All in empowerment
How do you pull yourself out of artistic depression? I knew I had to take myself away. To burn off all resistance and confront my fear. Two weeks in Japan. Yet every morning I’d wake up and wonder why I was putting myself through this test. Was it worth it?
Do we truely value what we do? If the answer is no, is this about the ‘tall poppy’ syndrome or living ‘under the radar’ as a woman, to not draw attention to yourself? This undervaluing can translate into how you value your own creations and artworks. What do you choose to exhibit or share?
I continually ask myself about the relevance of art and creativity. Is art relevant and why? I have been trying to understand the nature of duality and finding hope when we witness war. How do we navigate conflict? What role does art in its many forms play in creating the future and changing perceptions?
The old self doubt can creep into your thoughts when you are about to do something a bit scary, a bit out there, or wild and ambitious. It can completely derail all your plans and decisions. I call it “the wobbles”. It’s good to be prepared so you can know what to do when they strike.
The call to adventure is strong in me as I succumb to weeks of restlessness, like the Sea Rat in The Wind in the Willows. Taking any kind of journey, creating movement of one kind or another, changes the energy, exhorting us to become wayfarers all.
This week I listened to my inner voice, booked a ticket to London Heathrow, caught a train to Mansfield in Nottinghamshire and bought a motorhome. Some people thought I was mad to do such a wild thing, but there were others who encouraged me to keep going, so I did.
I’ve lost count of the number of synchronicities that have happened in my life. When you say yes to opportunities and chance meetings with people, sometimes the best experiences present themselves.
Some of the things we do as artists are audacious. If we want to make an impact with our art, we need to dream big and that often means we need to invest forward. Believing in your project and the timely opportunities that come with it only happen when you begin it.
It can be pretty scary thinking about how to talk about your art. The best way to create a talk with ease, is to know the 4 things about your art: your Who, What, How and Why. These are the essential ingredients for a 2 minute “elevator” pitch or a longer talk about your art on the wall.
Picture yourself at your own art exhibition. Someone you admire is introducing you and your art works to an audience. It’s like having a magic mirror reflecting back at you. You feel validated as an artist, whether someone buys your work or not.
How do you price your artwork, especially when you are starting out? Valuing yourself for where you are on your journey means embracing all your perceived ‘failures’ and keeping on going. I know now that the more I exhibit, the more I value what I do and why I do it.
How much do you value yourself? Do you give yourself permission to go on really wild and scary adventures? I have given myself permission to take a helicopter ride to view the active volcano in Iceland, if it is still erupting in April 2022. It is something even a year ago I wouldn’t have contemplated.
There have been scary moments in my life when I came close to catastrophe. Like when we were travelling in our horse and wagon and disaster nearly struck. That was when I learned a very hard won truth. I had to surrender and hand over the reins.
Rebellious daughters. We did everything we could to avoid the “domestic arts” and all they represented. Transforming a legacy of domestic skills into unapologetic art.
What is the purpose of art? Is is it to be pretty or to challenge our notions of who we are at the deepest level? Today is the start of NAIDOC week and we are called to have a “deep challenging national story” around how our Indigenous art and artists can lead the way we see ourselves as Australians.
The only way to grow is to expand your thinking. I’ve invested in myself many times over even when I didn’t have the money upfront. It has always paid off although I couldn’t see the outcome at the start. Gamble on your creativity - for hard work and investing in yourself pay off.
I love lighthouses.These powerful beams of light are a metaphor for connection, across the seas and lands. Having an online business is a bit like that. Shining a light from an online platform to inspire others.
I’m a great believer in intuition. That “sixth sense” when you know someone is watching you, or you know that a friend needs you to ring them. Activating your intuition when making art means you are connecting your hands to your heart which guides your inner knowing so you trust in the process of creation.
I started my daily art works for the year painting vegetables. It wasn’t making me happy. That was when I remembered advice I had read from my mentor and business coach Sigrun who shared a process called start, stop, continue.
My word for 2021 is BALANCE. I remember my dad working every day of the week. So I’ve decided to take Sundays off and am stepping away from my computer. Time for some Sunday adventures - it’s the new balance in my life.
