Doubt The Great Slayer

Picasso’s biographer, author and critic Pierre Daix observed, ‘Painters are never better than in the evening of their lives.’ May be so. But when you are young and yet to be recognized in the world for your art, when you are still light years away from finding a place for yourself as an artist in this world, you are sure to have a few companions hovering around you at all times, not the least eager of them being your doubts.

Doubts in the worthiness of what one produces can hound a creative person to the edge of insanity, especially when one seems to be the only one who considers one’s efforts of any value. History is filled with names of such artists.

 

Every artist has asked this of himself at one point or the other: “Am I good enough?” Even those with every right to be conceited and confident have been humbled by this insidious traitor, Doubt.

Nowadays artists seek validation on social media platforms. But until the art work is actually considered worthy enough to be bought by someone, the question hangs in the air like the proverbial Damocles's sword. Tired of looking at this demon in the face constantly, more than for some economic reasons, artists sometimes destroy their own works. Me more so than most I’m sure!

 

Over the years, though persistently I may wait for the world to take note of me, I have nevertheless succumbed to those niggling, and sometimes screeching dubious entities. In hindsight, it may appear to be a heinous crime, but in the actual moment that one destroys one's art, paints over a seemingly finished piece callously, nothing seems more appropriate.

And thus,  Doubt The Great Slayer has taken from many creative warriors their as-yet-unborn progeny or even their little ones just born. Yet, out of sight as they may be, their loss haunts forevermore…Until the warrior grows sufficiently in both courage and confidence, perhaps even in wisdom, to slay the slayer for good.