Welcome to my first Blog post!  I have to say I am very excited, but also terrified. As a means of introduction, I have decided to bite the bullet and address the biggest obstacle I continue to face as an artist. I suffer from Imposter Syndrome as an artist and in many ways it has shaped my life as an artist. This website and blog mark another step in my coming out as an artist.

So, why do I refer to myself as a Recovering Closet Artist? No, it’s not because I paint closets, although I have to admit I have painted a few closets in my time.  I refer to myself as a Closet Artist because for many years, people close to me did not know I was an artist and my art work literally ended up stored in my son’s closet. That closet remained loaded for a long time before I worked up the nerve to begin to display my work at small local markets and became willing to share my artsy side with the world.

I am not a person that most would identify as someone susceptible to Imposter Syndrome. I present as a capable, confident person in most settings. I retired from a successful non-artistic career in which I held leadership positions. During my career, I presented at state and national conferences without a hitch. But you put me in front of an easel with a paintbrush or pencil in my hand and it’s a whole new ballgame. 

By identifying things that feed my Imposter Syndrome, I find ways to combat it. Not having a formal art degree can make me feel inadequate in certain circles, so I am intentional in seeking out mentors and educational opportunities to further my craft. Critiques, positive or negative, of my work are brutal for me to endure but I’m getting better about keeping them in perspective, taking what I need from them and leaving the rest. Comparing my work to the work of others can lead me down a rabbit hole of self-doubt but I study the work of other artist to help improve my techniques and abilities. It’s an ongoing battle, but so far I’m winning it.

So here I am, just an artist standing in front of an easel, or in this case, sitting in front of a keyboard, hoping you will like me. I’ve climbed over the mountain of my insecurities and fears to get here and am officially out of closet as an artist.