Is it normal to be surprised by my old artwork

I get this with writing music art, we don't realiZe how much we change and how impermanent each moment is. And the stuff ur making now that u think is shit compared to your older stuff there will come a day where you prefer what you're making in this time period. We have this hierarchical way of categorizing but it only feels true in each moment and often disagrees with itself when remeasured at different times especially with something as multifaceted as art

Perhaps you habitally underestimate yourself? It's also possible that you may have forgotten how good you were.

Relatable. Looking back at some of my old work it's just... how did I do that?

i think so , what really matters is were you haveing a fun time doing the art when you were doing it? thats all that really matters. when i was 16 i painted a painting in an art class , it was the class best . i wanted to be an artist , but i was told by society it didnt need artists , they wanted scientist , so i became a brilliant scientists instead. now im retired , im no longer a scientist . An artist is always an artist even retired the art lives on as proof.