Monthly Motivation: They’re Always Watching
I have always been hesitant share my work with people, and my self-doubt was getting in the way of my potential. Creating art and finding my direction for the past three years has been good for me but all that work was just sitting in my basement. Last year I finally got up the courage to post my work on social media, even then I did it with a new account so I could start posting without anyone watching. Social media isn’t one of my strengths, but I have gotten more comfortable showing my art and myself online. This fall as I became more comfortable with posting online, I realized I needed to step up my in-person efforts.
My motivation for finally signing up for in person arts and craft shows was the realization that the holidays are the top revenue earning time for artists. I knew that if I didn’t capitalize on the upcoming holiday season, I would be putting myself another year behind. I pulled up my bootstraps, signed up for three holiday shows and got to work creating holiday themed paintings and hand painted ornaments. Not only was I motivated, I was the most dedicated and intentional I had been in months if not years.
I spent months ordering prints, creating my displays, building out my pos system, and eventually attending shows. This process taught me a lot about business and my capabilities as a creator and business owner. It was special getting to exhibit at my first show with my husband there for moral support and to discuss business ideas and take note of what we felt was working and what wasn’t. Learning and adapting was a big theme of my 2025 show experience and some of the lessons hit me harder than others.
Despite low traffic shows and slow sales I left this experience motivated by conversations I had with consumers and fellow vendors. I felt energized and validated by interacting with people beyond my inner circle and learned what elements of my work draw people in.
However, in the quiet of taking time off for the holidays, I had a few days of feeling like my art business was not worth my time, money and effort. I knew changes needed to be made within my business or I needed to go back to a corporate job. Days went by of contemplating my options and how each one would affect my family and my goals for myself and how I want to show up for my kids.
On the final day of contemplation, I was in a negative headspace regarding my art business. I moved through my day completing house chores when I stumbled upon a scene that flipped my perspective. My living room was re-organized, there were display shelves on coffee tables and end tables, handmade ‘business cards’ strewn about and white boards with price listings. A bit confused and curious I was greeted by my kids selling their artwork. Not only were they proud of the art they created but they were excited to hand out business cards and talk about their work.
My kids had visited me at two of the shows and their unabashed pride and excitement that people were seeing and touching my artwork warmed my heart and re-fueled my motivation. Their excitement and pride in re-creating what they saw me do the past couple months, reminded me that this endeavor is worth the challenge and if I quit now, what would I be telling my girls.
My motivation this month is my kids. Not just doing something for or because of them or not wanting them to see me fail. But because they reminded me to have pride in my work. They truly are my biggest fans, and I always want to see myself through their eyes and I want to dream as big as they do.
As I move through 2026, I will be doing so with intention and carrying my kids’ pride and amazement with me.
