I often run across artists making some comment along the lines of "a true artist is always his/her own worst critic" or "a real artist is never truly happy with his/her work". I read all the time about artists saying that they only see the flaws in what they do, and that they hate their own art.

I've never really understood that. I mean, I love my own art. I look at it, and I am almost always very happy with it. I actually get a lot of pleasure looking at it.

That's not to say I don't see flaws in it. Frankly, every single piece I've churned out has had plenty of flaws. Some more than others. But it doesn't stop me from enjoying my work. And it isn't enough to make me unhappy with it. There is no way I could ever be my own worst critic. Nor would I want to be, to be honest.

I can understand the sayings if they're talking about a desire to always be better, to always grow as an artist. That's something I do feel very strongly. But I don't necessarily equate a desire to improve with a dissatisfaction with or dislike of my work. Maybe it's a dissatisfaction with my current skill level, but even then, dissatisfaction implies a negativity that I don't think I feel. And it's definitely not a dissatisfaction with the art itself.

I guess I just don't understand why some people seem to feel the need to lump the two together. If you like your own works, then you're not a true artist? I feel like that's a terrible state to be in, especially considering the only reason I even do art is because I love it, and it brings me happiness. To always have that happiness dampened by some feeling of inadequacy is something I can't imagine.

So, am I missing something? I'm wondering how other people feel about this. Are you dissatisfied with your current skill level? And if so, does that affect how much you like or dislike your actual artwork? Do you think of the two things as the same? Or are they two different things to you? Do you agree that "an artist must be his own worst critic?"

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"Nothing is written." --- LoA