Reflecting on Illustration Advice: Why “Get over it” Isn’t Enough

Dealing with negativity as artists.

As an illustrator just beginning my journey toward a professional career, I naturally gravitate toward learning from others who have walked this path before me. There’s something inspiring about seeing artists who have successfully carved out their place in the creative world—it proves that it’s possible. Thankfully, we live in a time where there’s an abundance of advice, stories, and resources available to creatives. Sometimes it even feels like too much. But that’s a good problem to have.

Where things start to feel less helpful, however, is in the advice surrounding fear, doubt, and negativity.

Like most visual artists, I know rejection will be a constant companion. Unsolicited criticism is also inevitable, though it doesn’t make it any easier to accept. As Theodore Roosevelt famously pointed out, “It is not the critic who counts…”—yet, somehow, critics still manage to make their voices heard from the outside the ‘arena’.

Often, the guidance boils down to short, glib statements that feel more dismissive than useful. For instance, one successful illustrator advised, “Get over it,” when talking about online criticism. As if it’s really that simple?

Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash

Another common phrase is, “Get comfortable with fear.” I recently came across this in a short PDF guide on developing a signature style. The idea is important, of course—but the explanation was barely a paragraph long. Fear isn’t something you can just gloss over. It deserves a deeper conversation, perhaps even a whole book.

The real question is: how?
How do you get used to criticism? What mindset tools or practices actually help? How do seasoned artists reach the point where they can confidently share their work—and even make a living from it—despite the inevitable negativity?

That’s what I want to explore further in this space. For me, it’s not just about honing my craft; it’s about cultivating the resilience and mindset needed to show up authentically, while also maintaining healthy boundaries online.

Elizabeth Gilbert, in Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear, frames it beautifully:

“So this, I believe, is the central question upon which all creative living hinges. Do you have the courage to bring forth the treasures that are hidden within you?”

Photo by Ashin K Suresh on Unsplash

And that’s the heart of it. Creativity isn’t just about talent or skill—it’s about courage. The courage to create, to share, and to keep going, even when faced with criticism. And it’s this that I want to learn how to develop…