We’ve all been there.

You’re scrolling through Instagram, admiring all the “perfect” abstract paintings on your feed. Every brushstroke seems intentional, every composition perfectly balanced, and the colors? Harmonious and beautiful. Then you glance at your own work in progress… and suddenly it feels like a mess.

Or maybe you’ve walked into a big art store to pick up a few supplies, only to be surrounded by people confidently discussing canvases, pigments, and mediums you’ve never even heard of — and you feel like an imposter.

Abstract art has a way of making us feel vulnerable because it comes from you. There’s no subject to hide behind, no obvious story to tell. Instead, it’s your feelings, your instincts, your sense of color and composition laid bare on canvas for the world (or even just yourself) to see.

That’s why it’s so easy, and so dangerous, to fall into the trap of comparing your work to others.

As someone who’s been painting and teaching abstract art for decades, I can tell you: comparison is one of the fastest ways to kill creativity. And it’s one of the biggest reasons so many people stop painting before they’ve really given themselves a chance to grow.

In this article, I want to walk you through why we compare, how it hurts, and most importantly, some mindset shifts and techniques you can use to stop comparing your work to others and start enjoying your unique artistic journey.

Why We Compare Ourselves in Abstract Painting

Comparison is human. In fact, our brains are wired to compare ourselves to others — it’s how we assess where we stand in a group. But when it comes to creative work, that instinct can quickly turn toxic.

Here are a few common triggers I see over and over in my students:

• Social media perfection: Seeing “finished” abstract paintings online (perfectly lit, cropped, edited) and assuming that’s what it really looks like.
• Professional exhibitions: Attending a gallery show or art festival and feeling like your own work would never belong there.
• Art supply stores and studios: Being surrounded by experienced artists and feeling intimidated by all the things you don’t know yet.

It’s natural to feel a little insecure in those moments. However, what we often forget is that every artist, even those who are Instagram famous, started somewhere. Everyone has an awkward beginning. Everyone creates “ugly” paintings. The only difference is that they didn’t stop.

How Comparison Kills Creativity

When you focus too much on what other artists are doing, it takes you out of your own creative process.

Instead of listening to your intuition, you start second-guessing every choice:

• “Would they use this color?”
• “Is this composition good enough?”
• “What if this doesn’t look like art?”

The joy of abstract painting is that it doesn’t have to look like anything, it just has to feel like you.

I can tell you from personal experience: getting ready for my big summer show this July was incredibly stressful. I knew hundreds of people a day would walk past my pieces, and I caught myself thinking, “What if they don’t measure up?“

But here’s what I reminded myself and what I want to remind you: in the end, it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks unless you’re creating solely for commercial success. And even then, staying true to your own voice is what draws people to your work in the first place.

Your Artistic Voice is Unique

Your abstract paintings no matter how rough, experimental, or imperfect they feel right now, are uniquely yours.

No one else has your life experiences, your sense of color, your way of moving paint on the surface.

And that’s what makes it art.

When you compare yourself to others, you risk losing the very thing that makes your work special. You end up chasing trends instead of developing your own voice.

The sooner you can let go of comparison and embrace your own process, the sooner you’ll start creating work that feels authentic and satisfying.

How to Stop Comparing Your Work to Others

Here are some simple, powerful ways to shift your mindset and break free from comparison:

1. Remember: Everyone Starts Somewhere

Every artist you admire has a whole closet full of “bad” paintings they’d never show the world. No one arrives fully formed. Give yourself permission to be a beginner, no matter how long you’ve been painting.

2. Limit Your Social Media Time

Social media can be inspiring, but also overwhelming. If scrolling leaves you feeling discouraged, take a break. Or at least unfollow accounts that trigger your self-doubt and instead follow artists who are encouraging and transparent about their process.

3. Focus on the Process, Not the Product

When you approach each session as an experiment rather than a performance, you free yourself to take risks and make discoveries. That’s where growth happens.

Try setting a timer and giving yourself 30 minutes to paint purely for yourself. (If you need help getting started, check out my 30-minute stress buster exercise here.)

4. Keep a Visual Journal

Document your work as you go. Not just the “good” pieces but also the messy, experimental ones. When you look back in a few weeks or months, you’ll see how far you’ve come.

5. Find a Supportive Community

Join a class or workshop with a teacher and peers who value encouragement over criticism. One of the most powerful things about teaching is watching how quickly people grow when they feel supported instead of judged.

6. Practice Gratitude for Your Unique Journey

At the end of each painting session, write down one thing you’re proud of. Maybe it’s the way you mixed a color, or the way you kept going even when it got hard. Every step counts.

Final Thoughts

I know how vulnerable painting can feel, even after years of practice and dozens of shows, I still feel that little knot of doubt in my stomach sometimes before I start a new piece.

But I also know this: every time I paint anyway, every time I choose to listen to my own voice instead of comparing myself to someone else, the work gets better.

Your journey is yours alone. And that’s what makes it worth taking.

Trust yourself. The world doesn’t need another copy of someone else; it needs you.

ABOUT ANDREA CERMANSKI

I am an artist out of Santa Fe, New Mexico who has been painting for almost 30 years. I love to teach first-timers as well as experienced painters who need a creative reboot. My work has been displayed in several galleries around the country, and I have a Bachelor’s in Art History, a Master’s in Art Education, and had my work in a show juried by Judy Chicago. The idea of getting more people painting makes me light up as I want to inspire more people to express their creative selves and tap into a place of joy and calm.

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