Did I really do that?!!

Last week, I sent some paintings off to the framers. These are works for my abstract exhibition in July/August.  My favourites are the most recent pieces - works made on large sheets of paper.

These paintings document the emotional ups and downs I have experienced over the last few years. Each is a response to a different situation or feeling. They feature words, marks, colours, shapes, and lots and lots of white space - more white space than I have ever allowed in my abstract work.

I love them, but I wasn't sure about them, if that makes sense. I wasn't sure if I loved them because they were good, or just because they were so personally cathartic. Perhaps, I thought, everyone else would look at them and see nothing special.

But today, I popped into the framing shop to see a sample piece framed up and I was stopped in my tracks.

The painting looks incredible. The framing has taken it to a whole new level and a thought flew into my mind: "I would like that painting on my wall. I would buy that if I saw it in a gallery."

I'm not sure I've ever had that feeling about my work. I've never had that experience of being genuinely impressed by something I made. Maybe that sounds strange but I bet many of you are the same - we demand so much of ourselves and we are rarely happy with what we have made.

But standing in that shop looking at that painting, I felt genuinely proud.

Framing makes such a difference to our experience of art, but because it's expensive, we can worry about the cost and find ourselves looking for cheap options. Each of these paintings will cost around £200 to frame, and I have to admit that my first reaction was to look for a cheaper solution. 

Luckily, my friend was with me to offer a different perspective. She pointed out how strongly I had reacted to the framed piece, and she reminded me that no-one else will believe in my work if I don't believe in it first.

She's right, so I gave the go-ahead for the rest of the pieces to be framed.

That visit has me excited for the exhibition, but it was also just the confidence boost I needed. And it made me think: a few years ago, I wouldn't have taken the chance to invest in such high-end framing. It would have seemed too risky and I would have short-changed my work in order to save money.

So where else am I limiting myself? Where else am I putting things in the way of my success out of a lack of confidence?

And of course, you know what comes next .... I'm asking you the same question: where are you placing limitations on yourself or your artwork because you lack confidence?

I think the answer to this question will show you where you need to step up and take a chance ... so what do you say?