Interview in Artist Closeup Magazine!

Hello  Fans and Fam,

Last week, I was thrilled to see my artist interview published in Artist Closeup Magazine! 

Here's the link: https://www.artistcloseup.com/blog/interview-candace-candy-campbell

Still smiling and incredibly grateful to all my fans and the many strangers (from all over the globe) who navigated the hurdles and voted for my painting, American Beauty, in the [January] Gallerium International Art Exhibition! 

Initially, I thought, "How blessed am I to have been selected out of hundreds of applicants to be one of the 102 exhibiting Artists?!" 😊

And THEN, surprise! The painting was ranked #2!!

Thank you, everyone!!!😍

[And yes, the 'American Beauty' original oil on canvas is available for sale  here.]

Thankful Thursday Thoughts 🤔

Some time ago, American poet, Jack Gilbert, said, “…we must risk delight… “
That phrase stuck with me. 🎯

As a fellow creative person, he highlighted the main obstacle—- our own struggle with acceptance.

As a self-described eternal optimist, his words have given me something to chew on.

Yes, it is a RISK to put yourself/ your work out into the world.
😬

Ask anyone who has taken the time to:
focus and write a book, 📚
a poem,📜
a song, 🎶
a play, 🎭
perform anything in public,🕺🎤
put paint to canvas 🎨
or mold clay into a shape, 🏺
etc., the main battle is within.

It’s the nagging little voice that tells you to quit. Or not start.🙁

Conquering that, stepping out, that is the risk.

Gilbert recognized that continual battle. For him, it was such an all-consuming fight, he hid from the limelight, once he achieved the success he thought he was going for!

That is one way to deal with the risk of being a creative in any realm…

But there’s another way to face-off and conquer the loneliness, the rejection, the fear of failure, the criticism.

That is, tell that nagging little voice to go lie down while you concentrate and use the gifts God gave you to bring some positivity into the world. 😀

That’s not a false doctrine; it’s the only way to conquer the nagging inner-self, which will (of course), reappear frequently, especially anytime you decide to invest some precious hours of your life to create something most people just won’t make the time or energy to do.

This ‘positive psychology’ idea has taken a figurative beating in the last few years, and understandably so, if taken out of context.
For instance, it would be inappropriate to face any tragedy, e.g., a global pandemic, with a smile on your face.

Nevertheless, many of us agree with Gilbert, who warned, “We must have the stubbornness to accept our gladness in the ruthless furnace of this world.”
Ah, yes...There will always be trolls.
(Or, as a speaker friend would say, “People be peoplin’!”)

It takes guts to face the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune and find the silver lining in any situation; to choose to be grateful for the little things.

That’s what I want to do with this #ThankfulThursdayThoughts.

 I’ll share one a week for a while (I don’t like to be too predictable, after all) and relish reading your commments.

I’d like to thank author, Elizabeth Gilbert, for sharing about Jack Gilbert in her book. #BigMagic.

My Thankful Thursday Thought to pass along this week?

If you see someone without a smile, give them yours!
(It’s free, and neuroscience research supports the fact: It’s good for you!)

What makes you smile?

#Smile
#Passion
#ThankfulThursdayThoughts