Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Cindy Boney. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Cindy, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.
Imposter syndrome is the nemesis of all creators. It constantly reminds us of our shortcomings, inadequacies, lack, and the impossibility of mastery, to name a few. To overcome imposter syndrome is to stare it straight in the face and admit that we all are imposters in some form or fashion. Solomon, in his wisdom, declared, “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 1:9.
Starting with this fact, it is possible to quiet the still, small voice that says we are not who we think we are as creators. To do this one must embrace a few key principles in the studio. One principle I embrace is Fibonacci’s sequence. The sequence begins with one in this instance. That’s me. Then one tool, that’s two. Picking up the tool, let’s say a pencil, I make a mark. That’s three. From there, as I consistently show up in the studio, works emerge. The more I create, the more the voice shouting imposter is quieted and moved to the background. The more I acknowledge I need help or practice, the voice is so quiet a pin drop is noisy in comparison.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
In my house, I have the first painting my mother ever painted. It is oil on canvas and the oversized frame is gilded gold, fashioned by my grandfather. In my house, there are photos taken by my father and art he purchased just for me. He imparted a love for art created by artisans who tame the Chihuahuan desert…the land of my birth. I find myself searching out where I am in this landscape between the desert and still life; abstracted doodles and garden floral paintings; explorations still to be discovered. My soul lives in the desert and my heart lives in Central Texas.
After retiring, I promised myself that I would embark on my own creative journey to capture the world as I see it and give it to others. But that is only one aspect as I believe it’s important to be present in the community building friendships and educating others in artistic pursuits. To that end, I am a member of Waco Caligraphy Guild, Central Texas Watercolor Society, as well as serving as a committee member with Waco Open Arts Market.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
The three qualities I have that impact my journey are: I am a lifelong learner, I love challenges, and I embrace change whether I like it or not. I didn’t wake up one day and say, ‘Wow, these qualities I have!’ They have emerged as I stayed persistent with the goals I set for myself to improve as an artist. For me, every time I begin a painting, it is a challenge until it is finished, so I embrace it.
And change? Well, that presents itself in many ways. At first, I found my creative community with Waco Calligraphy Guild. I thought that was it; I was going to be a calligrapher. Then I found watercolor. And again, I thought, that’s it; I’m going to be a watercolorist. I do still consider myself a watercolorist, but I still wanted more freedom and flexibility, so I invited acrylics and other media into the mix. Because I embrace being an artist as a journey, not a destination, I am committed to being open to exploration and allowing that to guide me to the next thing.
My best advice for creatives is to stay open to possibilities and ignore advice from those who aren’t in the arena!
Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?
It isn’t possible to point to one person who has been most helpful in my career as an artist, but rather, there have been many. When I first started with one journal and watercolor, I took a class on SkillShare with illustrator Ohn Mar Win. Many artists credit her simple encouragement to paint simply, and consistently while embracing your unique marks as being the springboard to a lifelong pursuit of artistic expression. Along, with Win, many creatives who share their journeys on podcasts have been instrumental in helping me continue with my journey and not give up. They include Laura Horn Art, Art Juice, Creative Pep Talk, Learn to Paint Podcast, and Art School Live with Eric Rhoads.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.caboney.art
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caboney1/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/caboney1
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