Let’s talk about validation…

By the end of 2025 and into 2026, my artistic direction began to explore new avenues. It took a bit of encouragement from others to feel confident enough to make changes and start creating artwork that reflects my hidden desire to depict landscapes.

Allowing myself to set aside the income from my art and focus on what I truly want to create was initially challenging. However, once I began, I quickly started developing a body of work that, although in its early stages, is fresh and filled with the marks, colours, and textures I love about the natural world where I spend so much of my time.

Everything was going smoothly until my concerns about income began to subtly emerge. Initially, I reassured myself that it was alright to spend time in my studio without earning money, as I needed to let my art evolve at its own pace. However, a few weeks into this, I started to feel overwhelmed by the intense panic caused by financial anxiety.

To be transparent this was not just driven by my freelance work as an artist but also a lack of supply teaching, of which I rely on during the winter when I am not working as a freelance outdoor instructor. This lack of supply teaching afforded me time but resulted in reduced income.

So, maybe you are wondering what this has to do with validation…

After a session with my creative coach where I unfortunately, for her, crumbled into a bubbling mess. (A disclaimer this was not brought on by anything she said or did in fact she was amazingly compassionate and supportive) I decided I should try and unpick why I felt so full of anxiety because I knew deep down it was not just the income concerns.

Having spent some time jotting down the thoughts that were troubling my mind I became aware of a common theme... it was potentially because I had limited validation for what I was doing as an artist.

Validation is a fundamental need for acceptance, as an artist validation comes from external feedback helping to build confidence and gain professional credibility.

This deep need for validation, for me, comes from the fact art was the one skill I developed as child that brought credibility, I was praised for my artistic ability and creative thinking, I was celebrated by adults and peers. As a young person that struggled so much with academia this acknowledgment for my artistic ability almost developed into an addiction and in my adult life I can honestly see how I continue searching for that positive acknowledgment of my ability resulting in me feeling worthy.

Aged 14 enjoying some urban sketching for my GCSE Art

Through education, a career, and self-employment, I have learnt to treat myself with more kindness, understanding that I possess a diverse set of skills and have accomplished much beyond just art and creativity. However, art is deeply personal, and artists invest a great deal of themselves in their work; it can be challenging to celebrate oneself without external validation, and when anxiety sets in, self-kindness can be hard to maintain.

After reflecting on these emotions and thoughts, I understand that validation is important to me. However, I also acknowledge the need to be patient, kind to myself, and realistic about the fact that not everyone will appreciate, purchase, or enjoy what I create.

It's perfectly normal to seek validation, as humans we are social beings who feel more secure with it. However, it's equally important and rewarding to explore who you truely are, in my case being an artist and in turn allowing my art to develop at its own pace, to create something that truly reflects me, and to celebrate the recognition when it arrives.

Please be encouraged that these are solely my personal thoughts, feelings, and emotions. They do not generalise about all artists. I am grateful to many fellow artists, family, and friends whose incredible support and kind words bring comfort, encouragement, and relief to my worries and anxieties.

I need to acknowledge that art is subjective and not everyone will appreciate my work, but those who do inspire me to keep creating it.