In this blog I talk about how we need to have patience and trust the journey that we’re on. Sometimes it’s hard, and we feel like we can’t do it any longer, but it’s these challenging times that make us value what we have when we reach our goals and dreams.

This all started from finding a clipping from a magazine from years ago and it brought it all back to me. Where I started from, how far I’ve come and what I have achieved.

The original United ArtSpace

The clipping was from when I very first created United ArtSpace. It was four or five years ago and I had this amazing building. The bottom floor was workshop space and the floors above were studio space. It was a place where artists came together to make. So, people would rent the space and it was their little home for creating art. 

I was so passionate about it and I absolutely loved it! The location was beautiful, it was in the most amazing, historic building on the river and it had the most amazing energy to it. But behind the scenes of this amazing space, it was ridiculously stressful. I made no money from it and running a big, old building had its problems. 

I remember someone saying to me in the moment, if you take this on, that is your own art over. They were right. I had no time to create, but it was a decision that was made because I was passionate about bringing artists together.

Finding this clipping took me back to that time. The time where I had no money, got into debt and I just didn’t know how I was going to make this idea, that I desperately wanted to work, work. At the time I felt like a failure. 

Remembering

I just remember thinking, how am I going to make this financially viable? At the time it just wasn’t possible. Then towards the end of 12 months of running United ArtSpace I fell pregnant. It was at that moment, I realised having such a big project with such big overheads all whilst having the responsibility of having a baby was just not possible. 

So, with all that in mind I closed it down. It was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make. Things didn’t end on the best of terms with the landlords and it was just a really horrible time! I closed it down, and maybe not in the best way because I was so upset. I’d let people down and still to this day, I am really sad about that. In fact, I was still dealing with it all whilst in hospital having just given birth. Things all happened at once and I really remember thinking a strong sense of failure. 

Realisation   

But what I realised when finding that clipping is, I wouldn’t change it for the world. I wouldn’t erase that time in my life as it’s led me to where I am today. Those awful experiences were incredible life lessons and insights which led to us all here, today. Having patience was key. 

I remember closing the studio down and just thinking that I didn’t know what I wanted to do, where I was going with my life. I had no idea where I was going. But after having my children I had the feeling of wanting to find a way to make United ArtSpace work. I missed having the community of artists and bringing people together. However, I knew it couldn’t be a physical space as I couldn’t commit to running it with having a family. 

Anything is possible!

It is possible to create a life where you have freedom to work in a creative space, to make money, to be happy and love what you do. I am living proof of that! I had no plan, but I knew in my mind that is what I wanted and just kept on taking those steps. It’s not always been easy, I’ve hit rock bottom many times on the journey, but I’ve picked myself up and carried on. 

I want you to know that it is okay to not know where you are going and what you want to be. It’s okay to feel rejection, as frustrating as it is. You just have to trust in what is happening and know that one day, you will get there! 

Sharon is my friend and she is just amazing! She is a practising artist, 100% of her income comes from her art and we’ve shared this journey together over the last four or five years. We have both said patience has been the crucial ingredient to get to where we are now because it doesn’t happen overnight, it’s a slow process. During that process you have to take the good and the bad to reach your dreams.

Here is a story from Marita. She had been a struggling artist for a long time. Selling cards for $1.40 or something like that. She struggled on and never gave up. Then all of a sudden she collaborated with a company who ended up licensing her artwork on cards. From doing that she generated $800,000 from just one design. 

Now this is just one story, showing it’s having the patience to wait it out through all the waves and it will happen if you believe in yourself and your work! 

You can achieve your dreams

So, I just want you to know even when it feels difficult and impossible to achieve your dream, this time will pass and you will get there. Mistakes and rejections are all part of your growth. You have to feel it and the more you feel it, the more you will learn. 

If you are in the deep, dark depth of the unknown please know you are going to be okay, we’ve got you and we believe in you. Have patience and you’ll reach your dreams!

Much love, 

Michelle xx