I Hide My Work in Progress

When you’re an artist and use social media, there is a lot of advice out there that says one should show their work in process, to show what happens behind the scenes, and to show uncompleted artworks. I don’t do this. I don’t like to and here’s why.

Showing uncompleted work puts pressure on me to make sure the final product turns out “good”.

And not everything I make is good. I think most people that pursue a creative endeavour will know that there are many, many pieces that should just never be seen by other eyeballs. And as I work on any project I don’t know until the end whether it was a worthwhile artwork. I need the freedom to experiment and make mistakes so that I can grow creatively rather than relying on things that have worked in the past. If I show a work in progress, I feel too pressured to make the final “perfect” which it never can be.

Partially completed work can change drastically through the process.

Showing any part of that makes me feel like I have to stay on a specific course. Sometimes I completely change an artwork midway through and if I did that while showing the work in progress I feel like people would be disappointed that it’s changed.

It stays “mine” for longer.

During the process of creating something, I feel like I have full control over the world Im working in. I choose the texture, colour and subject. I chose the pace and surroundings. I am in my own bubble. But that bubble is brief and only exists until the work is finished. Because once it’s done, I lose all feeling of ownership. I’d be happy to give the work away at that point! (if It meant i could still cover my rent) It’s no longer mine and Im done with it. But during the time that I do feel ownership, I want to retain it. And sharing on social media lessens that.

There are a lot of things that you’re “supposed” to do as an artist. Showing works in progress (WIPs) is one of those things. I prefer to not and when I have in the past it affected the process in a negative way. I end up showing less on social media but I don’t know that that is a bad thing. As social media tends to cheapen art anyways; by making it something to just scroll past instead of understanding the hours and days it takes to create.