When you watch a talent show, you will eventually come upon the trope of the person who thought they were really talented and only at this most public of stages realize that they were not as competent as they thought they were.
How do you know, you are not that person?
I think at least one of two things must have gone wrong for the talent show contestant.
Nobody told them the truth about their ability. Maybe people lied about how good they were or refrained to point out their weaknesses.
And if anyone told them, they were not able to do anything with that particular feedback.
Find someone to tell you the truth.
Recently a group of students ,from a professional illustration course I was taking, and I formed a critique group.
We’ve met 4 times so far and aim to keep doing so. During our critique sessions each of us shows a piece of work and 5 other members of the group offer their feedback.
United by the common goal of transitioning at least in some part to become children’s book illustrators; we carefully point out what’s currently working and what needs improving.
If you want to grow I would highly recommend finding a group of peers with a similar intention wha are willing to tell you the truth about your work.
I could probably make a list of all the other benefits of finding a group, but it doesn’t matter because if you’re not sold on the hearing the truth part. The rest of it is not going to matter.
I’m writing this for any creative person out there who is trying to make it alone, I urge you to find the others and band together to strengthen each other.
It’s already a difficult path, don’t make it harder by doing it alone.
