We all lose confidence.  It happens.  Either we have others influence us, or we simply doubt what we are capable of. 

I, like you, have had people tell me things that tore my confidence down.  Like the time my drawing teacher waltzed me out of class saying "Sweetheart, this clearly isn't for you."  Did drawing become a passion of mine? No.  Never was, and this comment certainly didn't help. 

I'd like to say it was the pivotal comment that had me turn away from my love of drawing, but that's not how it was.  I drew things because I needed to express something in pictures which was easier than trying to explain it. But drawing was never my first love.  It is more of a utility than anything else.  And I'm okay at drawing.  I can express what's on my mind through images.  

When I decided to go full time into my painting career, it was not from a desire to draw, but a curiosity about painting.  How could I get to the painting process without drawing?  I didn't focus on drawing.  Drawing is not the point of my art.  Colour is.  Depicting realistic images is.  Expressing a mood and feeling is definitely the focus. 

I know that if I had to draw the flowers that I paint, I would not be an artist.  I'm not willing to spend 20 hours drawing a flower onto my canvas before I can dive into painting it.  I'll spend 30 hours, 50 hours painting it - no problem.  Like this 39 x 39" Painting of a peony.

So where is the thing that has you stop?  What's the barrier to you making your art?  Where do you lose confidence? 

(I'm really asking you this.... so pause for a moment and consider the things that are stopping you.)

I looked for ways to get to the painting process quickly and in my case the projector was the solution.  I project my image on to the canvas so I can get right to the painting process.  Now some would criticize me for this.  There is a bias in the art world that if you use a projector, or an image to work from, or some other technology that you are 'cheating' somehow.  Not a real artist simply because you aren't free handing everything you create.  

This bias is the problem.  This measurement that we aren't a real artist unless we do things in a certain way.  

I'm kind of done with the judgement.  I want to encourage you to be done with it also.  This is your life, your creative life.  What is the thing that has you lose confidence?  Find a way around it.  You do not have to get stuck at this hurdle. Your art is the point and whatever process you need to create it, is your privilege to decide and use.  

Maybe the fire and passion for your work hasn't kindled strongly yet, For me, I have a fierceness about what I'm spending my life energy doing.  I'm not really open to other people or ideas telling me I'm wrong.  I trust that the fire in my belly, which inspires me to create, is a more trustworthy source to follow. 

Where do you lose your confidence?  Stop it.  Decide what you want.  Learn the skill you need.  Find another way.  Use your creativity to help you design a way that works for you.  Your creative urges are the point and what you contribute is valuable and necessary.  

As I see all the challenges we are facing socially and globally, I know that falling into despair may be a part of the journey.  I also know that my despair over the events of our current times is not going to help anyone.  I will process it all and take care of my emotional/spiritual self along the way, however, what I can do is keep my creative spirit alive and well.  I can continue to contribute beauty and passion by producing my gorgeous paintings.  

I'm reaching thousands of people through my social media channels.  One painting received over 6500 reactions.  Each one of those reactions is evidence that my work affected another human being.  

I don't really care if I'm criticized for using a projector because the end result is that my work is brightening the lives of people all over the world.  The ripple effect of that is unmeasurable.  I feel blessed to do the work that I do and grateful for the gifts I've been given.  

You, your art, your desire, are also a part of this.  What you contribute is necessary and important.  I'm repeating myself here, for a reason.  Judgment, comparison, lack of confidence are all things that are stopping you from sharing your gifts.  Set these limitations down, don't give them any attention.  Find a way to allow yourself to create and share it with everyone you know.  You will have a positive impact and you will inspire other people to meet their day with a bit more hope, a bit more joy, a bit more encouragement.  

This is what we do as artists.  It's not necessarily about what we make, but what we inspire in others.  Please find a way to continue to produce what you feel inspire to.  

Namaste my dear friend. ​

It sure has been a great unfolding. When my client proposed this idea of leaving the pencil sketch, greyscale, then moving to full colour, I really wasn't sure how I was going to pull it off.  My main concern was that the painting would look unfinished.  What unfolded was my process of conceptualizing the idea into a reality.  

As much as I'd like to say I 'knew' how this piece would come together, I'd be lying.  I really didn't know.  Where do I stop and start the greyscale?  How much of the pencil drawing do I leave?  None of the questions could be answered before I simply began. 

I've learned to trust myself, or rather trust my guides.  When it comes to my creative journey, I am really not in the driver's seat.  My intuition, my muse, my creative guides are really guiding me.  I honestly feel that my creative work is a spiritual practice.  I show up and commit to doing the best work I can and my guides agree to show up and lead me.

I trust that I'm exactly where I need to be and I'm so darn grateful for this career, for the beauty I'm creating, for the love I'm sharing with others.  

I do hope you enjoy it as well.  Please leave any comments by clicking below.  

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Last fall I became aware that studio space was available for rent on Granville Island.  Now if you are not local, Granville Island is a wonderful community of artisans, quality food vendors, clothing stores, restaurants, fancy card shop etc.  Wonderful diverse community of stores.  In the main market is the food vendors.  Fresh veggies, specialty butchers, cheese importers, handmade soups, pies, chocolates, you name it, you can likely find it in the market. As well as the Federation of Canadian Artists Gallery and Studios. 

The Federation of Canadian Artists is a not for profit organization that I've been involved with for a couple of years, and it just so happens they have studio space available for artists. 

Again, last fall, I thought it would be wonderful to secure one of these studio spaces. I wasn't sure how to swing it, or what size was available etc.  I hopped in the car on a particular drab day and went to see the spaces in person.  I'm a big advocate of taking your dream for a test drive.  Actually experiencing the space to see if it is a fit.  In this case, I could totally see myself in the space.  I came home dreaming about how I would decorate it and arrange my artwork for maximum effect. The only thing stopping me from taking a space right away was the long wait list of other artists wanting to rent these spaces. 

​I forgot about it and carried on with the painting I had in my home studio to finish.  

I had submitted a piece of artwork to an upcoming show at the Federation so my husband and I drove down there to wander around and have a lovely bowl of our favourite soup.  While we were there, the studio coordinator called and said that there was a space available for me in the studio.  Oh my gosh.  How exciting.  So we walked over and took a look at the space in person.  It would be perfect.  

Yikes.  Now to figure out the finances of it all.  I wasn't sure how I would afford the added expense, but I knew I was going to dig in and make it happen.  I quickly put a call out to my network asking for help and boy did my community come through.  I sold a couple of pieces within a couple of days and this dream became a reality.  

It has now been just over a week that I've had the studio and I've been so productive and loving the community.  I now have 7 other artists that are in the studio with me, working, creating, laughing, and sharing.  It's wonderful. 

This was such a fabulous decision and I'm excited to see what I can create from here.  Here is a commission piece that I'm currently working on.

Thanks for being on this journey with me.  I'd love to hear your comments about my dream coming true or something that came true for you.  Simply comment below.