I used to think marketing was sleazy, hypey, beneath me.

That it was a waste of valuable painting, carving, or writing time.

I felt ashamed and embarrassed if I talked about myself in front of people.

I had this deep belief that ‘my work should speak for itself.’

But in conversations with people, I found out, much to my surprise, that they had no idea what my work was saying at all!

My work was mute! The artwork wasn’t saying a thing to them! Some people immediately ‘got it’ but most did not.

It was only after I started expressing how much I love the stone, what it feels like to carve, how different kinds of stone have different characteristics, what satisfaction carving brings me, how each piece evoked emotions and, ideas and thoughts – that they started seeing through my eyes.

I’m no longer shy about talking about my work with people.