid literature there is no such thing it is only what you hear in some dodgy church on sunday. There is no problem If you think that then there is no problem... cheer up

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I'm not sure I'd agree that there's no such thing as self confidence ...but I would say that it's very overrated! I'd rather be a little unsure than convinced I had all the answers!

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I would say I believe rather strongly in self confidence, mind over matter can achieve much. I'm not religious, to me confidence is simply an attitude.

I'm not sure that I'm afraid of success, but I will say that I'm afraid of failing miserably. And not being as good at art as I should be. And China, don't forget to be afraid of China.

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China? ...I haven't stopped being afraid of Russia yet...

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I'm not religious.
I would be happier a little insecure than pompous.
And, I too, am still afraid of Russia, but China is pretty scary, too.

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I reckon the feeling of insecurity can be useful. My music performance seems to be better the more nervous I am at the start, and the same seems to be true of painting.

But it can be counter-productive too - if the insecurity level is too high it means paintings nobody ever sees, and pieces of music nobody ever hears. I guess (for me, anyway) the trick is pushing through the barrier, not necessarily trying to ditch the insecurity altogether...and it sounds easier when I think of it in those terms.

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Widnes scares me more...

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Widnes! ...small world. I lived just up the road in Aigburth for two years or so, up till about six months ago. It was 'THE BRIDGE' at Runcorn that scared me (probably something to do with a "Two Pints..." obsession!)

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WIildness...its not to far away I hear you can fish under th bridge...I wonder if there are any boats in the laggon now

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One of my favourite programmes...not the same without Jonny, though!
I'm a scouser, living in the south now. But I still remember the smell of Widnes industry after 6pm...

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Oh Johnny, Johnny, Johnny, Johnny, Johnny ...how we miss you (and that strange girl from behind the bar).

Funnily enough I'm a 'softee southerner' now living up north!

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why did he have to jump that shark? That didn't end very successfully (see, I'm back on topic!)

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actually, that brings to mind another possible thread...

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You should be more confident in your art Liz - it's good stuiff - very editorial. Cleaned up a touch I could see that in glossy fashion mags.

I don't have any tips as such - to be successful you only need a handful of very good clients and you'll find you're busy all year. Happiness - well, that's subjective. Clients who pay on time make me happy - that's a fact.
If I enjoy the process of working on some of what I produce I think I'm happy.
I do enjoy the challenge, and new projects. I'm looking for success - I need to be successful in every project - to keep going and make a living. Success - if you see that as worldwide recognition - OK - I'm small fry! I do make a decent living though. I work for clients all over the UK, Ireland and even a girl group and a rock band in S'Africa.
I'd prefer to just work on rewarding/creative projects in design and illustration - but of course end up doing a lot of dross, and grinding through on willpower alone. If I was doing more illustration and creative design work I'd be 'happier'. However - if you care about something - then that add's to the stress - you want to get it just right... haha There is always satisfacion when a client is pleased with your work, if nothing else.
(Robert - thanks for the tip on uploading images - you saved me some time there!)

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