How can artists overcome their inner critic or shyness?

The article suggests that true confidence often begins with openness and a willingness to welcome unexpected connections. Crista initially felt shy about entering the art school, but by embracing the situation, she learned a valuable lesson in confidence. This experience demonstrated that stepping out of one's comfort zone can lead to profound growth.

What role does vulnerability play in building artistic confidence?

The author experienced a moment of vulnerability when her French language skills crumbled under pressure, leading her to miscommunicate her profession. However, this moment allowed her to connect with the students through the universal language of art, demonstrating that vulnerability can foster genuine connection and build confidence.

What was the unexpected lesson about confidence Crista learned in Avignon?

Crista learned that true confidence often begins with openness and the willingness to welcome unexpected connections. Despite her initial shyness and language barrier, she found common ground with the French artists through their shared love of creativity, receiving a masterclass in confidence rather than teaching it.

How can artists connect with others through their work, even with language barriers?

The article highlights that art truly is a universal language, allowing for connection beyond linguistic differences. Despite Crista's struggles with French, she connected individually with the students at L’Académie des Arts d’Avignon through their shared passion for creativity. This experience showed that art can bridge communication gaps and foster understanding.

How Artists Silence the Critics Within

Quick Answer

The Working Artist suggests that artists can silence their inner critics and build confidence by embracing openness and vulnerability. This approach, exemplified by Crista Cloutier's experience at L’Académie des Arts d’Avignon, highlights that true self-assurance often begins with welcoming unexpected connections. By finding common ground in creative journeys and connecting through a shared love of art, artists can overcome shyness and linguistic barriers, fostering a deeper sense of belonging and confidence.

There was something magical about getting lost in the narrow medieval streets of Avignon.

What began as a simple search for lunch and a filming location for this video transformed into an unexpected lesson about confidence—one that I was meant to share, but ended up learning.

My friend and I wandered the charming lanes of southern France with two simple objectives: find somewhere picturesque to film this video about confidence for artists, and to find somewhere yummy for lunch.

I was studying a menu when he tapped my shoulder and pointed to what was literally right behind us—L’Académie des Arts d’ Avignon.

We peered through the tall windows of this venerable institution and spotted artists deeply engaged in their work.

“Let’s shoot the video in there!” he suggested enthusiastically.

I felt shy. The thought of barging into an art school uninvited made me uncomfortable—a moment of irony not lost on me now, considering I was there to talk about artistic confidence.

While I stood frozen with uncertainty, my cameraman had already made his way inside.

Before I knew it, I found myself invited to speak to a group of French artists—in French—about my work.

My language skills, unfortunately, crumble under pressure. When attempting to explain that my job was about mentoring artists, I apparently told them my job was about “lying to artists”.

Not exactly the confident first impression I had hoped for!

But something beautiful happened in that moment of vulnerability. Despite my linguistic stumbles, I discovered that art truly is a universal language. I connected with each student individually before filming, and found the pupils of Madame Eveline Kuhlman to be passionate, talented, thoughtful, and incredibly generous with both their space and spirits.

In a place where I should have been teaching confidence, I was receiving a masterclass in it.

These artists welcomed a stranger who couldn’t properly communicate in their language, yet they saw beyond that barrier to connect through our shared love of creativity.

This video I’m sharing today about confidence, and it is dedicated to my new friends at the Académie des Arts d’Avignon. Thank you for sharing your beautiful studios and, more importantly, for demonstrating that true confidence often begins with openness—the willingness to welcome unexpected connections and find common ground in our creative journeys.

Learn more about this incredible institution at academie-arts-avignon.fr

Written by Crista Cloutier, artist mentor + founder of The Working Artist. (learn more about Crista here)

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