Is Sharing Your Art Worth the Risk?

Last week at church, one of our members handed me a packet. Inside was a lyric sheet and a recording of a song she wrote. She asked if I would listen to it and give her some feedback on the song. I could see she was nervous and had given a lot of thought to this. She wasn’t sure what I would think.

She took a risk in sharing her art.

This Spring I have a small eBook coming out called The Artist’s Suitcase: 26 Essentials for the Creative Journey. I recently sent a copy to a friend asking for some feedback. I wasn’t sure if he would like it, or what criticisms he might have of what I’d written.

I took a risk in sharing my art.

I’ll bet there is a project you’re working on right now (possibly even several). You’re excited about the potential of impacting others and all the great things that come with sharing what you’re created. But you’re also concerned that someone may not like it or appreciate it.

You must take a risk in sharing your art.

Anytime you create something, there is always an inherent risk in sharing it with others. That’s the nature of the creative process. Whether you’re making music, stories, drawing, or even a meal, there is always the possibility that it won’t connect with someone.

Is it worth the risk to share your art? Is it worth the possibility of being disappointed, rejected or misunderstood?

The answer is a resounding “yes!” for four reasons:

1. When you share your art, you’re creating out of passion instead of fear. You cannot create meaningful art when you are constantly afraid of what people will think. Great art comes from passion and purpose, not pandering to the opinions of others. (Click to tweet this.)

2. When you share your art, you have the potential to influence others. It’s much easier to stay in the shadows where it’s comfortable, knowing that you could do something, but didn’t. But if you have the potential to do something, and never take action, it’s as if the potential never existed. And worst of all, it eliminates the chance to influence others with your art.

3. When you share your art, you give others the courage to do the same. The world needs artists who will demonstrate the kind of boldness and leadership that compels others to take action. When you are generous with your creative work, it prompts your followers to do the same thing.

4. When you share your art, you have the opportunity to learn from others. Yes, you will sometimes be criticized unfairly, and sometimes in ways that are mean or spiteful. But you will also be critiqued in ways that constructive and helpful. You won’t be able to learn and grow if you never make your art available for others to evaluate and enjoy.

Make no mistake. Being an artist is risky business. There is always the potential that people won’t appreciate you or understand you. That’s the chance you take when you’re a creative person trying to touch people’s lives.

So is sharing your art worth the risk? Absolutely. If you don’t share your art with the world, you will miss the opportunity to connect with others and impact the world in a way that is uniquely yours.

Question: What is the greatest risk you have ever taken in sharing your art?