The folks over at Big Think have posted a fantastic little video interview with Julian Schnabel (painter and filmmaker) about overcoming creative obstacles. The video is short (less than three minutes long) and well worth a watch.

If you can’t spare the three minutes, though, here’s my favorite quote:

“…if you don’t paint you can’t be a painter; if you don’t write you can’t be a writer; if you don’t film something you’re not a filmmaker. So all those people that are sitting around thinking “God I might make a bad film,” or “I might make a bad painting,” or “Maybe somebody won’t like this,” you’re doomed if that’s going to deter you from that. We all have insecurities and doubts, but I think that it’s better to make a mistake than not to do anything. If you win you win and if you lose you win.”

Insecurity and doubt are some of the biggest challenges I face as an artist, and I know many others who struggle with them as well. It’s nice to hear such a poignant reminder that we shouldn’t let anything get in the way of putting ourselves, and our work, out into the world.

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