Yes, you read that right. What happens when someone tells you your art is good? Do you agree? Do you shy away from the compliment and deny your gift? In this post, I will explore both scenarios so we can learn and paint our best work.

I have been thinking about this question. I am adding new work to my gallery. Yes, the link on my website used to be Artwork but I changed it to Gallery. Gallery seems fancy and you think of a museum filled with all of these wonderful paintings. I never thought of my work in a gallery. Today it warms me to think of my art in a gallery.

Today my students had the task of drawing the Statue of Liberty. My drawing was ok but my student’s drawings were amazing! The students engaged in directed drawing and drew. No one gave them permission. Now I, on the other hand, was embarrassed of my drawing. I should have taken a photo and shared it. Anyway, the children were happily sharing their drawings with their classmates. Ego had nothing to do with this precious moment.

We have worked on Van Gogh’s Starry Night, Georgia O’Keefe’s Flowers, which you know I LOVED, Diego Rivera’s Flower Carrier, and many more. With all of these, my students and I had a wonderful time painting. The feedback I get is, “Wow I didn’t know you are an artist. You have a way with color. Your art is joyful. For some reason, I stumble inside with an Oh really?

I would love to think that I humbly don’t think about my art as good or bad. The reality is that I doubt my work–all the time. Most of my doubt happens as I begin a project and toward the end of my project. The only time when I am not doubting is in the middle of the project. Yes, right in the glorious middle is where the magic happens.

Of course, to get to the middle we must begin. I am working on a lot of projects right now. I’m learning or I should say repeating the world of digitizing and preparing artwork for clients. In a way, it’s great to not have all the answers. In the calm and quietness of the making phase, the ideas and the answers are and will always be there.

The next time someone compliments your art say thank you. Then keep on making art. The ideas are there. We have 1 million ideas yet we don’t act on them because of doubt. Just keep on making art. That is all we have to do.

Let me know what your thoughts are on this topic. Thank you for reading. If you’re not a subscriber, consider subscribing.

With love, Mireya