Beat the Critics Part 2
The Family
Your family (and also your friends) can be either the most supportive group you have, or the most discouraging. For me it was a total mixed bag.
My mother, among a few others, was by far my biggest source of encouragement. In fact, she was encouraging me when I didn’t want to be encouraged. There was a time when I was running from my art as far as I could get, but she knew I had been given a gift I should be using. When I finally did decide to pursue my art as my career, she was easily my number one cheerleader. I don’t know where I would be without her support.
Cutting Comments
But not everyone was supportive. I actually heard statements like this:
“So Bill, how’s your art going?” (spoken with a hint of sarcasm)
“When are you going to get a real job?”
“Get your head out of the clouds (or a particular body part).
“Don’t get your hopes up too high.”
But by far the most cutting comment I can remember came right after the time I had been thrown out of the 8 juried shows I mentioned above:
“Have you ever considered that you’re just not good enough?”
Expectations of Others
There are also the expectations to follow in the family business. My dad wanted me to work in the factory that he spent many years in. I did work there some. I was thankful for the work, but I just did not belong there.
One friend of mine wanted his son to take over the family farm, but his son wanted to be a teacher. He was devasted that farming was not in his son’s future.
Keep in mind that these people are not your enemies. Often times they really are, in their minds, trying to help. But that’s why it’s important to make up your mind that you are going to pursue your goals in art, and not let these distractions get in the way.
Judges can be tough.
Family is a little tougher to deal with.
But the number one issue you’re going to have to deal with is in the mirror.
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