Alan here, I help manage CG Boost. In this email, I want to talk about a hidden struggle 3D artists and creatives quietly deal with. Many, including myself, find it hard to admitāmostly because it feels vulnerable and scary to say out loud. This email is for you if...
I was stuck in that loop for years. I knew I had potential and a good eye, but my ambitious 3D projects took too long, felt overwhelming, and my artistic progress was slow. After years, I finally was able to identify what was happening and work my way out of that negative loop. Since then, creating 3D art has become a lot more fun, and my growth as an artist and professional have grown in ways I didn't expect. Interestingly, the problem wasnāt a lack of discipline, talent or even time. The real issue was in my subconscious mind and closely tied to my artistic identity. Iāll explain why this happens to many 3D artists, how by simply being aware of this issue you can make greater progress, and share practical tips to avoid this loop, and never go back.
Why are you stuck in this loop, and where does it begin? For many of us, this loop starts long before weāre even aware it exists. That was certainly true for me. When I was younger, I was seen as the creative kid who was always drawing. And it felt great to be seen and praised for my art by family and friends. For others, maybe you saw people being celebrated for their creative talents and thought, āI want that.ā But over time that can become an identity, a way to belong. You become the creative person. The 3D artist. The Blender enthusiast. And for you, Blender and CG art are much more than just skills. You believe in Blender and in the community, and for good reason. Art and creativity may have helped you through or take a break from the struggles life has thrown at you. The 3D community may have been where you felt seen, where you meet like-minded people and felt acceptance, maybe even admiration. That is where a small but crucial shift can quietly happen: You begin to tie your identity to your 3D work, and you may not be aware this is happening. When your creative identity, even just parts of it, is tied to your 3D work, or the fact that you use Blenderāit turns the process into something emotionally high-stakes. This could be why you are posting renders and animations online that aims to be at a top level, but are feeling blind to the mistakes youāre making and confused when itās not getting the praise you think it deserves. It also might be why your likes and comments can feel like a verdict on you, not just your art. And I want to say it again, itās not a lack of talent, discipline or time. Itās about your self-preservation. When your art is connected with your creative identity, your subconscious tries to protect you, by glossing over flaws or resisting others genuine critiques. That defense mechanism makes it harder to grow, because you canāt clearly see what needs improvement. Iāve seen artists post their work, ask for feedback, then ignore or dismiss that feedback. Iāve seen artists make amazing work, and yet feel terrible due to a mistake that is barely noticeable. And Iāve seen artists slowly loose motivation even though they are clearly making good progress. And it was likely due to this negative subconscious loop. For me, it got to a point where I started convincing myself that my work was better than it really was, because I wanted to be a great artist so badly. I thought that if others saw me as a great artist, then I could finally feel happy with myself. The first step is awareness If you've heard that phrase before, it's because it's actually true. Simply being aware that this is happening is already a huge step. Itās a way to tell your subconscious not to protect you by blinding you to your mistakes, and resisting help from others. With that awareness, suddenly youāre more open to genuine feedback, youāll be able to clearly see the mistakes you are making and the path forward. Youāll realize that you are on a creative journey, and your latest 3D animation/render is just a small but meaningful step along the way. Youāll grow much faster, and finally get out of your own way. A practical approach to break the negative loop and grow Remember, aiming high is not the problem. The real issue is our good desire to be seen and accepted, blocking us from objectively looking at our work and understanding where we need to grow. Here are some practical reminders I use to keep myself growing and staying away from the negative loop:
In summary What does this hidden negative loop look like? āI am my artā ā leads to:
How do you know if itās happening to you?
A practical approach to get out of the loop and grow
Thank you for taking the time to read this email, I hope it helps you improve your creative journey. ~Alan Disclaimer: Though this email touches upon emotional struggles, I want to state that Iām not a mental health professional, and if you are dealing with mental health issues and insecurities, I encourage you to get help from a professional and loves ones. |
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