Last year, I blogged about the downside of living through
OTHER PEOPLE'S EYES:
http://jonudell.net/radio-luann/2005/09/09.html
But today, I realized the upside of living there.
When someone sees your work for the first time and finds it beautiful, that is the upside.
In the last few weeks, I've gotten more orders than usual--people who saw my jewelry worn by other people, stores who now feel my work would be a great addition to their inventory, a fellow kickboxer who felt my work would be perfect as a birthday gift for a special person....
I got the pieces into their hands. And waited excitedly to hear their feedback.
Today, I wondered...why? At this point in my life, I know my work is good. And I've been focusing on getting it out there with no judgment, no impediment. Why do I care what other people think?
I realized this: When other people see it for the first time, I learn to "see" it again, too.
I'm so close to it, it's hard for me to know whether my artwork is beautiful or not. Like my children, I can only see with eyes of love.
I need other people's eyes to tell me my work is good.
Years ago, on an on-line discussion forum, I mentioned the retiring ways of Emily Dickinson, the "Belle of Amherst", saying maybe it was more polite to be forebearing with our work. I was roundly chastised by a scholar. "People think because Dickinson wasn't published in her lifetime, she wanted it that way," he scolded. "But more than anything she wanted to see her work in print. Contrary to popular opinion, she worked hard her entire life trying to get published."
She, too, needed other people's eyes.
So make the work that's in your heart. Let it out without judgment.
And when other people exclaim and call it amazing, bask in that glow just a little. Or a lot.
