I remember having a really hard time showing and sharing my work when I was younger.  This was especially true if I had to talk about it – remember those art critiques in college?  Oh holy cow those were awful.  My face would heat up, I’d fumble over my words, talk waaaaay too fast and always forget to mention all the important points.  Why?  Well, while most people do not like to speak in public, I was ‘extremely’ shy and introverted so presenting my thoughts and motives when it came to my art was a total nightmare.   And it didn’t help that my best friends in college were phenomenal artists.  So having to present after them…oye!!! Double the terror.   It’s funny when I think about it now because I’ve done quite a lot that would make you think I’m ‘over it’, right?

‘Share your art freely, even when on the inside, sharing it feels like standing on one foot on the top of the highest building in the world.” 

kaylicreative.com 

Soon after college, I started street painting and loved it instantly.  This in itself is CRAZY when I think about it, because the whole idea was to share your work, and yourself, as an artist by way of interacting with the public.  I should have run screaming from the very idea of it.  But the funny thing is, I realized that I actually enjoyed talking to people about my art and why I was doing what I was doing.  Little by little I started to come out of my tiny tiny shell to interact.  The more I did it, the easier it was and soon It was all second nature.  Now they say you have to spend about 10,000 hours doing something before you are really good at it…I’m pretty sure I spent more then 10,000 hours chatting and interacting with the public while street painting. I was a master :).

Well, let’s fast forward 20 years to the present.  I’m still creating street paintings and interacting with the public and some major clients.  I’ve been interviewed on TV and radio, been filmed while working, and spoken at countless events about my work, my process, and street painting as an art form.  So, of course, now I’m super comfortable showing my work, right?  Well, not exactly.

There is always a trepidation about posting new work, especially when it’s not what people know you for.  I’m not posting my street paintings anymore, but instead, my surface designs.  It’s not only new to my followers, but it’s also new to me – I just created it after all.  But ya know, I’ve come to realize that there’s no point in creating my work if no one is going to see it.  It’s like creating a street painting in my backyard all by myself and not sharing it with anyone.  Yes, I LOVE creating and bringing something to life through my visuals.  That in itself is rewarding.  But…the first step to becoming a successful artist of any kind is having people recognize you as an ‘artist’.  That means they have to see your art.  

It’s definitely not an easy thing to put yourself out there – especially now when social media has made it so easy to see magnificent art from artists around the world. That can definitely be intimidating. The thing is…there’s only one you. You are the only person with your hand, your voice, your thoughts. You’re depriving the world by keeping it to yourself.

Share it!!! Declare yourself as an artist, writer, musician. Whatever it is you do, make sure it’s seen, read, and heard. I’ll start…I’m a Surface Designer and here is my new work.

Your turn! I’d love to see what you’re creating. If you’d like to share privately, you can email me or find me on Facebook.