Don't take it personally!

Something I have to be so careful of for myself, is to not take what others say personally and change who I am.  People can say some really awful things without realizing how their words can hurt.  I can’t take things personally both as an artist and as a person.  I can get all wrapped up in that drama when I don’t have to.  I have let others opinions change how I create.  I do paint a lot of commission pieces and yes my clients have input into the final product.  But it is still my painting, done my way, and not everyone will like it.  I am learning to be okay with that and as long as I like it that has to be good enough.  It’s a risk.  Every time I do a painting, every time I do a commission piece I take that risk.  I have to be okay with that and not let it stop me from creating.   I have at different times in my life changed what I wanted to paint because someone else wanted me to paint their way.  It never works out for long. 

I remember back when I was a teenager and just beginning to explore what I could do as a painter, I applied for an art scholarship for college.  My grandmother was on the board of this group so I figured I had a good shot at it.  I did a portrait of Jimi Hendrix, one of my favorite performers.  Jimi had a huge Fro, so in his portrait his hair went out of the painting.  I focused on his face.  I was really proud of the painting, however the jury thought the hair should all be in the portrait.  They did say the work was much better than the others but his hair went off the painting and they didn’t like that.  I came in second.  I was so mad.  I started painting portraits  with all the hair in the portrait but you know what, they weren’t as good and the ones with the hair that flew out of the frame.  So I went back to painting as I saw it, hair in or out of the painting.

Today I do listen to my patrons because they are the customer and all my years in sales say they are right.  I want those buying my work to love it so if I have to alter something here or there that’s perfectly fine, I’m happy to do that so keep raving fans!!