One thing many people do not know about me is I am terrified to share my artwork (my other fear is public speaking). Strange when weekly I get on LIVE on the internet with no preparation and paint! It was not until my 40's when in spite of my fears I decided to put it all out there. Share what I love and do what I love!
My next storage tip has to do with facing your fears and sharing/storing your completed artwork! I NEVER would share my work unless it was published in a magazine and therefore I felt validated that it was good enough! I was literally the photographer without one photo on my wall! The scrapbooker with her pages tucked away in books on the highest shelf. Crazy when that is such a big part of who I am. This fear of people seeing my work or me comparing it to others was/is stagnating. Now my artwork is out on display in my house (and has also become the best way to sell my original art pieces!)
This is one of my favorite corners of the house right outside my studio:
I still have to catch myself when people are admiring my work and asking if they can buy it (that never gets old!) from saying…are you sure you really want it? Why not? it is a true labor of love and why not show off living your passion every day.
I remember long ago someone asking me where this "art deal would ever lead to"…..the great thing is I have no idea but I sure do love what I do. I get to share it with so many others who get it. AND……my kids see on a daily basis Mom pursuing what she loves. She is not hiding it….in fact it is out on display. Lots of fear, lots of risks but where this "art deal" is taking me I am forever grateful. This is my path…these are my walls, lots of "storage" space!
So what I say to my fellow artists, display your work, be proud of it, give it, donate it…sell it! I encourage you to have an Etsy Store. Sell your work at an art show! Enter the county/state fairs! Just this week I sold 20 journal kits which are on the way to Canada! And I was asked to create a custom piece!
Feel free to visit my Etsy Store: https://www.etsy.com/shop/twstudios
It is not a leap you need to take…a first step. Do what you love and love what you do….the rest just kind of falls into place one fear at a time! Stay tuned for more storage tips.
"You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do." ~Eleanor Roosevelt