Keeping the Wind In My Sails

Confidence is...
the wind 
in my sails. 

Confidence
is silent...
Insecurities 
are Loud.


I love being an artist...
but, being an artist requires having confidence and having thick skin. Over the years, I have learned to 'convince' myself that, when it comes to my art, I have confidence. But I have to be honest, it is a struggle sometimes. Especially when someone knocks the wind out of my sails a bit.

I think most artists, whether they want to admit it or not, can be a little insecure about their creations. Putting your art OUT THERE for others to see, can be a boost to your confidence, OR it can be a blow to your confidence. It can be as simple as getting accepted into an art show, getting a huge thank you from a happy customer, or the insecurity can come from news that you did NOT get into a show that you wanted to be in. Or it can be a off-handed remark from a family member, friend, or stranger, that says, 'I can do that' or 'why do you do that' or 'why didn't you do it the other way?

I received both a huge thank you from a customer this week, and from another customer, a negative response to a custom piece. And this blow to my confidence just happened to come on my birthday this week. I was having a good day, up until that email.  Being a people pleaser, it crushed me to know that my vision, was not my customers vision.  

Custom orders can be tricky. You never know if you have the same vision as what your customer wants. That is why so many artists do not do custom work. It is difficult work. More difficult than just creating your own vision of what you love and then selling it.  It may be too small, too big, the wrong color, or not the style they wanted.

So, as I pull myself back up and dust my confidence off, I reminded myself that I cannot please 100% of the people 100% of the time.
I will continue to create what I love and hope that people who love my work will find me and help to keep the wind in my sails.


 Beth♥