Your art matters more than you think!

"Creativity is a wild mind and a disciplined eye."

~Lauren Jauregui

Last week, I bought a painting. In some ways it was a simple transaction, but in others it was profound. 

Many of us worry about selling things and feel as if we're being too pushy when we offer our work for sale, but I think that can change when we realise the importance of art in peoples' lives and the reasons that they buy it.

So let me share my story ... I've wanted one of Jo Last's paintings for a while but I've been waiting for just the right one. When she posted this one on Instagram, I messaged her immediately to ask if it was available. I was so excited when she said yes.

I've been very harried lately, but every time I thought of my new painting, I got this lovely feeling of anticipation. I wondered if it would look the same in person. I wondered exactly how big it was (I had a measurements, but my brain isn't good at translating numbers into something I can imagine). I imagined where it might hang. Most of all, I just looked forward to that delicious moment when it arrived.

That happened on Thursday. I was in the middle of a big work project, so I chose not to open it instantly. Instead I waited until work was done and my pets were fed and the peace of the evening was descending.

Then I took a knife and careful cut into the packaging. As the painting was revealed, I caught my breath.  It's SO beautiful! Just looking at it brings me joy.

It has a simplicity that I often yearn for in my own work and yet there are also many subtle effects and colour shifts that add a beautiful complexity. I think it looks wonderful in a photograph, but it looks even better in person.

It's also huge, and that helped me decide on just the right spot for it. Last year, I redecorated my bedroom and I still haven't hung any art in there. I've been waiting to find just the right things and this is one of those things. It will fit perfectly on the wall to the right of my bed, where I will get to experience it each time I wake up. 

Because it's big, I can't hang it alone, so it's currently resting on the floor. I'm now looking forward to getting help and putting it in just the right spot.

Why am I telling you all this? Because this purchase was a reminder to me. It showed me (once again!) the value of what we do.

This painting was very reasonably priced, but I often struggle to justify spending on luxuries. So for me it was a big leap.

However, it wasn't a leap that was forced or that felt burdensome. It was a leap that felt exciting and expansive. The artist didn't 'push' me into spending money - she simply made her work and shared it. The I responded to the resounding 'YES' that I felt when I saw it.

There were many small moments of joy in this purchase (the moment Joanne said 'yes it's available.' The moment I confirmed my order. The delivery today by Parcelforce. The moment that I cut the package open etc etc). 

But there is also a larger, overarching joy that comes from having said  that resounding 'yes' to something that feels right for me. 

THAT is the gift we give people when we sell our art. Many of us feel afraid of pushing people to spend their hard-earned money. We feel guilty about having taken that money from them and we worry that we're not worth it.

But it's not about about 'taking' anything from them. It's about giving them the opportunity to spend their hard-earned money on something that brings them joy. It's about allowing them to act on that 'yes' when they feel it, and that is profound.

So, my question today is: How would you feel about your work if you REALLY understood this at a deep level? How would you talk about your work if you understood what it brings to someone else's life? How would you value your art differently, and what might shift as a result?