Surround yourself with people who believe in you

A few years back, I was asked to open a drawing society’s annual exhibition at the Mall Galleries on Pall Mall. The honour also involved selecting the best piece on show and runner up, which would be announced on the night.

A champion of new experiences, I found the prospect thrilling, and thus my answer was an enthusiastic ‘yes’.

Pieces on show greatly varied in ability and technique, and with several hundred drawings on display, there were a number of capable works from which to choose. Every exhibiting member was dedicated to the craft as well as the organisation, and the opening event was clearly of great significance to them.

Following several strolls around the exhibition, I made my selection. I introduced the show, spoke of the enduring importance of life drawing and awarded the prizes. The first place winner was not in attendance on the evening, so I shook the hand of a friend of the artist who collected the certificate on her behalf.

Fast forward to the Summer of 2013 when I was hosting an event at the South Bank. A vivacious lady walked into the gallery and asked if this was the right place. It turned out that she knew I was presenting and was keen to meet me face to face. Why? To thank me for awarding her the prize at the Pall Mall exhibition all those years prior!

We exchanged details, and I later heard her story. The public validation of her work as an artist had forever changed her life. The very notion that someone else believed in her talent gave her the confidence to become a professional artist. Accordingly, she had been keen to track me down ever since she had won the best on show prize, to thank me.

It turns out that for a number of years, she had wanted to become a visual artist. However it wasn’t a straightforward path, and friends had continuously expressed doubts. “It wasn’t sensible,” and, “she would never make a living.” Even after she took the plunge, she was repeatedly ‘advised’ by friends and associates that she had made a grave mistake.

Guess what? Despite nearly giving up a number of times, her art career is progressing at rapid pace. Recently, her work has been selected for prestigious exhibitions and she has found herself negotiating bidding wars between collectors. At long last, the artist is following her life passion and it is working out well, thank you very much.

Loud and clear, the impact made by the artist’s newly discovered self confidence underlines the importance of surrounding yourself with people who will not doubt you, but encourage you to strive towards achieving your dreams. While it is ultimately up to one person — yourself, to take action, the impact of others helping to boost your self-belief can make a world of difference.

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Originally published at www.besmartaboutart.com.