It’s easy to hate your own art, that’s just a natural part of being an artist. You know in your head what you want the piece to look like so you can tell when something’s off. However it’s easy for that inner critique to turn into something more sinister.
I’ve struggled with this self-sabotage for years now, this constant cycle of disappointment over a piece not coming out quite as expected. I’d get upset and pledge to never return to art only to find myself sewing a couple hours later.
Even when I wasn’t working on a soft sculpture I’d still find myself sketching out ideas that I would also inevitably end up hating. It was a constant cycle of self-sabotage. Every piece turned into some perceived blight on my reputation as an artist. But the funny thing is that none of those projects were actually bad, I had just been thinking about them for too long. When you are always working on something, whether it’s writing, illustration, or, in my case, fiber arts, it’s important to take breaks.
But that’s easier said than done. For a lot of artists the need to take a break is often outweighed by some sort of perfectionism. The idea that if you keep working constantly then eventually you’ll make something you’ll instantly like. But that’s not how it works. You need that break. If you are in a constant cycle of hating your art it’s not because the art is bad, it’s because you’ve been staring at it for too long. If you take a break, a real break, it can improve everything.
Stopping to do something that isn’t related to art can help change your outlook. It allows you to see your work in a new light and develop a clearer idea of what you want your work to become. You just need to take a break.
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