A Site for Emerging Artists
Posts tagged confidence
Take the Leap
Jan 20th
By Carolyn Edlund
On July fourth weekend of 2006, I struggled into a jumpsuit and strapped on a parachute. After climbing in with an instructor and a pilot and ascending high above southern Pennsylvania, I threw myself out of an airplane.
The thing about skydiving is that you can’t just do it halfway. You have to jump purposefully, spread eagle. And you have to arch your back, because you want to be falling with your face down, knowing where you are going. It keeps your center of gravity down and balanced in the air. If you start 
tumbling and getting disoriented, you have a serious problem, which could get messy.
I didn’t go skydiving because I thought it would be fun. I did it because I knew it would be uncomfortable. And I also knew this: If I can conquer skydiving, what it is that I cannot do?
Launching your art career can be an uncomfortable experience too. You have to be able to deliberately put yourself into situations that are difficult and scary and open to failure. It is through these experiences that you open your horizons and become more comfortable with putting yourself and your work out there. Allow yourself to be uncomfortable. Do it anyway. Then you will know there is nothing you cannot do.
Have you been turned down so much that you could wallpaper your bathroom with the rejection letters? Use those failures as a learning experience. What do you need to learn or improve this year that will help you reach your goal? Embrace those difficulties and see the opportunities that they ultimately offer. Your only limits are those you place on yourself.
In the immortal words of Frankenfurter “Don’t dream it, be it.” It’s 2010, a new year. Are you ready to launch yourself and take the leap? Jump purposefully, spread eagle. Arch your back.
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TumblrOwn Your Identity as an Artist
Dec 17th
By Carolyn Edlund
Are you an artist? It can be an easy question to answer, or a difficult one.
What is your definition of an artist? Someone involved full-time in their artwork? A commercially successful person? A person with great ideas?
Defining “artist” is part of owning your identity as an artist. When we feel that we love art, study art, make art but cannot identify ourselves as artists, we limit ourselves emotionally and professionally. Cross over the line and allow yourself to think of yourself as an artist. Own that identity. What we think, we create.
Steps to try and for discussion:
- Identify yourself as an artist. Put this on your profile – on Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, your resume.
- Tell others. You may lack confidence, but this is a major step in reinforcing your identity. It inspires you to follow through.
- Take pride in your identity. Artists have a “mystique” – others appreciate and value artists who have a talent they would love to have. Observe how people react to your statement that you are an artist. This can be powerful – and affirming!
- Allow yourself to be imperfect. Take a look at how self-criticism can limit you.
- Appreciate your gifts. You are incredibly fortunate to have talent, a creative mind and means of expression. Having an “attitude of gratitude” works for everyone, and is a great energy which draws others to us.
Featured Artist Julia Hacker
