Courage is More Important Than Confidence

There can be a great amount of anxiety or fear when doing something the first time. After you have done it a few times, you gain confidence, but it takes courage to do it the first time. This is true for both a beginning artist taking their first workshop or a seasoned pro. I see this often with artists in my workshops. Sometimes the anxiety is greater for more experienced artists because of the pressure to live up to their reputation. The newcomers are stressed about doing it right, but they are often more open to explore because they have what I call beginners mindset.

Taking a workshop or exploring new mediums or genres is not the time to be perfect. It is the time to royally make a mess and explore. When I am sharing techniques and tips, I always have a panel that I throw everything on. I intentionally make it a hot mess, so I can share that it is ok to try things and not have them turn out as desired. Then the important part is I show how to turn it around to make the mess a finished piece of art. I have done this so many times I have confidence I can do it, but when I am messing with the piece, I am being courageous. I keep confidence in my back pocket to pull put when needed.

You need to challenge yourself to push your curiosity and keep courage sharp. I do this with traveling and painting. There are certain places that I have taken groups to many times like Italy and France, but when I am going somewhere for the first time, I need to pull out my notes on courage and remind myself what I teach is also applicable to me. I just returned from teaching in Ireland, and I thought I had done my research and knew what to expect, but I was profoundly surprised at my response to this place. I fell head over heels in love. It caught me by surprise because it touched me deep in my soul. I felt like a part of me had been waiting there for me to return.

It took courage to make this trip because it was early in the return to travel following the pandemic. The class had been filled, and then it wasn’t. People had to cancel for assorted reasons, and I was feeling a bit unsure about it all. When I landed in Ireland the magic took over and by the time I arrived on the wild Atlantic coast where I was teaching and connected with the incredible folks who showed up, I knew I was hooked. Each person had incredibly inspirational journeys to share and we became a family.

Sharing an experience like this will propel not only your art and technique but you heart and soul as well. There are people from around the world that come together for workshops and make lasting friendships. If they didn’t step up and face their fears, they wouldn’t know the power of their courage. When you have faced your dragons once and come out alive, you now have the foundation to build your confidence. Every step and chance you take will empower you.

Regret has no closure, so it is always the spinning wheel in your mind...what if, what if? Take the small steps to face your fears or anxiety. Grab a friend and set up a “play day” to experiment and explore. Take an online class if you can’t travel. I have dozens of free tutorials on YouTube. Try a new medium. Make sure you have one piece that is allowed to be a hot mess and when you are ready you can bring it back to life. Remember to keep beginner’s mindset where anything is possible.