My latest completed painting is titled Diametric. It depicts a raven and full moon, both of which are considered to be good and bad omens, depending on what culture you reference. The truth is, we see what we seek; good when you look for it, or bad when you look for it.
Read MoreThe act of creating art has always been a very personal and private experience for me. I can create from my soul, then I get to choose if I share it with the world or if I keep it to myself.
Creating public art is a completely different process. You start off knowing it’s for public use and interaction. You know it’s going to live in your community and be seen and judged, and hopefully enjoyed, by people.
Read MoreIn April, I submitted the following concept to the NEA Big Read Great Lakes Bay Region Public Art Project. They were looking for a piece of public art to be created and installed, one in Bay City, one in Saginaw, and one here in Midland. It felt like a once in a lifetime kind of opportunity, so despite my insecurities I went ahead and applied.
Read MoreGoal Setting for Creatives is a free, email based, three day self-guided workshop. It consists of a daily email with an interactive worksheet for you to do in your own time. Creatives CAN set and meet goals.✨
Read MorePeople will take your small business as seriously as you teach them to. If you talk about your business like it’s a hobby, people will treat it as a hobby. When people ask you how things are going, don’t shrink down and play it off like it’s no big deal. Running a business is a big deal!
Read MoreThis is an open letter to all the creatives out there. We need you and your work. Every time a person steps into their purpose and shares their gifts, the world is better for it. It’s time to stop playing small, and start playing BIG.
Read MoreThere once was a girl who felt broken. She felt sad, and alone, and unloved. She lived in fear and regret and didn’t dare be herself. She would shrink down to the form she thought would be most palatable for others. She stayed quiet and said very little, for fear of saying the wrong thing.
Read MoreOver the past year I’ve been on a journey to explore color and texture through paint. I’ve created this collection slowly, and thoughtfully, in between the moments of everyday life. Each piece is unique in size, colors, and application techniques. Some are framed and some aren’t. It’s an eclectic bunch, but they’re all part of the Amorphous Impasto Collection.
Read MoreLearning and accepting this fact has give me a sense of freedom. Letting go of the “I’ll be happy when I...” or “I’ll be successful when I...” myth and learning to live in the moment is a beautiful thing.
I’m not an expert at this. I have to remind myself constantly, but it’s starting to stick. Love who you are now. Keep learning and growing, always, but you are enough today.
When it comes to creative living or creative entrepreneurship, it’s important to know the power of no. When you’re starting out it will be tempting to say yes to every opportunity that comes your way. The good, the bad, the “do it for the exposure.” I’m speaking from experience here. I worked with design clients who were not a good match for my style. I took on projects that I didn’t even offer as services. I said yes to outrageous timelines. This is an excellent recipe to get burned out pretty quickly. I do recommend trying new things, stretching yourself, and pushing your limits, but you don’t have to do it to your own detriment.
Read MoreThere are lies we tell ourselves every day. Sometimes they’re excuses not to go for the thing we really want, to protect ourselves from the possibility of failure. Sometimes we get so caught up in what we’re “supposed to do” we forget to listen to our own instincts. Here is my top five list of things you do NOT need to go after your dreams, whatever those dreams may be.
Read MoreI used to think I could do everything, all the time, as it came to me. I said yes to every creative opportunity that came my way. I wanted to do it all, and I wanted to do it now. I’m here to tell you, you can do it all, but you don’t have to do it all right this minute.
Read MoreI am anxious a lot. That information always seems to surprise people. People tell me I seem like I have it all together. I always seem like I have a plan. I’m always doing so many projects, or doing cool stuff with my kids. They’re not wrong, but the reason I always have a plan is anxiety. I reason I’m always doing a ton of projects is anxiety. This is how I deal.
Read MoreI’ve been thinking about fear a lot for creatives. I don’t mean that I’ve been feeling afraid, just trying to analyze that fear we all feel that sometimes keeps us from creating. The biggest obstacle keeping people from what they most want is fear. Fear of failure, rejection, judgment.
Read MoreI remember the first time I was introduced to alcohol based markers in high school they were messy and bled, like watercolors, on vellum and I wasn’t sure what to do with them.
Read MoreHave you ever had this happen to you? You’re alone at your desk late at night. The house is finally quiet and you can breathe. No one else needs you for anything. You have a light bulb moment. The stars align and the smoke clears from your brain.
Read MoreI came across an article yesterday where a survey in Singapore listed artists in the top five non-essential jobs. My favorite part of the article was the graphics and illustrations, which were of course created by an artist. That made me laugh a bit.
Read MoreI came to a realization recently. Maybe never feeling content in ourselves is OK. Maybe it’s because there’s always more to do, learn, grow. We are in a constant state of becoming. We are supposed to be.
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