Are You Nurturing Your Creative Practice?

Often people tell me they wish they had more confidence. They want to submit their work to shows or galleries, or simply to share it online, but they don't. They doubt themselves too much.  

I had a fascinating conversation this week for our podcast (which is shared at the bottom of this email). I was speaking to Sally-Anne Ashley, who is a British artist and teacher. We've become quite friendly over the past few years, but we rarely see each other because we live quite far apart.

That's why our Zoom chats are always a joy. Sally-Anne thinks very deeply about her art practice, and I think she may be the most centered artist I know.

What do I mean by that?  I mean that she has quieted a lot of the little voices that trip us up as we make our work. She pays no attention to what other people think, staying focused on her own journey.  This gives her work a freedom and authenticity that is quite rare.

During our conversation, we chuckled over the fact that we don't share our work with friends and family. We already know what they will say. Some of my favourites are:

"Is that the right way up?"

"What is it supposed to be?" and, 

"I see an elephant in there."

Apparently Sally-Anne gets the same reactions. And yet we both keep going, confident that we're on the right track.

Today I want to share our secret. It isn't that we feel super-talented or that we believe we're special. It isn't because people around us boost our egos (clearly!). And it isn't because a powerful gatekeeper reached out and selected us for success (they didn't!)

It's simply that we understand one thing... we understand that artists have one super-power and that is ourselves. As artists we have only our own tastes, our own preferences, and our own path to follow. The closer we get to ourselves, the better and more unique our work becomes.

I do not always get this right. Sometimes I stray from my own path and slip into bad habits, looking for outside inspiration or validation. But I'm better at recognising when that happens and I'm better at pulling myself back. I know I am the only one who can guide me and I know the signposts are simple:

What do I love?

What do I want to do more of?

What feels amazing?

What feels exciting?

There is no other part of my life where this is how I decide. In other areas of life I have to consider other people. Or sometimes, what I love isn't good for me. For example, I might love cake, but I don't allow myself to just eat cake because cake has no nutrients and would make me ill.

Art isn't like the rest of life. Nothing bad happens when we indulge ourselves. In fact, only good things come from following exactly what we want to do.

As we follow what we love, we start to make unique choices. As we make unique choices, our work starts to look and feel unique. And when our work is unique, others are drawn to it.

So this week, I want to ask you to consider this idea of being true to yourself. How good are you at shutting out others' opinions? How closely do you follow your own calling vs doing things that you feel are expected?Are there times when you make things you don't like? Are there times when you avoid doing what you secretly want to do?

If any of this resonates, how about making your next studio session all about YOU. How about doing exactly what you want to do, without any need for it to make sense.... you'll thank me :)