Imposter syndrome is an ongoing concern for many artists. All artists experience imposter syndrome at some point, no matter how accomplished or experienced you are!
- 1 min. short (confessions)
- 2 min. video (summary)
- 45 min. video (discussion)
This video explores several solutions than can get you to shift away from toxic thinking patterns. Discussion led by Art Prof Clara Lieu and Teaching Artists Alex Rowe and Eloise Sherrid.
Video Walkthrough
- What is imposter syndrome?
- Prof Lieu’s imposter syndrome with Art Prof; having no experience with video, sound and media.
- Expectations from family and friends who supported you, and then letting them down.
- Starting a new job and learning everything while on the job.
- No one starts a new job knowing 100% how to do it, no matter how experienced you are.
- Most people are not thinking that you are an imposter in general.
- “Fake it til you make it” really can work if you take the plunge.
- Alex initially thought he wouldn’t have anything to contribute to teaching at Art Prof.
- “Failure” and “success” are not that cut and dry.
- Teachers don’t have to know everything all the time.
- Show your students that you don’t know, and then go look it up for them to show initiative.
- Learning curves are inevitable in all of your creative processes
- Mental illness & art.
- Giving yourself a hard time.
- Prioritize what you want to do.
- Negative thoughts about your work are really common.
- Getting over it
- Being perceived in different ways
- It’s okay to show your day job, which is unrelated to your art.
- Feeling shame about having a day job that is not about art.
- You are not along when you feel imposter syndrome!
- All artists experience imposter syndrome at some point.
Prof Lieu’s Tips
I believe that everything you do, a book you read, a city you visit, a physical activity, it all goes to the same place.
While it may not be obvious how all of these things connect, those connections are forming even when you don’t think they are.
I see a lot of artists who think they should only read art books, but I think it’s great to read about anything. Actually, my favorite books are books written by doctors about the medical field.
Doesn’t seem related to visual art at all, but actually there were many parallels that I loved reading about.
