Austin Kleon's Steal Like an Artist speaks on beginning a work of art, or the continuous, capital-w Work of creating art:
"You might be scared to start. That's natural. There's this very real thing that runs rampant in educated people. It's called 'imposter syndrome.'
The clinical definition is a 'psychological phenomenon in which people are unable to internalize their accomplishments.' It means that you feel like a phony, like you're just winging it, that you really don't have any idea what you're doing.
Guess what: None of us do. Ask anybody doing truly creative work, and they'll tell you the truth: They don't know where the good stuff comes from. They just show up and do their thing. Every day"(28).
This is a comforting realization to the artist, and I appreciate the encouragement to continue with creating every day despite feeling lost at times, but I would argue that there is always a purpose behind what we as artists do to create. I personally am able to internalize what I do as good; however, I do not justify it as my own. So I do not feel like a phony, but that is because I am creating unto the glory of the Creator. I know what purposeful motion my creation is contributing to; thus, it always has purpose, but I cannot claim it as my own accomplishment.
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