Ready to Learn

You never know where the learning is going to come from, but you can be grateful when it comes.

I had a delightful couple who had seen my work at a show downstate stop in my studio to see more of my work. They were interested in two different pieces and planned on buying one.  For the first time in my career as a batik artist, I found myself resisting the idea of selling one of them, and of course it was the one they wanted most.

That feeling of resistance was a very odd feeling because as an artist, trying to make a living, you are grateful for every single sale and don't try to discourage anyone from buying anything, ever!

I couldn't put my finger on exactly why the idea of selling it was so difficult for me. Then, the woman made it perfectly clear, she nailed it when she said," I understand, you aren't done learning what this piece has to teach you yet." That was it, it was a piece that took me through a new set of doors.  I want to learn and grow from it, and in order to do that, I need to study it more. I need to have it in my sight to do that.

With this understanding I'm excited to see where this piece will lead me in the future and extremely grateful for her wisdom. I'm ready to learn now because the teacher is right in front of my eyes, I see it's purpose clearly now.  They graciously took the other piece, one which I  also like a great deal,  but for different reasons.