Just returned from a fabulous trip to San Diego where I studied with my amazing Mastermind members. We stayed at the Paradise Resort and Spa…. although none of us had time for the spa treatments… bummer!
My trip home was complicated by the fact that American Airlines decided to cancel my flight to Phoenix where I would have taken the second leg of my trip. Instead I had to wait 10 hours for my next flight ….to make a long story short…it took me 19 hours to get from San Diego to Albuquerque, New Mexico. UGGGGGGG !
There is a question I thought I would answer in today’s newsletter.
The question is this…Why am I an Artist?
Growing up on a farm filled with adventure, intriguing aromas, acres that became my imaginary kingdom and animals that were my best friends I experienced the idyllic childhood.
Because I was always in the way during cooking for the farmhands my dear sweet Mother decided to paste plain wallpaper on a wall and then told me it was “my wall”. A whole wall for me? It was sheer freedom.
I grew up thinking every child drew on the walls! (Mother repapered that wall every week for years.)
Art school was not in my future but I continued to paint…not seriously but with a deep desire.
I produced a lot of bad paintings.
My motto was “if you show up in the studio and paint, even when you don’t feel like painting, the dawn will come…you mix colors, read books that inspire and work…you don’t give up.
I didn’t give up…not because I was good but because I didn’t know anything else to do.
I soon realized that my inner story was different than others and in order to be a respected and recognized artist I needed to embrace my inner story and become “me”.
Painting has so much to reveal about a person…so much to give…so many surprises.
The act of facing the blank paper or canvas was, and still is, terrifying and electrifying.
So now I teach. I teach others to honor their gift. Some students have immense talents, others just love the idea of creating and the smell of paint…but each equally important.
I also mentor artists who want to grow and succeed. I help them look at their work with new eyes, avoid the pitfalls all artists face and best of all …I help them commit to being their best.
I share with them what it’s like to go into the studio and stand in front of a painting that doesn’t want to be born but still have the courage to send it love.
Why do I paint? Because creating a painting that takes the viewers breath away gives me hope in myself.
Why do I teach? Because I love teaching and I am good at it.
Why do I mentor? Because sharing what I have learned gives meaning to my life and I am more alive than at any other time.
Besides, let’s face it…I am completely unemployable!
My advice to those who paint and those who wish they could paint…
Go for it…what is there to lose? Share your vision and soul with the world.
