I really enjoy podcasts, and one of my favorites is How I Built This with Guy Raz. If you are not familiar with it, the show explores the stories behind some of the world’s most recognizable companies, weaving together the journeys of innovators, entrepreneurs, and idealists who built something meaningful from little more than an idea. One episode that stayed with me was the interview with Eileen Fisher. She shared how she signed up for a fashion trade show with no experience, no garments, no patterns, no sketches, and nothing but a few ideas. She also described herself as a “shy extrovert,” a phrase that immediately resonated with me. Shy or not, her story and the stories of many others featured on the podcast became a quiet push, reminding me that waiting for everything to be perfect is often what keeps meaningful work hidden. Hearing how others took imperfect first steps helped me finally get off my butt and share my art with you.

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The first time I shared my art publicly came about almost by accident. I was reading an online newsletter related to my day job when I noticed a small announcement about a nonprofit organization inviting artists to apply for their first annual fundraising juried art show. At the time, I was actively trying to figure out how my art could live beyond being stacked and stored under the bed. I had no professional photos of my work, no titles for the pieces, and no artist bio. I honestly had very little idea what I was doing, aside from exchanging emails with the organizer and figuring things out as I went. I submitted three pieces for consideration and was genuinely stunned when two were accepted. That surprise quickly turned into disbelief when one of the pieces received an Honorable Mention, followed by deep humility when multiple offers were made to purchase it. That experience felt like a very clear message. Fate nudged me, and this time, I chose to listen.