“I’m embarrassed to admit…”

The artist sat on a park bench to admire the sculpture she had painted. A gaggle of adolescents approached the giant black cat. Glee and curiosity shaped their faces, then a pose and a selfie.

“It gave my heart so much joy, but I’m embarrassed because I don’t want to be cringy…”

Nope. Nope. That joy swallowing you up as you witness the world take in your work is not cringy. Cringy is pretending that the pure, joyful reception of your creative work doesn’t bring you joy.

Our ego in art is a tricky, slippery slope. As Liz Gilbert reminds us, “Your ego is a wonderful servant, but it’s a terrible master.”

The ego should never be involved in the creative process and execution (it shouldn’t drive our why), but once we release our work into the world, it’s ok to slide around in the good that comes. Once the work is done, we can give the ego some air and allow and accept the praise and adoration. These things should never drive us, but, when it’s time, these are the things that refuel us. They give us the oomph to shape the next sculpture, to spill the next word on the page, and to sweep our brush across the canvas.

“What joy it gave me to see the children love my sculpture.” Rest and roll around in that joy, in the beautiful park-bench moment. Ego in art is fine here. I hope every creative receives a park-bench moment, a chance to witness the world love what they’ve created.

©Pennie Nichols. All Rights Reserved. 2024
©photo credits: Kate Morse