Never let someone’s criticism squash your dreams

Fight for your dreams! It wasn’t so long ago that I was at a friend’s house and a guest of hers criticized me for painting “like a child.” Once upon a time, that would have deterred me; instead, I leaned in and painted more freely!

Pictured is one of these fun, fearless, and fab paintings, which sold last week to a new collector. I named it “How Far Will I Go?”

Fight for your dreams! Artwork by Cassandra Gaisford just sold, How Far Will I Go?

A lovely, lovely lady called me last night to range a private viewing to the studio, and went home with this painting and two others of my very special works on paper.

The best thing of all is that one of the paintings in particular, she said she chose because it was going to inspire her to be bold and confident as she pursues her art too.

I feel so happy and blessed and full of gratitude that what I do sparks joy.🙏 💕🪄

Fight for your dreams

Use humour to disempower your critics! When that chap criticized me, I sweetly smiled and invited him on a play date to splash in puddles of colour! That took the wind out of his sails.
Be inspired by other artists. Take an art class with someone who embodies what you yearn for.
Mind food—curate your friends and chose your company wisely

“From D- to A+ in 15 Minutes.”

It wasn’t so long ago that I was at a friend’s house and a guest of hers criticized me for painting “like a child.” Once upon a time, that would have deterred me; instead, I leaned in and painted more freely!

I’m powerfully reminded that I chose to paint like a child! I can and have painted ‘adult’ paintings—and to great success. My portrait of my grandmother was a finalist in the prestigious Adam Portraiture Award. I finished first and was awarded the supreme prize in another competition for an abstract artwork!

I don’t wish to paint photorealism, and nor do the people who come to my art classes, “I want to loosen up,” they say. “I want to get messy!” “I just want to have fun!”

AND THAT, MY FRIENDS, IS WHAT I WANT TOO.

The lovely lady in this video came for a play date at my studio in 2024 or a one-day art retreat with a really good friend. She had a terrible experience with an art teacher over 50 years ago who told her that she was a D- student.

She hadn’t painted again since:(

It was wonderful to see her creativity flourish, dare I say, with a teacher who loves to encourage, not disparage. Never let someone’s criticism squash your dreams.☀️💕🦄

“It was evolving as I was, and it was mega-fun!”

In this video, you’ll see how thrilled she was with her first painting, created with a time gap of 15 minutes, to encourage getting out of her head and going with the flow. We also ‘kindly’ critique why this painting works.

Buy art to inspire your dreams!

Buy or commission truly original artwork from an award-winning artist. SAVE $ 🥰🌞💐👍 and take home a piece (or two) of my joy ❤️🎄🖼️

or consider coming along to one of my fab, fun and fearless art retreats and create your own masterpiece. One lady did this yesterday, going from a discouraging grade of d- which an art teacher gave her, to creating an A+ painting that my newbie artist loves. Best of all, after over 40 years of being deterred from painting, she refound her joy!

What speaks to you on a soul level?

If I could hang one painting in my home it would be Leonardo’s Mona Lisa. Not for her value, fame or infamy, but because she speaks to me on a soul level. A psychic once said to me, Art is how spirit speaks to you. Just now, as I write this post, a sketch I completed 11 years ago came up in my FB news feed. What are the odds.

Mona Lisa Sketch By Cassandra Gaisford, 2012

I don’t wish to paint photo realism, and nor do the people who come to my art classes, “I want to lossen up,” they say. “I want to get messy!” “I just want to have fun!”

AND THAT, MY FRIENDS, IS WHAT I WANT TOO.

P.S.

Fight for your dreams! The little princess quote

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