How does one grow thicker skin?

October Reader · 01-08-2005, 04:34 PM

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season and are all well poised for making the most out of 2005. Speaking of facing new challenges, I do shamelessly admit that l have been leaning heavily on this forum for support in starting my new career in art. This forum has provided me great learning tools and resources that even $ can't buy!

As I followed the brave examples of people here on the forum, and stumble, as one invariably does when embarking on something new, my admiration for those of you that just kept at it grew. How do you handle setbacks? When my first attempt at arranging a charity donation failed (can't even give it away?), I took a hard look at myself and wondered . Many may say that was nothing, just keep doing it. The truth is it does dampen my spirit. So I realized that it is a mental game just as much as it is a business and artistic challenge.

While hoping to recognize the RIGHT TIME and the RIGHT PLACE as well as honing better skill sets, I would truly appreciate any candid wisdom you may impart.

Nice to meet you all and happy painting/drawing!!

Terri Ficenec · 01-08-2005, 04:43 PM

Hi October - and welcome!

The work you've attached in your introduction is lovely and unique. Can't imagine a charity turning you away. Looking forward to seeing more of your work posted!

Julie Deane · 01-08-2005, 09:14 PM

Hi -

Your work is beautiful, thoughtful, wonderful color and evocative of many subtle emotions. You have a clientele - you just haven't met them yet.
Don't let one bad experience get you down!

John Reidy · 01-09-2005, 09:31 AM

Hello, October

I know what you mean about your questioning yourself. You are in a particularly hard time - you've committed yourself to this course and now wondering if you have made the right choice. This is the midnight hour. The questions keep coming like the drip of a leaky faucet, nagging at you.

Have faith. The faith that brought you to make this decision. And keep working. And never give up. Those who quit, lose. Success belongs to the strugglers.

I've only been a member of SOG a short while but like you I have been viewing it for a long time and fortunate for me I got to meet and know 3 or 4 members and their personal sharing along with the website has benefited me largely.

So hang in there, keep working and good luck.

John R.

Michele Rushworth · 01-09-2005, 11:56 AM

You might want to post the specifics of your charity auction experience in the Business and Marketing section so you can get some feedback as to what you might do differently next time. My first charity auction was a complete bust and I realized it was the wrong type of auction to participate in. Other auctions have been very succesful for me since then.

October Reader · 01-09-2005, 11:42 PM

Thanks very much for all your input Terri, Julie, John and Michele. Hope I wasn't too much of a cry baby here. If it is any help for people that may be in my situation, one advice I found in print somewhere said something like this: don't get bogged down by setbacks because it is a waste of time. Try to be more creative on coming up with alternative solutions or accept the situation and move on to something else. Easier said than done but with practice it gets better.

For anyone interested, I will follow Michele's suggestion to post a topic regarding my initial approach to the Charity Donation that didn't go anywhere under "Business Side of Art" section of this forum. I'm looking forward to learning from your input and hope that someone else may avoid the mistakes that I may have made.

Just want to say that it is so cool to be able to look up member's bio now that I've gained permission to do so by joining the forum.