hello to all creative folk out there!

i am new today also.  i've thought about writing before, but because i am now(nervously) in the process of getting a web site together; i am trying to push myself to get out there with active artists who know how to promote themselves and their art.  i also want to push myself to work/play/create more, because i have the tendency to let fear and lack of confidence get in my way.   i am currently working with pastels and gravitate toward portraiture.  i love doing portraits, but because they are so specific, think that i probably need to branch out so i can at least afford the paper, new pastels, etc, etc.  i have found generating portrait commissions to be very difficult.  any advice in that department would be greatly appreciated.  i've done landscapes in the past, but mainly in watercolor and many years ago.  as far as mediums, i also love colored pencils, tho' i'm too slow to generate much work with them.  i enjoyed reading the recent forum about working slowly, as i'm not painting/drawing near as much as i would like.  i battle with the horrid perfectionistic monster__would love to slay that paralyzing beast.  i have so many things creatively in mind and worry about running out of time.  i'm not a youngster.  i'd also like to experiment with collage and multimedia pieces.   i love seeing the amazing work other people are doing; you are all such inspiration.  thanks for listening.