“ SOMETIMES THE BEST GIFTS ARE BADLY WRAPPED.”



I read this statement a few days ago and it really grabbed me and I pondered its meaning as I thought about my life and the life of many of the Artists that I know. I thought about all the difficulties that Artists face, the self doubt ever nagging at their heals and then all the noise out there, everyone trying to get heard and have an opinion on what the Artist should do or shouldn't do.
We all complain about the problems we face in this Artists Life and that is life.
The difficult people we have to deal with, people who will not listen or see what they really should do and of coarse the “ what about me” people that seem to be always there?

I realise this, that it is the Artist Life, the opportunity that Artists have been given, that is so great a “Gift” and the crap around the gift is the wrapping.

Do not let the wrapping stop you from seeing the wonderful gift that you have been given, your individual, peculiar, random, outrageous, serious, creative, caring and beautiful Artistic self.
Artists are incredibly fortunate above all people because they “ Create”, yes make something out of nothing. Think about that?
Yes you suffer rejection, wrapping.
Yes some people do not like your work, wrapping.
Yes sometimes you do not get the prices you want, wrapping.
Yes sometimes you feel alone and doubt yourself, wrapping.
You have been given the greatest gift of all, the opportunity to be a creative Artist, to take a white canvas and create some beautiful on it.
To take a piece of clay and make something beautiful out of it.
A wonderful friend of mine takes pieces of unwanted material and turns them into beautiful quilts, how fantastic is that?
Artists, please stop looking at the wrapping and see the great gift that you have been give.
What a wonderful gift you have?
Love your painting, love painting and love yourself.

Take care.
Mark Shellshear.
Art consultant.
markshellshear@gmail.com

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