How’s it going with your art? Do you have any shows coming up?
If your answer is no, and you feel a little sheepish about that answer, like, “I wish I could say I do have things going”, then I’m willing to bet that you *might be* hiding.
By hiding, I mean that you aren’t being honest with yourself about the fact that you want your artwork to do more in this world than sit in a dusty portfolio case under the sleeper sofa.
Hiding is when you don’t promote your art opening because you’re actually afraid no one will show up but you say that it’s because you don’t have time to send that invite because you’re getting ready for the show.
Hiding is when you’re making art but not posting it on your social media accounts.
Hiding is when you stop making work because you’re afraid to share it and be judged but you say it’s because you don’t have time to make work.
Hiding is when you don’t update your website with your new work or updated contact information. -This means that if someone liked your work, they wouldn’t know how to get ahold of you.
Hiding is when your family and friends don’t know what kind of work you do.
A lot of people talk about this kind of work as "putting yourself out there".
But not putting yourself out there enough isn’t what’s really happening. It's that you’re actually HIDING.
This idea has been a game changer for me (yes, I’m guilty of hiding) because it burns me to think that I'm hiding. I mean what the heck?!? I don't hide from things.
That's not how I operate.
I face things head-on. BIG things. But as it turns out, not all the time. Once I started looking, I caught myself hiding a lot.
Sometimes it's easier to see when someone else is hiding. Like that friend who does amazing work but never approaches a gallery. When I see this it makes me question, “Am I hiding in that same way?
Not sure if you’re hiding?
“No, not me. I don’t hide like that.” -Okay, let’s check.
- Have you ever been sent into a freak-out because you didn’t have enough NEW work to show at your opening?
- Have you ever thought, “They’ve already seen this work so I’m not going to show it?”
- Have you ever not invited people to your opening because deep down you were afraid of what they might say or think of your work?
- Have you ever pushed off creating a website for your work even though you know that you need one? --Even if you spent seven years in college and $50k on grad school where you honed your skills and practiced your craft? ...but you’re stuck when it comes time to get a website up?
- Have you ever gone to an event and said barely two words to anyone because you didn’t know anyone or felt intimidated?
So here’s the good news.
If you've answered yes to any of those questions, it’s okay. You can change your hiding habits by practicing two things:
Observe them; noticing when they happen.
What’s going on to make you want to hide? Stop and ask yourself what you’re feeling in that moment and why. Just say hello to those thoughts as you see them.
Decide how you’d really like to “show-up” when those hiding tendencies pop up.
Does not sending that invite your the list of people who’ve said they like to see your work, really help you get where you want to be with your goals? Does that hiding habit you just noticed move you closer or keep further from your goals?
I'm here to say, don't stress about hiding. Do what you can to see it, consider it and then take action to show up the way you’d really like to show up -whether it’s online or at your next opening.
Where have you been hiding lately?
Does it light a fire under you to think you might be hiding sometimes and that it’s not helping you to show or sell your work?
Does it irk you as much as it irks me when you catch yourself hiding this way? Let me know in the comments. I’d love to know if this is resonating with you.
Cheering you on,
Kate