Lack of confidence

[Matthew Severson]

I'm glad to find out that it isn't an abnormal thing. I enjoy giving portraits as gifts to friends, but taking money is very uncomfortable.

I'm looking forward to becoming a professional artist, eventually.

BY THE WAY! I am on the list of scholarship winners at a local college. I'm not yet aware of which scholarship I will be receiving. Perhaps only a tuition waiver. Perhaps full tuition.

Matt

[Mike McCarty]

Originally Posted by Matthew Severson

BY THE WAY! I am on the list of scholarship winners at a local college. I'm not yet aware of which scholarship I will be receiving. Perhaps only a tuition waiver. Perhaps full tuition.

That's huge Matt, Congratulations! Keep us posted in the member news section.

And by the way, Linda gave some good advice above.

[Linda Brandon]

Matthew, congratulations on your scholarship! This is fantastic news. Be sure to keep us posted.

You're getting some excellent advice. I just wanted to add that portrait painters face some pressures which other artists don't face, namely, money is paid out for work expected to be performed in the future, as opposed to buying something off the wall in a gallery. Any time somebody expects future performance, performance anxiety could happen. And if people are paying money to you they could get awfully danged critical. Pressure! (By the way, I've seen some famous and talented actors go into a fear frenzy right before they perform. And then the moment comes and ... boom. They get it together.)

I think what has to happen is that you get to the point where it is more painful not to perform than it is to perform.

Just acting self confident goes a long way to creating actual self confidence. And, look at you, getting all these great commission offers! You must be better than you think!

[Peter Jochems]

My advice to someone of sixteen is to keep the pleasure in what you do, and try avoiding the pressure that paid commissions bring as long as possible. Just find out for yourself what you like to paint or draw and don't spoil the fun too soon, you may start to see it as WORK, just PLAY as long as you can. And avoid people giving large commissions like the one you mentioned about the LOTR, which might bring you in trouble in many ways.

[Carolyn Ortiz]

Hi Matt,

You are not alone! A lot of really great advice has been given already. My advice is, don

[Matthew Severson]

Thanks people, you are loads of help. If only you could help me do well on my college placement test *laughs*