5 Tips for Speaking More Boldly About Your Art
All of us can have those feelings of doubt creep in when we start sharing our work or talking about ourselves as artists! Imposter syndrome is very real! At the Thrive Together Network we believe we can be confident in our art practices and speak about our work with certainty. We believe in you and your work!
It’s hard to feel confident though, especially when we operate in a world with social media where we are constantly being shown the curated version of others’ success. For so many of us, just claiming that artist identity is the hardest part! And unfortunately, if you are someone who struggles with claiming your identity, there is no magic fix. This is just something that needs to be practiced and comes with time. But, we believe in you and that you can know in your bones that you are an artist while you proclaim it boldly. That’s why we wanted to share 5 tips to put aside your second guessing and fearlessly own your artist identity.
#1- Call Yourself an Artist
Claiming your artist identity is just something you have to put into practice, even when you aren’t feeling it! Choose to believe it… YOU are an artist. Accept it, know it, proclaim it, and it will help you be more confident and speak more boldly about your art! Even if it doesn’t feel like you resonate with that identity at first, keep going and your confidence will grow.
#2- Have a Pitch
When someone asks you what you do, it’s totally ok to have a rehearsed response ready! Be ready to say, “I am an artist and I make work about this or that…”, when you meet someone in the elevator or at the park. Having this well rehearsed knowledge about your work will be such an asset to you as you speak publicly about what you do!
#3- Make it Relatable
After you have shared your simple answer to “what do you do”, think of a way to make it relatable to whoever you are talking to so the person you are speaking with can engage with your art. Pulling someone into your art by asking them to relate to it at the end with the question turns topics of your work into an engaging conversation. When you see the way your art can impact someone’s day, you will feel that confidence being built up.
#4- State What You’re Proud Of
When you are talking about your work, literally use the prompt “I’m really proud of ______”. It’s a great way to boost your confidence while you are speaking, and to own your accomplishments. Find ways to acknowledge your accomplishments to others and you will be amazed what kind of impact it can have.
#5- Write, Reflect, and Practice
Do some writing. Read your artist statement occasionally. Don’t just write it once, stick it on your website, and never look at it again. Reflect on the writing you do and practice saying it outloud in different ways. It helps when it’s time to speak to people about your work and helps remind you of all the amazing things you have done!
Head to thrivetogethernetwork.com to learn more about the Thrive Together Network resources that help build your confidence as an artist such as the Thriving Artist Map and our live Art & Tea sessions. As always, we are here for you, we are cheering you on, and we believe in the work you are doing as thriving artists!
