28th July 2026 Beena
In January of this year, I painted a striking zebra bird in watercolour—a species native to Colombia and Venezuela that I had never encountered before. At the time, I lacked the confidence to share my work publicly, especially on Fridays, when I post my art. Yet, two Fridays ago, I took a leap and posted it.
To my astonishment, the response was overwhelmingly positive—almost everyone loved the painting. In that moment, I realized just how poorly I judge my own work. This isn’t only about art; even in childhood, I struggled with self-assurance. My mother rarely offered lavish praise, even when I excelled in my exams. Instead, she would remark, “It’s good that you worked hard to get those good marks.” So, I learned to value effort over self-assessment. Academic results were quantifiable, but how does one measure success in art?
When I study the works of Van Gogh, Matisse, and other masters, I notice their perspectives are unconventional—yet their art is celebrated around the world. Meanwhile, my regular critic often points out the flaws in my perspectives. This contradiction puzzles me. Have you ever grappled with self-doubt or questioned the standards by which your creativity is measured? I would love to hear your thoughts.