Jessica Durrant's Blog - Archive

Success always comes after the struggle

Posted by jessdurrant in Art | Fashion | Freelance - (0 Comments)

“Opportunity follows struggle. It follows effort. It follows hard work. It doesn’t come before.”
Shelby Steele

I am a very private person in some regards in my life. I am not one to open up to people easily on my own struggles or trials in life. That being said I think many artist’s use their art as a way to express themselves, have fun, and as a form of therapy. As I have gotten to know my artist friends here in Atlanta more and more…it seems many of us use our art as a way to allow ourselves to channel any negative energy out of our life. This sounds so new age and silly. But if you really think about…most people have a talent or hobby in something and you gravitate towards doing it because it allows you to forget about your anxieties or fears and just focus on the present. Be it yoga, fishing, building something, painting, exercising…etc.

I have learned that some of the best opportunities have come to me when I have powered through any discouragement, setbacks or failures I have faced. I’ve held on to the faith that I can do something with my art, that is bigger than me. Even though I have so many exciting things happening in my career right now…doesn’t mean I face projects that disappoint or paintings that suck! hahaha!

A couple of weeks ago I had a few days in a row where the steam was knocked out of me. A book deal I was offered from a major publishing company didn’t pan out. And then at the same time I was working with a client (a really big deal client for me) and I just wasn’t feeling inspired. It came across in my work and they hacked my creations apart. I felt like giving up. It would have been so easy to just say, “I think we should part on creative differences.” But I knew that I needed to “Man Up!” (using a term from my favorite show Workaholics…hahah) So I did something super cheesy…I looked up encouraging quotes and practiced a little self-affirmation. I looked myself in the mirror and said, “I can do this!” And I tried to envision me making the client happy with the end result. I found this quote:

If you think you can do a thing or think you can’t do a thing, you’re right. ~ Henry Ford

So I put on my big girl pants and powered through it. And you guessed it, I finished the project and made the client oh so happy! It really helps to remember that you can accomplish things…you are your biggest obstacle sometimes. Right?! So shut up that negative voice in your head and prove it wrong already!

In exciting news…I have licensed some artwork to Revlon UK & European division and will have more information on that coming this Fall. They are using one of my pieces for product display in drugstores. Pretty darn exciting! I also got some great press from Country Living Magazine. I’m in the Sept. issue on page 29…if you’re at the grocery store check it out! Thanks Country Living! I also licensed a group of illustrations to New Zealand’s 30 Days of Fashion & Beauty event coming in September. So a lot of super fun things that make me dance around my apartment in pure elation!