11/02/2026
A recent conversation someone said “it’s alright for you, you do it all the time.” The thing is, I didn’t always.
I used to practice calligraphy anywhere from nine to midnight after the kids were in bed and everything else was done. I used to travel 3 hours each way to a workshop. I worked damned hard, as well as running a family business that was more than full time, and being a single parent to two young children.
It takes time to get part way to good… or confident enough to sell work…
It’s not about being an amateur or professional… it’s about not comparing yourself to others. Your work can never be like someone else’s cos you haven’t lived their life. By all means be inspired, but don’t think you should be able to do this or that, just because someone else can.
Of course aptitude helps. But remember, every one you admire as an artist or craftsperson… they also were beginners once. Their style didn’t arrive fully formed.
So give yourself time too.
