Mona Lisa - Look a fool

Your weekly art takeaway

Author

Mona L
September 15, 2024

Sep 15 | Issue 08

ML - Welcome to Mona Lisa. A weekly newsletter for artists with timeless quotes, ideas and light bites for curious & wandering minds.

❝

I kept my idea a secret from anyone who could not directly help to move it forward. That was my gut instinct at the time, but it’s now one of the best pieces of advice I have to give. Ideas are the most vulnerable at the moment you have them; that’s also the time people are most inclined to run around seeking validation from everyone they know. Discouraging remarks will likely take you off course. You’ll either end up deflated or spend your time defending your idea instead of going for it.

— Sara Blakely, Founder of Spanx

— Avery Singer, Mirror Study

Little thoughts

💎 The most valuable gemstones in the world.

✖️“Opportunities multiply as they are seized.” - Sun Tzu

🤫 Experience 4’33 by John Cage.

👹 The rise of fugly art.

Mona’s notes

This week I’ve been contemplating the possible benefits that could be reaped from looking like a fool in the short term…🤡 

You don’t write that story, because you’re afraid people will judge you. You hold off asking that question because you think it will sound silly. You decide not to attend that Private View because you hate going alone. You don’t say sorry because you are waiting for the other person to do it first. You don’t attempt a new style of painting because you think you’ll be written off. You don’t ask them out because you’re afraid of being turned down. You don’t go to that life drawing class because you’re worried you’ll be the worst there. You never ask for things, because you think you’ll come across as desperate. You don’t apply for that prize or open call because you think they’ll reject you. You refuse to admit your mistakes, and so you keep repeating them…however, it could be very possible that just a few moments of discomfort may actually change everything. 🌟 

With love -

Mona x

“… let’s sing it, dance it, write it, paint it.” - Aaron Douglas

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