Staying inspired
Staying inspired is one of the toughest challenges for an artist. There are seemingly endless hurdles to overcome on the way to “success” that it can feel impossible at times. I like to surround myself with inspirational quotes to keep me going…like the one on my coffee mug this morning by Anatole France:
To accomplish great things, we must not only act but also dream, not only plan but also believe.
Believing in what you’re doing is so important for creativity. It’s easy to get discouraged when you have a “bad show” and it seems like no one appreciates your art. It can make you question your own sanity, wonder if you really know what you’re doing. I guess that’s why so many seasoned artists said to me early on that I needed to get a thick skin. Now that I’ve got several years in the business, I interpret that to mean something like the following:
Do what you do because you love it…forget about what everyone else thinks. Eventually, you’ll find your audience.
So, occasionally I still have a “bad show” where I don’t sell much, and I get a bit down. But now instead of doubting myself or my art, I simply think to myself that this was not my audience, and that I need to try some different shows to find those special people–the ones who “get it”, the ones who love what I create as much as I do. What helps is remembering the awesome shows….like the Houston Bayou Spring show I did last year where I had 5 people waiting in line to purchase something, and at least as many more in the booth looking…..all day! That was so affirming and exciting that it still energizes me.
Thanks for loving FOXY Fusions by the way! You keep me putting one foot in front of the other!
