When your artwork doesn’t ‘work’, and what to do about it
Or how to reframe 'failure' in your artistic life.
I’ve been going through a very ‘meh’ period with my artwork. Maybe it’s the weather (hello, SAD syndrome!), hormones, stress, or grief (I always dip this time of year—it’s when I found out my mum only had months to live). I just haven’t felt particularly connected or ‘lit up’ by what I’ve been making lately.
Or maybe it’s to do with expectations—too-high ones—and that frustrating gap, as Ira Glass describes, between our art and “the special thing we want it to have.”
There’s a myth that artists and creative people love what we do all the time, and that once you “find your passion,” life becomes all sunshine-and-rainbows (as Instagram would have us believe). But there’s also the opposing myth—perhaps a fair one—that artists are a moody, introspective bunch, so of course we’re not going to adore every single thing we produce.
So, I wrote this piece partly to give myself some perspective, and partly in case you ever find yourself in that foggy, uninspired, “why-does-nothing-I-make-feel-good?” kind of phase.
Below are some of the reasons why our creative work sometimes doesn’t “work”—and the gentle, human ways we can move through it.
1. The Gap Between What You Want and What You Create
The Gap - Ira Glass
I wouldn’t call myself a beginner—I feel like I’ve put in my 10,000 hours or whatever they say—but when it comes to illustration, I still feel like I’m in those “first couple of years” where you’re making things that have potential, but aren’t quite there. I know my work doesn’t yet have that “special thing I want it to have,” but I also know I have to keep going, and that this phase is normal.
2. Your Creative Rhythm Might Not Be Daily—and That’s Okay
Despite what Steven Pressfield or hustle-culture Instagram gurus preach, I’m not designed to “show up every day.” My creative rhythm is cyclical. I need to rest. I need reflection. My Human Design chart literally tells me this.
Sometimes I’m in a creative wave; sometimes I’m not. Society is built around consistency and productivity, but I’m slowly learning to judge myself by the impact I make, not how perpetually hard I work. Perhaps you’re similar?
3. Sometimes the Issue Is Simply the ‘Wrong’ Subject Matter
Maybe I just haven’t been inspired by what I’m currently doing. It takes time and experimentation for every artist to discover what truly matters to them, and anything that doesn’t quite resonate is still a win—you’ve learned what isn’t “you.”
I’ve been doing weekly art prompts by art agent Jehane since the start of 2024—that’s nearly 100 prompts now. How likely is it that I’m going to “vibe” with all of them? At year’s end, I’ll be able to look back and notice which themes excited me and which didn’t, and that’s valuable information.
The Good Ship Illustration advises not to include anything in your portfolio that you don’t love, because sod’s law says you’ll be commissioned to repeat it forever. And realistically, in a commissioned career, there will be times you work on something that doesn’t exactly float your boat. Another myth shattered: even in your dream career, not every moment is sunshine and roses. Sometimes work is just… work.
4. Low Mood Is Natural—Humans Aren’t Meant to Be Happy All the Time
There’s a myth that we should be happy all the time. If you have periods of low mood (and I’m not talking about clinical depression here—I know that beast well), society says it must be fixed—with pills, therapy, crystals, shopping, gambling… anything you can buy.
Although I’ve recovered from serious depression, I still have a cyclical mood and probably always will. If you’re otherwise healthy, it’s completely natural to have low periods. Humans are not meant to operate at peak joy, or even ‘fine’ 24/7. It’s only if the low mood drags on for weeks that it might be something more and needs investigating.
5. Art Is Subjective—and Your “Meh” Piece Might Be Someone Else’s Favourite
My dog Trevor with ‘Feathers’ - a very ‘meh’ piece and he looks like he is wearing a flat cap!
Art is subjective—we all know this. How else could a urinal, or a used receipt, end up in an art gallery? 😉
I don’t love an image I made last week, but someone else might. My mum once asked to frame a painting I really didn’t like (bless her—she was definitely biased). And again, as the Good Ship Illustration warn, an art director may absolutely adore the one piece you’re lukewarm about and commission you to do that forevermore.
“One person’s junk is another person’s treasure” is a cliché because it’s true. Your artwork may not work for you, but it might work beautifully for someone else. That doesn’t make it a failure.
This ended up being more reflective than I expected.
But I wrote it hoping it’ll help Future Me when I hit my next slump—and maybe it’ll help you too.
