Arrk! Fear?!? Who’s afraid? Nope. Must be someotherguy you’re askin’
Nervous. That’s what it is. Nervous, maybe a little anxious.

That nobody will like what I got. And they won’t buy it. And I’ll end up in a Wackenhut cap, on a dark rainy night, sipping my wine from a pepsi bottle, to fool people.

Not scared. Me?

Every so often, I’ll go through a dry spell where I haven’t created any new works for awhile. So, instead of creating, I’ll get busy on branding, blogging, marketing and networking.

Eventually, the FEAR kicks in: What if I never create any new works? What if I’ve run out of things to “say” as an artist?

Then something will inspire me and the floodgates of creativity will open. When I’m in the Flow of Creativity, I realize the fear is silly, but that doesn’t stop it from visiting me every now and again.

i’d have to say the same as walter…fear that no one will buy my art. i believe that’s why i’ve procrastinated in getting my promotional package together and sending it out to potential galleries. and if no one buys my art then this dream i have been chasing most of my life was for nothing.it would be a hard thing to take.

ps…thanks Alyson..i actually didn’t quite realize this until you brought it up in your post

My biggest fear is not improving in my art or becoming “good enough” for more than small commmunity art fairs and things.

My “other” biggest fear, that I conquered was letting other people see my eart–from the beginning, I only showed friends and family and only gave as gifts to the same. But then an artist enouraged me to put my art online, via a blog, and to not second guess myself. If, for some reason, I liked a certain piece at the time, I was to simply put it online and “show the world”. She believed that it would help be build the courage I needed, ina really subtle way, to get out there with my art and to try new things and to grow in skills. She was so right!

Success. I have so nurtured that quirky character thing that comes from struggling that I fear the complacency that comes with success…I fear that when I sell for large amounts of money that I will have to be subservient to the buyers…I fear not being the student who craves learning but the teacher who knows it all, & has already read all the books. I fear the hard work of success enslaving me…Failure is so much more comforting…

going for it. Deciding not to have a plan B. Having only Plan A and making it work – lashing myself to the post to keep focused and stay put if necessary. Scarey but exhilerating at the same time. Like a roller coaster – wait, I hate roller coasters and never ride them. Like being in a forest at night, with a full moon and lots of stars and absolute quiet. That kind of scarey and exhilerating.

Oh! the sop scary thing I haven’t done? The Press Release that’s still smoldering in my brain.

The scary thing I’ve overcome? Interacting with people. I was helped in this by two different pieces of advice. First: Walk down the street like you own it, (from Finis Jung with whom I studied dance in NYC for a while) and fake the confidence til you believe it, (from my brother – a very remarkable person in his own right).

My biggest fear right now is being on television and the radio. Some publicity has been arranged for me and instead of being excited, I’m scared.

Linda, back when I was a ballerina I did a gig in a small semi-pro production of “The King and I.” Shortly before opening night the director came into rehearsal and told us that we had to approach reviews carfully, remembering that when they love us, they sure do know what they’re talking about but when they pan well, :what the heck do they know anyway?”

LOL

A big fear for me is approaching friends who I don’t necessarily speak to every week or even every month or longer standing acquaintances and asking for help or introductions. Knowing that some of my friends know people who would be my direct target audience or in another case one of my older standing acquaintances does daily business with the exact clientele that represents my ideal market. I guess the fear is that they will think I`ve only contacted them for this purpose.

Shayla- The first time I was on TV I almost threw up before the live interview. It just takes time to get comfortable with it. You survive one, then another and then at some point you really welcome such opportunities and have only normal anxiety. Be scared, but know that it is part of your job and you have to do it. If a large firm was paying you big bucks to speak to the media you would not let them down… you will not let you down either.

My biggest fear is that everyday chores and some parts of everyday life will eat up my time. I also fear I will not be able to create my deepest work. I do the work anyway but dealing with the obstacles is wearing.