We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Zara Kand a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Zara, we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?
Confidence isn’t something that I’ve always had, nor did I find it overnight. It’s something I very badly craved throughout my youth and young adulthood, and it wasn’t until I dropped it as a “quality to be obtained”, and simply let it be something that would develop organically and inconspicuously, through certain shifts in my mindset, that it came to me. Several factors were key to this shift: At some point, I recognized my desire for self-esteem actually stemmed from a fairly self-absorbed place. I had wanted it so that I could garner the approval and respect of others, and thought that if I had that, all my insecurities would vanish. But that was all backwards. I eventually realized that the approval I sought needed to come from only one person – me. I began to delve deep into who I was, the qualities that made me good at what I do, and how I might be able strengthen those further. So my focus shifted from caring about the impression I gave off, into taking real action. It’s become my mission ever since to simply be the best I can be at what I do, and in the most authentic way possible. It’s that pursuit of excellence, as well as interest in helping others, which brings me the personal satisfaction and confidence I’ve always craved. And funny enough, now that I have this, I couldn’t care less what others think anymore. I believe we are best defined by the actions we take, as well as the kindness we put forth. People, and their opinions, may come and go, but the foundation you build with yourself lasts forever. And the healthier the relationship with yourself, the healthier your relationship with others will be too.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
First and foremost, I am a visual artist – I have always been drawn to visual forms of expression since a wee toddler. Oil painting is my primary medium, and I also enjoy creating oil painted animation works. My work often features moody characters within settings which may have sprung from the unconscious – some might call it surrealistic, others, maybe symbolist. Either way, I love having an excuse to purge my emotions and call it art.
Besides my personal work, another great joy of mine is uplifting the careers of other artists. I do so by providing exhibition opportunities through curation, by being an art writer (reviewing shows and interviewing artists for prominent magazines and outlets), and by occasionally teaching painting classes.
I like to look at individual expression as part of one, giant creative collective – the more we can support the careers of our peers, the stronger we all become. The world can be good at diminishing, and even crushing, the role of the artist in society – I advocate the arts because I believe we need it for our sanity and our spirits.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The following are pointers that have helped me to build my skills as well as develop good relationships with others in the art industry – May they help you as well!
1. Always place your creative intuition first (but be open to constructive criticism). Like any skill, though, intuition will take
years of experience to develop into maturity. So keep working at your passion, and eventually your intuition will become
powerful in guiding towards your most unique self, and will also let you know when falling short of your potential.
2. Remain humble, and always strive for excellence. No one likes an artist who thinks they are God’s gift to man. Even if
you believe you’re good, remain open to the fact that there is always room for growth and improvement. The artist’s
personal journey is never done.
3. Remain gracious and courteous. Always express appreciation when a professional chooses to help your career in any
way, whether it’s through an exhibition opportunity, press coverage, or even just verbal support. There are millions of
artists out there – to receive any bit of special attention can be considered a great gift. Keep in mind that most arts
professionals are very busy dealing with numerous artists, so it is always good to be respectful of their time
Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
I am currently writing a book about the creative process – It is the most difficult project I have ever worked on, because it is an unending subject with an infinite amount of branches and subtopics. All the while, I must try my best to be as objective as possible while presenting my findings on this matter. It’s also the first time I’ve written anything beyond 3000 words. I undergo the fluctuating feelings of confidence and discouragement on a daily basis, but something tells me I must see it through to the end. Wish me luck!
Contact Info:
- Website: http://zarakand.com
- Instagram: @zarakandart
- Other: http://thegalleristspeaks.com
Image Credits
Zara in the studio photos by: Kim Martin Photography
