Fear of Art Making

“You don’t have to be fearless to begin — you only need a little willingness, a little space, and a lot of self-compassion.”

The Most Common Block I See in Art Therapy

Over the past ten years as a therapist engaging in art psychotherapy, I’ve noticed a common thread that often holds people back from engaging in the creative process: fear. Whether it’s fear of judgment or criticism, fear of trying something unfamiliar, or fear of what might be uncovered emotionally, these feelings are deeply human and incredibly valid.

The creative process, while full of potential for healing and joy, can also feel vulnerable and exposing. And yet — that’s also what makes it powerful.

The Fear of Judgment

One of the most common things I hear is:

“I’m no good at drawing.”

While this might sound like a straightforward and possibly even factual statement, it often reflects a deeper fear of judgment or may be indicative of active self-criticism. When we take time to explore it, there’s usually a story underneath — a memory of being criticized for something creative, maybe by a teacher, sibling, or parent. These moments can dim the spark of creativity, sometimes even forming a core creative wound.

Add to that a desire for perfection, and we may find ourselves trapped in a cycle of self-criticism and fear that paralyzes creative expression before it even begins.

The Fear of Trying Something New

Fear of trying something new is incredibly common — and completely human. It serves as protection against the unknown, failure, or external (and internal) criticism. But that same fear can also become a barrier to personal growth, play, and skill-building.

Saying “no” might keep us safe, but it can also keep us stuck. The risk of creativity opens doors to experimentation, coordination, intuition, and surprise — but only if we feel supported enough to try.

The Fear of Self-Discovery

Often, beneath the more visible fears lies a deeper one: the fear of what might be discovered.

Creative expression has a way of bypassing our usual internal editor — the part of us that censors our words to stay socially appropriate or emotionally contained. When we create art, that editor quiets down, and new thoughts, feelings, and truths can emerge.

This can feel unsettling, even frightening — especially if we’re not sure what’s waiting beneath the surface. But it can also be the beginning of a profound healing journey.

What Do We Do with All This Fear?

You always have choices.

One choice is to honor your fear and decide not to take the plunge. Sometimes the timing isn’t right, the environment doesn’t feel safe, or your emotional bandwidth is already stretched thin. Honoring those limits is an act of self-respect.

Another choice is to gently challenge the fear, engaging with creativity when conditions feel supportive enough. If you do take that step, start by redefining what success means.

If success means perfection, it’s a guaranteed loss.

If success means courage, it’s a guaranteed win.

From there, you can layer in other intentions:

• Learn something new

• See if it becomes fun once you get the hang of it

• Notice which textures, shapes, or sounds feel good

• Discover what colors you like or that lift your mood

And when negative thoughts creep in, offer yourself a soft reframe. This small shift supports an internal environment where creativity can feel safe again — maybe for the first time in a long time.

Honoring the Wound and Offering Courage

If there’s a creative wound inside you, it deserves gentleness. Let yourself name what pleased you about your process, not just the product. Celebrate the courage it took to even try.

The fear of discovering something painful is real. Denial, at its best, protects us from overwhelm. Coming into new awareness can hurt. As a therapist, I witness it. As a human, I get it.

I often ask myself: “Will this pain grow me, or just hurt me more?”

When the answer is growth, I lean in. When the answer is “just more hurt,” I choose rest. Courage looks different every day. Sometimes it’s showing up, and sometimes it’s stepping back.

My Own Beginning

If any of this feels familiar, you’re not alone. My own fear of art making was enormous. Shaking knees. Speechlessness. Nausea. Shame spirals. I wish I were exaggerating, but I’m not. It was raw and terrifying. All while also noticing a deep internal wanting to create. Somewhere along the way, I came across a quote by Arthur Ashe, African American tennis champion and AIDS activist, that met me exactly where I was and showed me a way forward:

“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.”

• Start where you are — however uncertain or afraid you feel just start.

• Use what you have — whether it’s crayons, a pen, or your finger on a foggy window.

• Do what you can — a line, a shape, a moment of creative curiosity and honesty.

That shift — from polished to present, from pretty to real, from product to process — changed everything. Art making became something I looked forward to. Something I now rely on as part of my own mental health self-care.

A Gentle Invitation… and a Challenge

If you’re standing at the edge of creative expression, unsure whether to leap, know this:

You don’t have to be fearless to begin.

You don’t need to know where it’s going.

You just need a bit of willingness, a safe-enough space, and a lot of kindness for yourself.

Art doesn’t ask for perfection.

It only asks that you show up — as you are.

A gentle challenge for exploration: 

Grab a sheet of paper (typing, post-it, grocery bag, it doesn’t matter), 

Grab something to scribble with (pen, pencil, crayon, whatever is easy and close), 

Close your eyes and take a deep breath or three, 

Tune in to whatever feeling or sensation is present, 

Scribble with eyes still closed for 30 seconds expressing what you noticed,

Open your eyes with curiosity and respect as this is an expression of vulnerability,

Add more lines or fill in shapes if it feels right,

Thank yourself for trying something new, for taking a risk, and for being real.  

July 2, 2025 Merilee Minshew, LPC, MAAT

Merilee is a mental health therapist in Houston, Tx, she loves her work as a therapist, making art, hooping, and an assortment of other odds and ends.