Have you ever found yourself scrolling Instagram and then hit with a wave of comparison, one that has you thinking, why do I bother?! I know I have. You see someone’s artwork that absolutely smashes it out of the park, and suddenly you’re thinking, I’ll never be able to do that… so why even try?
Why do we do this to ourselves???
During a recent Accelerant group call, we dove into this very question and the discussion sparked the idea to dive into it here.
Comparison: A Double-Edged Sword
Comparison is normal—we all do it. We compare sofas when furniture shopping and different brands of soap in the pharmacy.
The problem? When it comes to comparing our artwork with that by others, the comparison tends to be negative. Instead of inspiring us, it leads to self-doubt and feelings of inadequacy. We wonder if we have what it takes to create stunning work that will compare favourably to that which has just brought us down. And because we pour so much of ourselves into our work—our time, our materials, our hopes, our soul—it feels personal when we see something we deem as “better.” It can make us feel like a failure.
But here’s the thing:
- We’re often comparing our work to someone who’s been honing their craft for years longer than we have.
- We’re seeing their polished, finished piece, not the struggle, experiments, or failed attempts that led up to it.
- We’re in a different place on our journey
Photo credit: Vidar Nordli Mathisen at Unsplash.
When Comparison Blocks Creativity
Comparison can be a creativity killer and halt our progress. That why bother reaction? Totally normal—but totally unhelpful. It drains our joy and depletes our passion for creating and expressing ourselves in our own work. It can even paralyse us, leading to creative blocks, frustration, and, worst of all, a lack of fulfilment. UGH!! And thanks to social media, we’re doing it more than ever.
If you’ve ever found yourself doom-scrolling (it feels that way sometimes!) and feeling crushed by what appears as another artist’s success, here’s the shift that can turn comparison into a tool instead of a trap. Instead of letting comparison bring you down, use it as an opportunity for growth.
From Comparison to Curiosity
Next time you’re staring at an incredible painting and feel like giving up, pause and invite curiosity in instead of judgment.
Ask yourself:
✔ Why do I like this so much? What about it speaks to me? (Is it the composition? The colour palette? The texture? The story?)
✔ What can I learn from this that I can apply to my own work?
By asking yourself these questions, you can learn from another’s work without feeling deflated. Dig in and write down your answers. Suddenly, that painful comparison becomes valuable insight. You’re learning, not just looking and moaning.
And remember, just because you admire another artist’s work doesn’t mean yours is less than.
As artists, we need to protect our creative energy and not let external opinions or comparisons steal our joy. Protecting your joy means staying true to your artistic vision. Protecting your peace means avoiding the comparison rabbit hole. Protecting your progress means focusing on your growth—not someone else’s.
How to Break the Comparison Cycle!
Here are some practical ways to keep our comparing tendency in check:
- Limit your social media consumption. If scrolling is making you feel awful, take a break—or unfollow accounts that trigger that ugh feeling.
- Be mindful of your inner critic. Notice when you’re negatively comparing and flip the script. Replace “I’ll never be that good” with “What can I learn from this?”
- Keep a progress journal. Track your breakthroughs. Record when you feel good about one of your paintings. Celebrate your wins. Seeing your growth over time will remind you how far you’ve come.
- Set personal goals. Instead of measuring success against others, focus on your milestones: learn a new technique, finish a certain number of paintings, experiment with a different style, or get into a juried show.
Stay on Your Own Path
The magic of art comes from individuality—your individuality. When we play the comparison game, we rob ourselves of the joy that brought us to painting in the first place. When we say a big YES to our own path, we give ourselves permission to evolve and experiment without the burden or heaviness of trying to be like someone else.
So, next time you catch yourself comparing, pause. Get curious. Ask: What can I learn from this? Then take that inspiration and pour it back into your own work. Stay focused on your journey!
And always remember Theodore Roosevelt’s famous line: “Comparison is the thief of joy.” Yes, but only if you let it.
So tell me, do you do the comparison thing? And how do you stop yourself? I’d love to hear your stories so please leave a comment!
Until next time,
~ Gail
10 thoughts on “Comparison or Curiosity? The Choice That Changes Everything”
Thank you Gail, that was “extremely” helpful!!!
Hah hah! That’s the BEST thing to hear Linda!!
When I was 16 I was just starting to get some pride in my work. I won a local contest and gained yo confidence to apply for a magazine contest. I didn’t win anything, but the worst part was that the winner was a little younger than me and SO GOOD! It blew me away. I was so in awe of his work that my brain went to that exact place you mention at the top of your blog. “Why do I bother?” It took over 30 years for me to enter another contest.
Thank you for your guidance on how to learn from beautiful art rather than attacking ourselves for it. I hope it will help us all to stop those harmful thoughts before they take root.
Ohhhhhh thank you so much for sharing this poignant story Dawn. Crushed at that most vulnerable time! I am sure others will relate. ACK! But now, you are back at it and entering contests. Brava!!!
I think if we can focus on being inspired and lifted up by the artwork we admire and also feel happiness for the artist of the work, we will feel that much better and lighter ourselves.
What a timely post! I have literally stopped painting because of this “comparison” trap as well as other traps we can fall into, particularly as we get more competent. All I have allowed myself to do is to clean my studio and organize it and go through my reference photos. But the comparison thief is but one member of the gang of joy stealers.
The other one is lack of new subjects that delight. It has been a long snowless winter here in Connecticut and therefore nothing new to see or to find thrilling. Those two things combined have really stolen my painting joy lately. I used to paint every day but now I feel like I don’t even want to go into my studio.
Another thief is the “I am sure I made a compositional mistake somewhere even if I can’t see it, therefore my painting is less than acceptable.” I got this one from a video about entering one’s work in a competition. The jurors are choosing from amongst so many pieces that if you make a compositional faux pas yours will be disqualified. Instead of being encouraged because I have had a piece accepted, I am now like a badly trained traffic cop giving myself tickets without even knowing if I have committed a violation.
Negativity, no matter the source, is not productive and steals joy! So right!
Ohhhhh wow Lorna! Thank you for sharing your joy thieves!!
I think regarding your second one – no new subjects to delight – sometimes I think we need a break and it’s okay to take a break! There is a season to everything and accepting that this may be one of those times for you well help relieve you of the frustration and even guilt around not painting. Tidying the study and generally circling can be a good thing!
Your third thief – that’s a doozy! The main thing is….do strong work. Do work that is meaningful to you. Push yourself to create something that feels uniquely yours whether it’s the subject, the colour, the marks, the viewpoint/perspective, the format, a strong value pattern. That’s what will stand out to a juror especially when there are many entries.
And ohhhhh, rejoice in a painting accepted. Time to kick the cop to the curb!! And dance a wee jig of joy!!
thank you for your inspiring response! I will do all that you have suggested! 🙂
Yay!!!
I stopped scrolling Instagram, as it was hindering my creativity and limited my thoughts.
Thanks for your detailed post
Bravo Steven! It takes some determination and a commitment to stop!