Ever spend half your studio time staring at a painting, mentally ripping it apart, but never actually picking up the brush? Or maybe you're scrolling Instagram right now instead of being in your studio. (I see you.) You're not broken. You're just stuck in a pattern. And once you can name it, it loses its power.
In this episode, I'm walking through nine specific, observable behaviors that show up when artists are working through self-doubt. Not vague struggles. Actual patterns you can recognize in yourself.
Because here's the thing: when you go from "What's wrong with me?" to "Oh, I'm doing that serial abandoner thing again," everything shifts. It's not a personality flaw. It's just a pattern. And patterns can change.
In This Episode:
[3:09] The Serial Abandoner — Starting painting after painting, always convinced the next one will be different
[5:00] The Mental Critic — Spending half your studio time cataloging what's wrong instead of actually painting
[7:53] The Comparison Scroller — More time on Instagram than at the easel, using other artists' work as proof you're not good enough
[10:00] The Permission Seeker — Asking everyone's opinion before trusting your own eye
[14:09] The Hiding Perfectionist — Making work, then stacking it facing the wall, waiting until it's "good enough"
[15:34] The Apologizer — Can't show work without immediately explaining everything that's wrong with it first
[17:03] The Workshop Collector — Taking class after class, convinced you need one more technique before you're ready
[23:54] The Overthinking Planner — Hours planning the perfect painting in your mind, but never committing to canvas
[25:34] The Corner Repainter — Repainting the same spot seventeen times while ignoring the rest of the painting
If you recognize yourself in one or more of these? You're in good company. This is what shows up for skilled artists working through doubt. The episode walks through what's actually happening underneath each pattern and what to practice instead.
Want to work with me?
Do you spend more time thinking about making art than actually making it? Start things you never finish? Make work and then stack it against the wall, facing inward, so you don't have to look at it?
If any of that sounds familiar, I'd love to chat.
Click here: savvypainter.com/survey to tell me what's going on. If it seems like I need more info, I'll reach out to schedule a call.
Thanks so much!
And hey - if this episode hit home, do me a favor, leave a review on Apple Podcast or come say hi on Instagram: @savvypainterpodcast
I’d love to hear this episode resonated you. ❤️