Starting something new can be equal parts exciting and terrifying. Whether it’s a skill, a passion, or a new adventure, stepping into the unknown means facing the very real fear of looking naive—or worse, totally clueless. We hesitate, afraid of making mistakes in front of people who seem to already have it all figured out. But here’s the truth: everyone was a beginner once.
In mid-2023, I was a beginner in watercolor—figuring out how pigments flowed, how paper reacted, and how to bring my vision to life. By late 2023, I was a beginner in art business, learning how to sell my work, market myself, and navigate the world of online and in-person sales. And now, in 2024, I’m taking on a whole new challenge: live events.
I just placed my first collection in a local café in Longmont—Red Frog Coffee. Getting to this moment took a huge learning curve. I had to figure out how to reach out to cafés, understand their space and art-hanging setup, frame originals and prints, label my artwork, and then actually hang it all up. I showed up at 6 AM on a Saturday to get everything in place before the café got busy. And you know what? I forgot a few things—like a stool. But I made it work. I learned how to do it better next time. And just like that, I’m no longer a true beginner.
I heard once that confidence is keeping commitments to yourself. Just starting—even when it’s scary—is how you build that confidence.
So, what are you putting off? What’s that thing you want to start but are afraid to? The only way forward is to begin. You’ve got this.Â
P.S. If you want to see a walkthrough of the cafĂ©, click here.Â