Is Your Inner Artist a Perfectionist?

How to Soothe Your Inner Critic With Mindfulness Meditation Art Techniques

Have you ever been paralyzed by fears of not being good enough? Maybe you’ve had that sinking feeling when you grab your sketchpad or art supplies. One moment, you’re filled with creative inspiration, only to hear that critical voice come up as soon as you put pen or brush to paper.

"This isn't going to be good enough. Why even bother?", it whispers or shouts. And your doubting mind begins to stifle your creative expression.

You're not alone if you’ve heard these words in your head. For many of us, our inner artists are harsh perfectionists, crippling our creative flow before it can truly be unleashed. That mean voice inside that tells us our artistic expressions will never measure up, that constant nitpicking over every brushstroke before the paint even hits the canvas. But what if you could finally quiet that unrelenting critical voice and create from a place of freedom, spontaneity, and radical self-acceptance? This is the life-changing practice of mindful art.

The Beauty of Imperfection

Contrary to popular belief, mindful artmaking isn't about producing pristine masterpieces that belong hanging in a gallery. It's about the process itself – not the final piece. While beautiful art is sometimes created, mindful art is a sacred act of self-expression, insight, and personal connection. It’s an opportunity to tune into your inner-most being and just “be” with it. From there arises the art as an expression of your natural essence. What is created, whether good, bad, or ugly by gallery standards, is the natural outcome of communing with the source of your creativity.

How a Repurposed Tree Became the Backdrop for My Transformational Path

I’ve been obsessed with drawing trees for many years now. The perfect branch eludes me most of the time. And even my abstract trees often fall short of what I see in my mind’s eye. Needless to say, my art journals are filled with all kinds of experimental trees. As I would flip through the pages of my journal and eye all of those so-called “failed attempts”, my inner critic usually had something to say about each one. That is until the day, during my training to become a Mindful Art and Meditation teacher, when were making collages.

I wanted a backdrop for the photographs I had procured of people hiking in nature. One of my imperfect hand-drawn trees was perfect for the job. It seemed to ground my unique energy signature into the collage. From that pivotal moment, I began viewing my so-called "failed" artistic efforts through a new lens of appreciation and compassion. That collage catalyzed me to return to graduate school after a 30-year break to finish my Master’s Degree in Counseling.

I now have a drawer stuffed with paintings, doodles, and sketches that my inner perfectionist had quickly cast aside. But each time I revisited them without judgment, I discovered profound insights and emotional depths lingering within their "flaws."

With this new perspective, I started embracing these once-rejected pieces, lovingly collecting them to integrate into new artworks as an act of reclamation and self-love. I no longer discard parts of myself; I am embracing my imperfect creativity as a portal to healing and transformation.

Mindfulness Practices to Free Your Artistic Spirit

While this philosophical shift is essential for mindful artmaking, deliberately applying specific mindfulness techniques is key for silencing your inner critic in the heat of creating. Here are some powerful practices I rely on:

• Deep Breathing - Before I begin, I take 5-10 deep belly breaths, visualizing each inhale as inspiration and freedom entering my body. Each exhale expels harsh judgments and limiting self-doubts.
• Mantra Meditation - I'll silently repeat a simple mantra like "I am ok" or "I accept myself as I am" to rewire my habitual negative thought patterns.
• Freewriting - If my inner critic is being particularly loud, I'll take 5 minutes to stream-of-consciousness write it all out, pouring those nagging thoughts onto the page so I can creatively move forward unburdened.
• Data Dump—Related to freewriting, if my mind is particularly distracted, I write down all of the things on my mental to-do… or not-to-do... list when it comes to making art. Then, I ball up the paper and throw it away.
• Light a Candle - A ritual, such as lighting a candle before starting to create art, signals to the brain that this is a special time of focus.

Each exercise creates a sacred space for artful expression without inhibition or restraint. They are much-needed reminders that the creative process is already inherently whole and vital – free from perfectionistic pressure that only breeds self-rejection.

The Courageous Journey of the Imperfect Creative

Please don't misunderstand – mindful artmaking is simple in concept but certainly not easy. Calming the persistent voice of your inner perfectionist requires immense courage, commitment, and persistent compassionate self-talk. It's an ongoing process of retraining that harsh inner judge into becoming your most nurturing inner ally.

With each mindful mark you make on your canvas or paper with compassionate awareness, you reclaim pieces of your authentic creative spirit. You stop shrinking to fit confining labels like "not creative enough" and begin showing up for your truest, imperfect, ever-evolving self-expression.

It's a sacred vow to embrace—even celebrate—the spontaneous "mistakes" and detours along your unique creative path, knowing they'll lead to unexpected realms of insight and growth. This radical self-acceptance enables you to unleash a flow of raw, honest artistry that can move you forward in your journey of inner artistry and perhaps inspire others to have the courage to take their next steps as well.

If you're ready to practice skills to soothe your inner critic and liberate your genuine inner artist through the transformative practice of mindful art, I’m here to support you every step of the way. Our online mindful art and meditation events offer a nurturing community for gentle self-reflection so that you can embrace your imperfections as the perfection you were born to be.

Subscribe now for our free "Five Deep Breaths to Awakened Artistry" tutorial, and learn how to calm your inner critic.