Create Your own SUCCESS
That is right, create your own success! You hold the secret, the energy, and the willpower for success in your very hands and thought process! I know this from personal experience! I have utilized almost every technique to 'create' my future. I have read many books on manifesting techniques and visualization techniques, you name it. But what it boils down to? BELIEVE IN YOURSELF. See yourself as successful, and focus on the good, and let the bad slip away. Carefully observe open doors, and listen to the positive things being said by people, your guides, that come into your life. Let the negative things slip away, those are the 'tests'.
It all started back in the 1980's for me when I was running track in high school. I was fortunate to have an awesome visionary track coach, Jim Palmer, (not the famous one), who saw success in each of his students. He would have me ( and others) stand back from the track and tell me to visualize myself running around the track, passing people and winning! Guess what? I was just an average joe, or jen,(lol) then but it worked! I pictured myself successful and I won two state track meets, and set records in the 800M and then went on to the Junior Olympics, where I became 6th in the nation. Unfortunately I tore my ACL playing football with friends and my track life was over (my negative test). I allowed it to take a toll on me for several years!! Now looking back, with more wisdom, this was an opportunity for me to focus my energy on other outlets which included ... ART.
I heard this saying later in life, and it holds true: "Whatever gets you in trouble in school, will make you famous or make a living for you later in life". Guess what...I definitely talked too much and sketched on every handout, even sketching the teachers that were teaching me. I can remember when Mrs. Bestos walked behind me and peered over my shoulder and saw her sketch and looked at me with discerning yet "laughing" eyes, and said "maybe you can put that much energy into your math". Well, Ha, I didn't become a mathematician.
My life has not been all roses, as most lives on this planet! My 'tests' I struggled through, and my 'wins' seemed short lived, but were just enough to keep me working at ART. All the rejections, that honestly haven't stopped, (I allowed the first few to freeze my progress for months), now just FUEL THE FIRE. Here is how my mind works now.....If you reject me...I will let it slide and I will move onto something bigger. It makes me work harder. In fact Eric Rhodes just wrote about comparing yourself to others by putting yourself out there and winning art contests (with the Plein Air Salon). In summary, we need a "measuring stick" basically, to measure ourselves for progress (for validation). In some ways this is true, but I know many famous artists that have not entered one contest, several living masters TODAY. Why? Because they validate themselves!!! Picasso was much like this. He was confident in himself and maybe a little egotistical according to the "world view", but created his success.
Some artists are fed by contests, and some are fed by art sales. Some artists are just fed by their own inner desire to CREATE. Whatever your drive...you create the pathway for success. Put out your own red carpet! With the internet today, there are unlimited ways to uplift yourself, advertise for yourself, and give yourself a pat on the back. In a way, the art world is more competitive and the "squeaky wheel gets the grease" still holds true.
I have a wonderful friend who gave me some great advice. Although I have heard this said more times than naught, "The best investment, is to invest in yourself!" But she put it in dollars and sense for me. She said to be confident enough to put yourself out there and be seen. If you believe in yourself, others will believe in you too!
I combined this with my visualization technique of "seeing myself successful". I went as far as photoshopping my painting on the front cover of an art magazine for better visualization, printing it out and putting it on my vision board. It was some painting, at the time two years ago, that I thought was my 'best' painting. Then I would say outloud to whoever might be listening, (maybe my subconscious), "My painting will be on the front cover of THIS magazine, that or something better, without paying for that spot". This was a technique I learned from reading many books by Joe Vitale.
Well, I am here to tell you, two years later. It worked. I put all the energies inside of me, and the molecules available outside of me , to work to make this happen. But I also let it go! I do not want you to think I obsessed over this. If I obsessed over it, I would have been driven me mad. I spent my working days, becoming a better artist. This visualization also could not have happened without also putting forth the effort to study master artists, spending time in my studio painting, going after my goals! I wasn't surprised when it happened, but I was still (am still) shocked when it happened, and very thankful and grateful it happened. My painting on the front cover of Fine Art Connoisseur magazine! One of the most respected art collector magazines in the Country! Each issue of Fine Art Connoisseur has a theme portfolio feature such as Music & Dance, Animals.... A recent subject was Interiors. Streamline Publishing Mid-Atlantic Regional Manager Tracey Norvell regularly encourages artists and galleries to send her work to submit for editorial consideration. For Interiors I did just that; I sent Tracey three paintings. One was selected for the feature - enough to put one over the moon. It got better. Tracey's next message was the news Fine Art Connoisseur Editor-in-Chief Peter Trippi chose MY work for the MarchApril cover! I have purchased advertising in Fine Art Connoisseur and Fine Art Today as part of my marketing plan. Editorial consideration is separate. It is earned media, work published based solely on merit. Tracey reminds me of this regularly by addressing me as "rock star," - has a nice ring to it.
All I can say is, in my glow of realizing that this painting you see on the cover, began over two years ago, with my "intentions" for success, and visualizing myself successful, and continuously learning, progressing and acting on my intentions. THESE ARE POWERFUL STEPS.
Thank you to - Chateau Orquvaux for the wonderful Artist Residency; Stephanie Spaulding for the "beach speech" (hope you do not mind mentioning your name); Tracey Norvell, rep with Streamline, for your tremendous support; Eric Rhodes for your love of art and support of the art world, along with your Sunday Coffee inspiration!; Peter Trippi and everyone involved in publishing FINE ART CONNOISSEUR magazine ( I can finally spell this without looking); my husband, for letting me paint whenever I want to with minimal fussing, actually being my COACH, and supporting me by showing up to shows, paint-outs, overseas, the list goes on, and just being there for me. Amanda Lovett for your constant encouragement and friendship!; All the books I have read, the many friendships I have made, and my art students who are the BEST!!! There are SO MANY MORE TO THANK. I could go on forever, like my ancestors, God, the angels that have protected my butt. etc, etc.
What do you want to be when you grow up? I don't care how old you are. It does not matter. Only your intentions and belief and actions matter.
I had to share this with you. Because it didn't just HAPPEN. Now, for my next level up, and adventure and visualization....I will tell you when it comes to pass.
Happy Creating!!
