Currently Reinventing, digital filing {SO fun! and SO long overdue} while painting a Summer Floral Collection releasing to the brand new website August 24. A revisit to this blog and decisions about where it will be in the Creative Thursday world are coming next.
As soon as the oracle cards arrived back from the printer, I put together the deck and randomly chose my first card. The card was "celebrate".
For a moment I pondered? There's no "big" news to celebrate? So why this card? And then I remembered my conversation with a friend just last night where we talked about noticing how there's so much pressure to be "extraordinary" today, that we are losing sight of what it means to appreciate and celebrate all of the beautiful moments and accomplishments in life, both big and small, ordinary and extraordinary.
I'm a believer in celebrating everything you want to highlight, and not waiting only for the "big" moments in your life.
And then not long after I pulled the celebrate card (an hour to be exact)... as you know we've been fostering kittens!!...spontaneously we decided that the kitties are meant be with us. And that is definitely worth celebrating ;)
I now know why, for several reasons, this was the very first card I pulled from the "Creative Joy" deck.
Not to mention - it's always exciting to share a new creation, especially one that combines a particularly special collection of my work painted over the past decade. More reason to celebrate!
Each word I included in the deck was carefully chosen, often correlating directly to the title of the original painting featured on the card. Since my art is so often a reflection of what I'm experiencing while I'm painting, each image contains the feeling expressed by the words. If you remember, the characters highlighted on the "celebrate" card are from a 2007 painting titled "the gang celebrates". It was a time when my characters were developing, my art was just starting to sell consistently and my business as a full time artist was finally coming together.
I hope you will cherish this deck and share with me stories of how the words or the images spoke to you at just the right time, even if simply inspiring a theme for your creating that day.
You can order your deck here!
I've often referred to my neighborhood as a "magical vortex"
Only because I've never lived anywhere where I instantly felt at home, and 3 years in I love my neighbors more than ever.
As it turns out, others sense this quality too? because they keep dropping off tiny animals in our neighborhood. The assumption is that they will find a good home. And very often they do!
This is how Pepita aka "the calm chihuahua" found us. And just last week, 2 kittens found their way to our neighborhood too.
What do you do when 2 of the cutest kittens ever show up unexpectedly? Well first you foster them, then you snuggle them. Then you take way too many photos and videos of them, to share everywhere including your blog. To keep up with their daily antics, follow my video stories on the Instagram app.
Oh and you also start painting them, because they are only the BEST creative muses, next to Garbo and Pepita {who are not so sure about life with kittens}.
"Kittens love abstract art" The first in what I'm sure will be a continuation of "kitten art".
A common question for artists; "Where do you get your inspiration?" My standard answer is "everywhere". I honestly never know when it's going to strike but I'm always open and listening.
Last week I was introduced to this beautiful song by Aurora. It took my breath away. A remake of "Life on Mars" by David Bowie, I went searching and came across his original video. My newest music and video obsession inspired this painting series "Life on Mars".
Now I know it's highly unlikely there are flowers and gardens on Mars? But we can imagine, right? Because yes, that is also a tiny bear you see there, standing on Mars. ;)
Stay open for inspiration xo
The little pear totally has eyes for the dreamy orange.
A new series of paintings and prints now available in the shop.
The way I see it, there are essentially 2 categories of people {and business owners}; the Early Adopters and the Late Majority. It's not that one is better than the other, because in the cycle of business and technology, we need both. However, having primarily favored the category of the Late Majority up until recently, I have some thoughts on why I think being an early adopter and one who EMBRACES CHANGE is everything in today's world.
The biggest reason being; when you're first to try, you can change and pivot if it's not right for you. But once something is already started you can never go back and be first.
And the benefits of being first are...? They are BIG and different for each industry. Here's what I see in the industries that are my expertise; creativity and entrepreneurship combined with technology. For art collection and courses, in the beginning the price is less and the personal attention is more. Both the early collector and student influence the development of the artist and if/what they choose to teach. The opportunity for feedback and connection is profound. And when it comes to technology and social media your chance to have a bigger impact through building a genuine following and community is way more when you get there first and get to know the pioneers in the space. {And for my fellow foodies, once everyone knows about the next great L.A. restaurant, it means a way longer wait to get a table}.
Maybe you've seen my recent videos where I've talked about how I've realized my resistance to change - aka stubbornness - has impeded my progress. While I'm still a big believer in trusting your individual timing and choices around what's right for you, I am no longer a supporter of even well intended "stubbornness". Things are never going back to the way "they used to be". And especially as a business owner, recognizing that what worked in the past may not be what works now, is the difference between progressing and quitting. Remaining rigid and fearful about changes that are coming is only an excuse to get in your own way.
As I was writing this email, I stumbled across a live broadcast that emphasized and echoed my sentiments about how the PACE of CHANGE today, is unlike any time before. Instead of seeing change as the result of bad decisions; it's that all the decisions that lead us to this moment are the reason for the awareness that embracing change is always the best choice = me now.
This means that we have to be willing to TRY & Explore, because it's the only way to progress. I get that choosing to be in the Late Majority feels less risky. Why not see how it works out for everyone else? Just because everyone's doing it, still doesn't make it right or mean it will stick? or does it? Today, not trying is what's riskier. It's going too fast. You won't just have FOMO {fear of missing out} but you might miss opportunities entirely.
There's never a crowd on the leading edge. And usually when there's a crowd, I want out. And yes I have vision, comes with the entrepreneurial territory. I've been ahead of my time before in my first e-commerce business to choices I've made with Creative Thursday, like podcasting, online teaching, and video. But I left early. This time, I'm not leaving. Because I've realized more than ever that without the early adopters, all the businesses we support, and the technologies that support our businesses wouldn't be here. My early art collectors, like Sharon who bought one of my first {and still a favorite} character paintings featured above, are the reason I'm here.
To all of you who collect my art , especially my early adopter/collectors, and to those of you who signed up for my very first online courses, backed my Kickstarter, subscribed to my YouTube channel, attend my live streams, and most recently bought a floral abstract and signed up for my newest course offerings, especially the one with a focus on LIVE video, THANK YOU!
When I started both of my businesses, first an E-Commerce site in the Interior Design space, and then Creative Thursday, I was fortunate to have mentors to guide and reassure me through those early stages. It takes so much focus, energy and faith to get something new off the ground.
In my first business I learned how to write a business plan and actually had one in place because I needed it to approach potential investors. For Creative Thursday, I chose a different approach - partly due to the fact that I didn't know I could have a plan as an artist? I mean when I started, most people still thought you were lucky to sell your work as an artist, let alone make a living.
In both businesses I've hustled and created the majority of my own opportunities. Early on in Creative Thursday I was also fortunate to have a couple of "lucky breaks" that helped put me on the map as an Emerging Artist and a voice as a Creative Entrepreneur. I would also say the "lucky breaks" had more to do with good timing, than luck. And they also had to do with learning how to recognize the opportunity as it was happening, and run with it!
Everyone can have a lucky break, but what about afterwards, can you sustain it?
Even with the help of early mentors, I wasn't really prepared for what it takes to stay in business, to have longevity within an economy and technical landscape that is changing at rapid fire speed, one that is shifting every time we think we have it figured out.
When I wrote my first business plan, I remember addressing what kind of business I envisioned right alongside my exit strategy. While it seems awkward to think about how you might "end" your business before you've even begun, it's a vital step, because it is going to give you clues about what happens in between.
What I see on the teaching landscape today is a lot of excitement and education about beginnings, and who doesn't love the start of something new? however I'm not seeing enough courses addressing a fundamental, must have skill before you ever begin, organization and the desire to build something that lasts. How do you evolve and stay standing well after lucky breaks and changing trends. It takes the same focus, energy and faith to stay as it does to start.
This is my introduction announcing my plans to teach again in 2016!
But first I'm re-opening the class I taught last fall and making it available as a download for a limited time to those of you who missed it. To all of the students planning to join me for upcoming classes this year, I recommend starting with Permission to Be first as it will give you a solid overview and foundation which we will build upon in 2016. Also, all Permission to Be Students will have first access to the next sessions as soon as registration opens.
Here's to LUCK + LONGEVITY and a lot of fun and more ease along the way. That's my idea of business success.
Happy New Year!
For 20% off everything at Creativethursday.com. Use the code: TISTHESEASON at checkout. Happy Holiday Time!
