4 Painting Fears and How to Overcome Them 

Oh wow! All of these things have kept me stuck in my paintings for months! I think what has scared me the most is the fact that paintings are just a series of decisions and I fear making mistakes. Thank you for this.

You said it all, thank you for being here to lift my spirits.

Every artist needs to hear this advice from David...and then take it to heart!!!

Your videos are so helpful. Thank you!

I just spent the day with you online. I love your videos and the way you speak from the heart. Almost 76 yrs old and started watercolor painting this past Feb. It’s a great joy to learn from you. Always looking forward 🎨❤️

Started my first painting today and It's such an amazing feeling! The world needs more people like you, David! Thank you

needed to heard that thank you, from now on my inner voice is going to come out and scream to the world through my art.

Great advice--shared it! I think my fear is fear of waste--waste of money on supplies and waste of time BUT in my heart I know you have to do the work to get better, even if it ends up in the trash or painted over.

Yes. Yes. And yes!!!

Wish i could carry you around as a little voice in my head and pull out your sage advice when i need it most. Enjoyed this. Thank you. deb

I love what you are telling me thankyou.

Thank you for the pep talk. Needed to hear this.

This is exactly what I needed to hear. I have been painting for other people my whole life. At some point you reach this space in your mind where its no longer enjoyable. Ive been going through the motions, creating things that people like, but that I dont actually enjoy the process of creating. I have been afraid to paint for myself, regardless of what anyone else might think of it. You made me realize that if my heart isn't in it- then its really not worth doing. I'm going to start painting for me. Thank you!

Thank you so much for this, Sir! Take care always!

Thank you for this video. I’ve been struggling and this has been extremely helpful. I think my biggest fear is the fear of not being able to express “accurately.” To make something that doesn’t express the emotion I desire to portray. Your words will be in my mind when I pick up the next canvas. Thank you.

Bravo for this video David! When I began doing abstract art I felt a bit ridiculous, as if I was trying to be super cool or something... but that lasted very little, I just enjoyed it so much, it was so freeing compared to doing figurative art, that I never looked back. It is always a bonus if somebody likes my work, if they don't who cares.

Such encouragement!! Thank you so much for this. I adore your paintings. It's a celebration and freedom in colour!! Such an explosion, vibrancy and beauty. Infinite gratitude for the inspiration David, and for all the tips. So glad I have come across your beautiful work 🙏💖🌟

Bless you David for your words of encouragement! How right you are!

I am so happy I came across this video... Thanks a lot , it means a lot ❤️

Thanks for your great advice!! "There's no making mistakes in painting,just different choice, and pleased for myself."I hope many artists can get it,because when I posted my painting works,some people said "you shouldn't paint this or your drawing leave is not good...."I painted just for myself, I felt happy,that's the point.thanks again!

Thanks, David! This was really helpful and encouraging!

Thank YOU for your "Real" Encouragement!!! Much Appreciated.

Awww that was so touching! I needed someone to encourage me like this...I had fear number 2 and 4 and yup I think you just took away all those fears, or maybe it's gonna come back again but now I know what to think when it comes back. Thank you so much for this. I think I'm finally ready to face my watercolor paper. God bless you, Sir!

Love your message. Thank you!

You put tears to my eyes, because you spoke in to my heart. Thank you!

just what i needed to hear. thank you

Thank you I needed to hear this.

Thanks a lot David for these videos xx

Thank you so very much for helping me see my work in a different light! I'm overcome with a sincere sense of relief, I never thought of just painting for me!

Lovely video! You feel very natural in front of the camera, if there are nerves they don't translate on screen. These are definite fears about art that I feel and this has really hit those feelings of mine. I'll definitely be coming back to this video. Thank you!

I'm not really sure why, but I feel very self-conscious about painting from life... Be it a model or someone posing for me, or painting in plein air... I get so nervous and confused at the same time that seems like everything I know about color, value, composition, edges or whatever just go right out of the window... Thank you for this video ❤️

We're strange us humans, we think everything must have a practical purpose..........there is literally no 'use' for painting, none! When I'm painting however, often times I find myself wondering if my work is going to be any good for someone to hang up. I like videos like this to remind me not to think about the result but enjoy the process. Overthinking is my nemesis, thanks for this video 👌🏼👌🏼

dAVIDTHANK you for my pep talk wow your voice is in my head, soothing my fears, and then some.lol. Love yaxx

Thank you! Glad I found your Utube videos!,👍

I want to share this. It has been my experience not to judge my paintings. I’ll explain why. Whenever I make something that I just don’t like for whatever reason, it just doesn’t feel right to me-but in my heart, I feel it’s time to stop painting. So I listen and stop. Then I try to do my best to avoid judging or labeling it “good” or “bad.” What has happened for me is that sure enough, someone ends up seeing the painting I didn’t like and they absolutely love it! 😂 It’s like I was painting it just for them 🤍

thank you for sharing your knowledge.I love the way you free yourself from overthinking and flow whith the colours.

You are an inspiration and an amazing person... Thank you for this video!

Thank you! I needed to hear that today! You spoke to me today in this video and I appreciate it so much. I'm going to listen to this often!!

Thank you! What a lovely way of getting across this message. You are a great teacher and I feel reassured tenfold. It's a work in process but I will follow your advice. Fear is a terrible thing and it hinders growth and contentment.

Thank you for this video. I'm 20 year old and was feeling down today. We put too much pressure on ourselves even though I knew this but sometimes we forget.it was such a good reminder ❤️😊

This spoke to my soul, thank you

Great advice . Thanks !🙂

Thank you so much for your videos. They are positive, encouraging and very very helpful

Very interesting advices. Love your definition of art as taking something out of our heart to put it, for example, on a canvas. Great motivation speech also.

This is really motivating ☺️

paralyzed ... perfect description . Im fearful of what ISNT going to happen.

David, I'll preface by saying Watercolor is the medium I create with now. I love the fluidity and the active relationship between artist and medium. At times I'm reluctant to call myself an artist, (As when I produce a piece of total rubbish) But when I produce a work that I feel worthy, It may get matted and framed and sometimes sold, unless for some reason I'm so emotionally attached to the work that I won't let it go. Your view point on fear is so spot on. Being rejected by those we choose to show our work is hard to take. But as you so eloquently stated, Learning from the risks and or mistakes we take and make as artists does improve our work. I learn something from every bad painting I make. As I also learn from all the good paintings I've created. The best advise I took away from this video, Don't worry about every project being a "Masterpiece". Well said sir. Jeff

Thanks David for your thoughts! I teach art to kids and it is common that they can get really frustrated about their work, if something goes wrong, and I have to deal with it. I have to find right words and attitude to comfort them, don’t let them down and motivate to continue with their art. And sometimes It is more hard then technical instruction itself :)

Your advice came at just the right time for me. Thank you!

Thank you so much for making this video. I made my favorite piece yet this weekend. Which was followed by some unexpected criticism by family that really put me over the edge in sadness. It was a waste of time going into that emotion. I paint because I love it. It is not the source of my income. I love your videos and I am so glad I found you today. Thanks so much.

I'm one that loves your work, you transmit energy with it, great advise about overcoming fears. You are so right about perfection, Kandinsky someone to read to get to understand what art is about.Thanks David. I'm very happy that I found you.

Thank you

Very nice talk to go over with new students as well as artists stuck in one style or another.

I love this! Thanks

Wise and encouraging words for an enthusiastic, procrastinating novice like me, who has a ton of blank canvasses and boxes full of art supplies...yet very little to actually show for it thus far! I've painted a thousand paintings in my head that somehow have never found their way to canvas.😄 Thanks so much, David for your advice., and for your other videos which inspire me so much. Your gift of encouragement is as powerful and necessary as your obvious gift for producing fantastic artworks. Do not underestimate the impact of your generous spirit in the lives of those of us who crave making art, but are frequently plagued by the fear you addressed in this video. Thank you. 👍

David M .Kesrsler is a good art teacher.

love ur art sir :) its boundless its infinite..gives a sense of freedom :) thanks for sharing :)

I needed this pep talk. At one time, I had no fear, showed my art, and people bought it. Nearly all of it. Now, I lapsed into a stale state, and decided I need to brush up (pardon the pun, hahahaha) on my basics -- color theory, etc. At some point in the last year, I figured out that I was painting for my mother, and the whole other fam damnly that could not "get" abstract art. When I painted stuff that looked like other stuff, I knew I was in trouble, and nobody bought it. So, this video is for me, and maybe thousands like me who paint to please others. Not any more.

David, you are talking about me here!

Thanks David! fear # 4, perfection. You are so right, and your mentoring is so valuable. Some of us come from families that are the opposite of the creative process. Mothers and fathers and siblings in accounting and sciences and engineering, where there is perfection. The numbers add up and the books balance. Perfect. The formulas are followed and the buildings go up on time and don't fall apart. And then they have no grasp of what you need or how you do it. And even while we use formulas and techniques and methods, our goal is not to reproduce what someone else has already done, but to start with nothing more than a tiny inspiration in our heads and make something new. Man, sometimes its fun, even joyful, but it's never easy.

I SO NEEDED THIS!!!!! Thank you! I get intimidated/aggravated when someone sees an unfinished piece. They say things not understanding the process. Sometimes they say, "I don't know why your still working on this. It looks good". I wish I had a lock on my "studio".

Thank you so much!! I really needed to hear this!! ;-)

oh my God , thanks for telling me not to listen to negative people :) :) I love that.

tomorrow i'll paint just for ME!!!! thanx

I really like your videos!

I have paint and I have surfaces but I just cannot get started... fear of messing up a surface or wasting paint and not producing a final product that can be sold in order to purchase more supplies. so I am buying supplies and not producing product. my intention was to have a creative outlet but need to sell what I produce in order to continue. I hate being on a fixed income but I love paypal''s pay in 4 arrangment.

Love, love, love this one!!! I'm still so new to painting that I haven't found my "voice" yet, so I try to emulate other artists I've seen on Pinterest or RU-vid, not to copy, but in an attempt to learn on my own how they 'did that'...what technique they used. It can be really frustrating, and I can't tell you how many canvases I've gessoed over. It CAN be upsetting, but I keep going. Finding an artist like you is EXTREMELY helpful, not just for techniques but encouragement too. I'm telling you...you're awesome! I did finally show a few of my works to some friends (and it was a scary thing to do for the first time), but to my surprise, I got rave reviews! I'm sure you get it when I say what a boost that was! Thank you, again, for being you.

Great video! I've been having some fears of my own trying to get back into oil painting after taking 20 years off. Your video has definitely helped with those fears.

thank you David. Your sayings are encouraging me... GBU

once again, thanx

Thanks so much for putting yourself in front of the camera - hope to meet you someday!

Dear David, thank you very much for this video! It is my special theme right now. I normally like giving myself challenges and paint paintings that are over my skill level and I really surprised myself in a couple of them on how well I actually did. But now I have a fear that really freezes me! I am planning on doing a memory painting of my two beloved cats that had to cross the rainbow bridge. I collected everything and wrote down every single step, I have a colored copy of the picture I wanna use and one in black and white. I even had already traced the picture on my canvas! But everytime I set myself up for doing this painting, David I could not get started. I was like frozen! This is such a very emotional and important painting for me and I am personally so involved in it,that I am like frozen cause of the fear messing this so special painting for me up, that I am like frozen. I cannot understand it,cause like I already mentioned I normally like challenges and just start it. This is something different for me. Do you have any helpful advice for me or have you ever had a situation like this in your long artist career? I would be really grateful for any advice you can give me! I really want to paint this memory painting! It is a part of letting them go for me. So please help me if you can. Already thank you for your help and your time thinking about an advice you can give me! I appreciate it very much! Keep going with your videos, I really enjoy them and learn a lot from you! Be blessed, David and thank you! Lots of love from me, Manuela, to you David 😍👍💐

So true.

This is great for new artists and seasoned ones. Thank you for making this. I've been painting almost three years but still face these fears at times. I'm subscribed! I've shared some of your videos. I really enjoy your work! Paintings and discussions.:-)

thank u David... always...

Hi David, really love your work. Love your inspiring videos. I believe in what you say, my painting are done for me. It makes e happy to paint. 😃It is a bonus is someone else also enjoys what I do.

your words need no comment....🙂

u r so rite...

I am glad that I don't have a husband to tell me what to do. GREAT VIDEO. HAPPY NEW 2021.!!

I can't wait to take one of your classes. You teach technique and mindset. What is the name of the piece behind you in this photo please?

What you say about painting,- that it makes YOU happy.....is SO important!! You dont need any other reasons:-)

Thank you.

What a lovely supportive video, your work is beautiful and it's nice to hear your opinions. I noticed you mentioned Fear of expectations a few times and I think a lot of people suffer from that. I heard a breakdown of the word fear somewhere a few years back and it has always stuck with me, so I will share it with you, you might like it. F alse E vidence A ppearing R eal. It's just lies that we tell ourselves to stop us doing something different.

What David says is true.

Your 3rd and 4th points were rather profound for me. Particularly saying that not every piece has to be a masterpiece and that no painting is perfect, that not everyone has to like your art. I recently spoke with a relative and said something extremely controversial, but it gets right down to the heart of things: I do not particularly think the Mona Lisa is that great. I understand it is a masterpiece (in the conventional sense) and that it is nuanced and expertly painted and has wonderful composition and that smile that fully exemplifies that essence of mystery. But it is not something that truly speaks to me. I appreciate it's value and worth and the effort put into painting it, but...the point is I do not need to like it or love it. Many others do. And Leonardo DaVinci must have enjoyed painting it. And that is what matters. Paint for you. It does not need to be perfect, by whatever expectation you have. It merely has to be up to your expectation of fulfillment. And that itself will improve the value of your art.

EXCELLENT

My biggest fear is being copied , I’m in the t shirt industry and have been copied before ( and have been in several groups to were people are just copying other people’s work out right without fear their damn near proud of it ) I know I could just copyright but you wouldn’t believe how many resources are telling people how to get around copy right and lazily make money off peoples work.... what would be your advice??? I’m considering giving up art based work cause no one seems to be doing their own thing anymore ...

If there are no mistakes in art, then why do people judge it?

Geeze and all that money I wasted on a therapist... lol jk Damn!! I am an artist and a perfectionist so (my work is perfect--- to me ) but my soul heard you I'm going to find me I mean Paint.... laters