Why do you dislike your work

As artists, we all know that feeling - the moment you step back from your work and think This isn’t quite what I had in mind. In my case it often is: what is this for a piece of sh!t?
How annoying, you’ve got big ideas, but your hands can’t seem to translate them onto the pictures, canvas or writing the way you imagine.

This is a tricky moment, one that can determine whether you give up or continue pushing forward. The key is recognizing that your dissatisfaction is not a sign of failure, but a sign of growth.

How the artist is born

When we start out as artists, we often have an idea of what we want our work to look like. But when you begin, the result feels like a far cry from your vision. This is where the discomfort often starts.

At this stage, it’s just your skills which don’t quite align with your artistic vision. Your taste is a few steps ahead of where you are technically in your craft, and that gap can be a source of disappointment.
Your sense of what is “good” or “right” in art - is more developed than your ability to execute it. You know what excellence looks like, but your current skill set doesn’t allow you to create it just yet. 

But here’s the thing: this disconnection between taste and skill is part of what drives you forward. It pushes you to improve, to practice, and to refine your craft until what you create matches your aspirations.

When frustration is a good thing

If you’ve ever looked at your work and felt this sense of frustration, you’re not alone. In fact, it is often a good sign - it means you have a standard, and you’re unwilling to compromise on it. 

However, this period can also bring a lot of self-doubt. You may feel that your work doesn’t reflect your true potential or that it falls short of what you’re capable of achieving. 

Many quit here. Don’t do it and you will thank yourself later.

Work, work, work. Because this is when growth happens. Over time, as you practice and refine your skills, you begin to realize it's like adding bricks to a foundation, even if you can't see the finished structure just yet.

When Skill Meets Ambition

As you continue practicing, your skills will gradually improve. Slowly but surely, the gap between your taste and your skill will eventually close.

So, if you’re finding yourself dissatisfied with your work, don’t be discouraged. The skills you’re developing now will one day align with your ambitions, and when they do, you’ll look back and realize that those moments of discomfort were actually the most important ones in your creative process.

In the end, it’s about process and progress, right? Keep practicing, keep learning, and remember that your taste is a reflection of the artist you’re slowly becoming.

Skill matching the taste doesn’t come from sudden insight — it grows from regular, attentive practice. That’s the idea behind my 100-Day Photography Programme: 100 prompts designed to help you notice more, explore visual decisions, and gradually recognise what feels most like you.