I am an introvert. Many people who know me would probably disagree with that because I am a talker amongst those I know but it is true I am a shy guy. Social situations are a nightmare for me. When others are conversing I am standing around trying to get some words from my brain to my mouth.

In order to compensate for my shyness I will often joke around or worse yet just remain silent. Why am I telling you this? Well, I am guessing there are more artists out there like me. Those who are fine in their talent and creativity but when it comes to selling their work work, like me, they suffer the many perils of being an introverted artist. Here are a couple of ideas of what I’m talking about.

1. The social implications of hawking or selling our art. To sell our art means greeting there and talking to others about our art. I don’t know about you but When I get the itch to get out and sell my art my inner introvert kicks in. I then stand back, look at my art and say to myself, “Hey it’s not that good anyway so no one is going to buy it.” I am then satisfied I don’t have to go out amongst people I don’t know well and go back to my creating until the selling bug comes calling the next time.

2. The fear that if my art is good and people start buying it I will have to start attending, “artist’s events”. While this one is not as much a big deal for me it is still a thought that gathers in my mind. It is not so much the meeting of people in this one that bothers me because I worked retail for years so I am ok when people come to me. The fear here once again is seeking out one on one conversations at these events in order to network myself among other artists, the people who sell art and hopefully those who will buy my art.

Here ends part 1. Watch for the sequel otherwise known as part two coming soon.