“Start Believing” by Elizabeth Harris

“Start Believing” is art you love by Elizabeth Harris

That tiny voice inside my head is sometimes not so tiny. Before long I started
believing those whispers were good or bad. Those whispers sometimes tell me
that I cannot really do this. Setting goals, having a vision board, writing out
line by line the accomplishments to come. Then looking at it all and the
whispers of self-doubt sink in. I do in fact start believing that maybe I cannot
accomplish or do or make it happen.

I am breaking up with that voice.

I remember when I sold my first piece of art. When I painted murals on clients’
walls, when I painted custom furniture pieces and the self-doubt set in. Maybe
it was a fluke. Do they really love my work? The bank account, no matter how fat
from selling art, was not convincing enough in my earlier years. As I grew more
mature and confident those whispers of self-doubt drifted off into a deep dark
forest I dared not to visit.

I started promoting my art during Covid. I updated my website and drifted
away from promoting myself in Interior Design or Advertising and Marketing. I
had mostly worked on referrals and rarely needed a website to promote. When I
decided to make my art more prominent the website overhaul began. I started
believing that I could sell art. Listening to my music, in my Palm Desert studio,
I realized that to have success I needed to “Start Believing.”

I painted this piece, “Start Believing.”  I named it this because the website was updated,
and my second half of life passions were coming alive and I had to let go of
those whispers in my youth that try to make you believe you can’t when in fact
you can.

“Start Believing” was sitting on an easel in my kitchen drying. I
often put my finished paintings on the counter to dry to make sure there are no
further brush strokes needed. It looked stunning. My husband thought it was
amazing. Then a house guest came to visit. Her words stung. Out of her mouth,
“I would never buy that.” This was not just a whisper it was words
from another. Words that stung. Words that woke the doubts in my own head. A
visit into the dark woods of self-destructive thoughts. Thoughts that if she
doesn’t love it then no one else will.

Why oh why do we do this to ourselves? My first business my parents were not
in favor. I had to believe in myself that I could do it and work through all
the negative conversations.

“You have no business degree.”

“You have no experience.”

“You have no start-up funding.”

All the words of those most important people to me. Yet in my first year of business,
I made over a million dollars.  That is
what an overcomer does. Fighting not only the whispers in my head, but the
words of others.

It’s been a few years now since Covid.  I think back to painting this piece and being
so proud of my finished work. I am still proud of this piece. And the person
with her opinions is just that her opinions. This piece was donated and sold
for over $2500.00. It meant something to the purchaser. “Start Believing” is
available as a print. These colorways were trending in the late 1990’s and baby
they are back.

All Elizabeth Harris Art can be ordered framed or unframed in a
beautiful Gallery Wrapped Canvas Print.

Fill out the contact form below if you would like quotes on framed, custom
sizes or a multiple piece discount.

This link to “Start Believing” will take you to my selling page on this site for a gallery
wrapped print.

Fill out the contact form below if you are a wholesaler, gallery, or
retailer to see if you qualify for multiple ordering discounts.