Read on Twitter
Self Belief – What’s that?
A thread
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="⬇️" title="Pfeil nach unten" aria-label="Emoji: Pfeil nach unten"> https://karenerasmus.com/2021/04/26/self-belief-whats-that/">https://karenerasmus.com/2021/04/2...
A thread
Where do you find support and encouragement when you work alone? I signed up to attend a SCWBI ( https://australiaeastnz.scbwi.org"> https://australiaeastnz.scbwi.org ) event for illustrators.
I would love share some of my work for & #39;peer review& #39; (when I& #39;ve figured out what that is) but honestly, after ten years of working as a professional illustrator, I& #39;m not sure I& #39;m ready for that!
Unsurprisingly, I work at home. Recently it& #39;s become a very pleasant co-working space with my husband and uni-student daughter, so now I have people to chat to in my coffee breaks.
But for years I& #39;ve communicated with other illustrators just through the occasional social media message or comment. It& #39;s an isolated work existence but I like it and if you look for support and encouragement it can be found easily.
Winding paths.
My path into a career in illustration has been long and meandering through various obstacles and achievements. I& #39;ve raised three kids during it for a start. But the biggest lumbering boulder to overcome has been & #39;self confidence& #39;.
I was told in school that I didn& #39;t have enough confidence. I had no clue what it meant then or how I could get it. I& #39;m not sure I know now. It& #39;s a mountain I& #39;m just not equip to climb.
Just keep climbing.
I first dipped my toe into the world of illustration 23 years ago when I naively took my portfolio to to be reviewed at AOI (Association of Illustrators) in London. It didn& #39;t go at all well. I was clearly wasting the reviewers precious time.
She didn& #39;t tell me outright that my work was rubbish but she may as well have. When I told her our plans to move to Australia she said & #39; mmm, try showing your illustrations there. If you& #39;re competing against just a couple of sheep you might have a chance& #39;. Nice.
I didn& #39;t do any form of artwork for 5 years after that. I had a similar experience after completing my illustration diploma here. Fortunately it didn& #39;t stop me from sending my work to publishers!
Not so healthy competition
Now though, I don& #39;t have to look to others to crush my self belief. I can do it all by myself! With a certain mindset whilst looking through artists instagram accounts.
The one thing that is guaranteed to make me feel useless is looking at other peoples work as if we& #39;re competing with each other. I can see their work as inspiration or I can compete. The second I start to see it as better or worse than mine all the good stuff disappears.
I no longer want to comment words of encouragement, praise, love or appreciation. In fact I don& #39;t want to comment at all.
A little metaphor.
I& #39;m a cyclist. Not a particularly committed one these days but I still really enjoy a good long cycle. Yesterday I passed a woman around the same age as me and said & #39;hi& #39;. She shot past me and made some comment I didn& #39;t hear because I& #39;m hearing impaired.
Then she sped up the hill in front of us. So, no connection or encouragement between us. I& #39;m glad I spurred her on and I hope she enjoyed her ride as much as I didn& #39;t mine, but we& #39;ll probably never come across each other again.
During my dog walk this morning I watching Doug bound about through the trees and I thought "No one competes in dog walking" It& #39;s just a meandering wander through the trees and muddy paths. You could turn it into a competition but that would take all the joy and discovery away.
I have a lot of work to do this week to deliver the finals for two books. I& #39;m going to try and see it as a dog walk. An enjoyable ramble putting one foot in front of the other.
Some more pearls of wisdom on the subject.
Ok, I& #39;ve tried articulate how I feel about my own journey through art and creativity and my relationship with competition.
Madonna made a glorious speech ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aR6m3OCgRO4)">https://www.youtube.com/watch... 20 years ago (and no doubt upset a few people) about the nature of competition in art, when she presented the Turner Prize ( https://www.tate.org.uk/art/turner-prize)">https://www.tate.org.uk/art/turne... at the TATE in London ( https://www.tate.org.uk"> https://www.tate.org.uk ).
But for some fantastically inspiring words on creativity you have to watch Neil Gaiman& #39;s & #39;Make Good Art& #39; Speech ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikAb-NYkseI).">https://www.youtube.com/watch... Thank me later.
This thread can be read here: https://karenerasmus.com/2021/04/26/self-belief-whats-that/">https://karenerasmus.com/2021/04/2...
