Be Yourself

I used to believe being an artist meant you had to fiercely guard your reputation. That you always had to put out a perfect 'bland' face. As a matter of fact, I believed that when I started this blog a few years ago.

I see differently now.

If you're a die-hard conservative, be that person. If you're a bleeding-heart liberal, be that person. If you're a gay fashion designer, be that person. If you're an animal rights activist, be that person. If you're a Christian mother of five, be that person. If you're a militant atheist, be that person. If you're a nerdy diesel truck driving woman who dislikes fairy dolls in a doll world dominated by fairy dolls (that's me!), be that too.

Be yourself.

If you have opinions on things, it's okay. Express them! Your opinions are what make you you. And if you change your opinions, that's okay too. People can, and do, change.

Sure, being yourself may lose you some customers. But you'll gain others. And if your work and customer service is truly good, people will still buy from you, despite who you are.

Look at Chris Brown. He beat a woman, and people still buy his music. Look at Michael Vick. He electrocuted dogs, but he's still playing football. Look at a number of unethical artists in the doll community. There are blatant copycats out there. There are artists who sell improperly baked dolls. There are artists who take the money, and don't deliver. There are artist who take on commissions, and don't complete them for two years. Yet people still buy from them.

If the above kinds of people can show their true colors, and still make it in the world, you definitely can.

Be Yourself.

At the end of the day, you'll wind up sculpting and/or painting for more people who see the world like you do, or who are accepting of you, and less for the people who stress you out.

And there, lays freedom.