We’re all familiar with the idea that artists make no money. That they’re perfectionists, and they’re so brilliant that no piece is ever good enough, they’re emotional, unstable, etc., etc.
I’m not a perfectionist, but I constantly crave control. I’ve spent years wondering if I’m a “real” artist. I felt like I wasn’t because I sometimes really liked my work (If I was *really* good, wouldn't I hate it?) but I also felt like I hadn’t discovered my work. I flip-flopped between hating my art and worrying that I didn’t hate my art enough.
Am I too emotionally stable? Am I so naive to believe that I can be a proud but sometimes anxious, but overall happy successful artist?
I loved my phone cases and my custom portraits. My coloring books? Actually kinda genius. But I couldn’t get behind my prints. I wanted to create prints that I would display as ART in my home and as much as I loved what I carried, I wasn’t where I wanted to be. After 10 years of selling art, I was feeling a little discouraged.
And then it happened. About a month ago I designed a collection (phone cases, coloring book, prints) about how everyone is in Europe except me (called European Summer) and it turned out really good. I whipped out my iPad on the plane and started to draw and design some pieces that gave me butterflies.
I didn’t want to get my hopes up but when I saw my physical print creations I started to cry on my mudroom floor.
A CLICK. A moment of pure appreciation and joy. A moment of alignment and creativity. I created art I would display in my own home.
My Euro Summer Collection will be available to purchase on Wednesday, July 13, 9:00 AM MST on shopsobriquet.com. It features a new coloring book, a phone case lineup, and did I mention, prints?
You don’t need to be tortured to create beautiful things. You don’t need to feel beautiful all the time to create beautiful things. In fact, you don’t have to worry about creating anything beautiful either, if you don’t want to. Who made these rules anyway?
Just do what you want!
So here’s the thing, apply this hope to anything in your life. Your relationships, hobbies, perfect latte recipe, habits, etc. Keep going and I promise that click will come.
xx Chloe