Daring to Dream Big

Posted June 10, 2009 by Stuart

This was originally posted on Drawspace by Cindy, but I thought it was worth reposting here
Cheers, Stuart

“Hi everyone, I just want to say a couple of little words about daring to dream big.

I know many of you are possibly still thinking about just understanding how to draw let alone what to draw, but an important aspect of wanting to improve your drawing skills is also setting yourselves a really big goal. I say now is the time to start daring to dream big dreams for your drawing abilities. Imagine what could happen once you are drawing at a really high standard and are pleased with your work (besides the absolute pleasure of creating the artwork)? There are so many opportunities that you can embrace which can spin off to help your whole family in the process.

There are wonderful art competitions you can enter online and in the real world which can be exciting and fun! You may have to enter many times or you may never win an award, but just to be accepted into the competition is a thrill in itself! Some competitions can be really lucrative too if you do happen to win. A good thing to understand about art competitions is it is not based on luck. A good artist will at some stage win an award somewhere if they persist. I have won an award in almost every competition I entered. Even though that was only a few as I have been otherwise distracted for the past seven years and haven’t entered any. I am getting ready to enter one of the most lucrative art prizes in Australia and will do so probably next year.

Just being accepted into some art prizes is very good for our art careers and it is a good hobby to enter them. In Australia we have some Art prizes where you can win $50,000 AUS or even more, but there are loads of competitions out there on the internet too. You can also be awarded government scholarships etc. The largest prize money I was awarded was First prize $AUS2000 which was pretty good about seven years ago when I won it. I have won many things such as art materials, vouchers etc. It really is all in good fun. You can give back to your family for the time you put into your art by also selling your work and contributing to the family income or making your art a good second income if you choose.

For many years I worked as a Freelance Illustrator for a large International Rubber Stamp Art Company where I drew the images when my children were in bed asleep at night. I use to complete about three or four at a time then the lady would come to see them with a cheque in her hand. I have also been teaching for many years as a stable income and my personal passion for sharing my love of art and respect for maintaining tradition in art teaching. I remember once buying myself a car with the sale of a large painting and I will never forget the pride I felt driving off in my wonderful new second-hand car.

I have had some tough times financially in the early years as I struggled to support myself with my art, just so that I could find/make the time to paint and draw. But all along I concentrated on always drawing to my highest possible standard. I didn’t wait for someone to tell me I could sell my art, people began to ask if they could buy it and I didn’t say no. I had fun creating it and was happy to part with it. I learned that if I wanted to have more time to create art I had to ‘pay’ my way. I had to make an income from my art so that I could do more.

Drawing for the love of just drawing is of course first and foremost the priority. We cannot possibly put a value on the happiness and fulfilment we gain through art. In the process of taking responsibility for our own happiness, this spins off to benefit not only our family but all others around you. You are helping to make a better world just because you gave yourself permission to draw:) Food for thought.

If you feel like responding please do.

Warmth to you all, Cindy”