A Better Way
As I rummaged through piles in the back corners of my studio, I came across a sign I made a number of years ago to post in my art-making space. The words by art reviewer Robert Hughes read: “The greater the artist, the greater the doubt; perfect confidence is granted to the less talented as a consolation prize.”
I thought back to my first reading of these words. How reassured I felt by the realization that this highly regarded art evaluator did not equate lack of confidence with lack of quality. I recalled the elation I experienced when one of my works was deemed good enough to be included in a juried regional or national show. But, I also remembered the agony I went through when a piece was not accepted. I would react with a range of negative emotions including disappointment, anger, doubt, hopelessness, and so on.
With the discovery of the Hughes words, I thought, “Here is a way to help me muddle through the down-and-out periods.” And I didn’t reserve this gem of a quote just for art show rejections either. I would mentally repeat the words to myself each time a less-than feeling would pop into my head. This worked like a charm for a while - giving me the confidence boost I needed to feel better fast, get back to work, and make more art.
Eventually, I realized the roller-coaster-life of competing with others in the making of art - or doing of anything else – was not the way I wanted to live. Ultimately, I stopped comparing my art – myself and my life – with others and I started to focus on the Wisdom Within. Over the years, this approach proved to be a better way. In addition to bolstering self-assurance and courage, it cultivated competence.
As we strive for excellence, we can continue to enter the results of our work in solo shows, group exhibitions, and juried competitions. But we never need to place our work or our self in a better-than or less-than position with another or others. Instead, we can resolve to do our own thing in our own special way the very best we can. As we do this, an ever expanding variety of venues will become available to us for the sharing of our special something with others.
Rather than riding the rough seas of emotional reactions, we can upgrade to the high flight joy of cruising on the wings of creativity. We can consciously choose to listen to the Wisdom Within. We can learn to recognize and respond to the guidance that comes from our Innate Creativity concerning the whats and the how tos, the whens and the wheres. And, we can delight in the everyday discoveries we are making in our art and in our life.
Bon voyage,
Pamela
P.S. In the words of Julia Cameron, “. . . let go of the drama of being a suffering artist. Get out of the way. Let [the creative force] work through you. Accumulate pages, not judgments.”
I will be teaching two Art Classes in Rome, NY this summer.
1. Open Studio Art Workshop, 1-4 pm, Wednesdays -July 9, 16, 23, & 30 at the Ava Dorfman Senior Citizen Center, Rome, NY . Call (315) 337-8230 to register.
2. CREATIVITY InsideOut Class, 1-4 pm, Tuesdays – August 5, 12, 19, & 26 at the Art & Community Center, Rome, NY. Call (315) 336-1040 to register.
Visit http://www.creativityinsideout.com/for information about my Creativity Classes, Workshops, Presentations, Coaching Services and to subscribe to the Pam Hart CONNECTING Note.
Words & Images © Copyright 2008 by Pamela Walker Hart.
If you wish to copy this material or add it to other publications or mail lists, please contact me for permission.
I thought back to my first reading of these words. How reassured I felt by the realization that this highly regarded art evaluator did not equate lack of confidence with lack of quality. I recalled the elation I experienced when one of my works was deemed good enough to be included in a juried regional or national show. But, I also remembered the agony I went through when a piece was not accepted. I would react with a range of negative emotions including disappointment, anger, doubt, hopelessness, and so on.
With the discovery of the Hughes words, I thought, “Here is a way to help me muddle through the down-and-out periods.” And I didn’t reserve this gem of a quote just for art show rejections either. I would mentally repeat the words to myself each time a less-than feeling would pop into my head. This worked like a charm for a while - giving me the confidence boost I needed to feel better fast, get back to work, and make more art.
Eventually, I realized the roller-coaster-life of competing with others in the making of art - or doing of anything else – was not the way I wanted to live. Ultimately, I stopped comparing my art – myself and my life – with others and I started to focus on the Wisdom Within. Over the years, this approach proved to be a better way. In addition to bolstering self-assurance and courage, it cultivated competence.
As we strive for excellence, we can continue to enter the results of our work in solo shows, group exhibitions, and juried competitions. But we never need to place our work or our self in a better-than or less-than position with another or others. Instead, we can resolve to do our own thing in our own special way the very best we can. As we do this, an ever expanding variety of venues will become available to us for the sharing of our special something with others.
Rather than riding the rough seas of emotional reactions, we can upgrade to the high flight joy of cruising on the wings of creativity. We can consciously choose to listen to the Wisdom Within. We can learn to recognize and respond to the guidance that comes from our Innate Creativity concerning the whats and the how tos, the whens and the wheres. And, we can delight in the everyday discoveries we are making in our art and in our life.
Bon voyage,
Pamela
P.S. In the words of Julia Cameron, “. . . let go of the drama of being a suffering artist. Get out of the way. Let [the creative force] work through you. Accumulate pages, not judgments.”
I will be teaching two Art Classes in Rome, NY this summer.
1. Open Studio Art Workshop, 1-4 pm, Wednesdays -July 9, 16, 23, & 30 at the Ava Dorfman Senior Citizen Center, Rome, NY . Call (315) 337-8230 to register.
2. CREATIVITY InsideOut Class, 1-4 pm, Tuesdays – August 5, 12, 19, & 26 at the Art & Community Center, Rome, NY. Call (315) 336-1040 to register.
Visit http://www.creativityinsideout.com/for information about my Creativity Classes, Workshops, Presentations, Coaching Services and to subscribe to the Pam Hart CONNECTING Note.
Words & Images © Copyright 2008 by Pamela Walker Hart.
If you wish to copy this material or add it to other publications or mail lists, please contact me for permission.
Labels: art, Cameron, CNYWS, creativity, Creativity Coach, Hughes, NAWA, NLAPW, Pam Hart, Pam Hart Connecting Note, Pam Walker Hart, Pamela Walker Hart, SLMM, Wisdom Within
posted by pam walker hart at 6:31 PM
0 comments
