the Creative Thursday blog

celebrate! "creative joy" oracle cards are here!

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!

dreaming in a wildflower garden

There's something about the momentum of calm 3 day weekends bring, that really inspires creativity for me. And it kicked off the beginning of some serious painting time which resulted in these two pieces, each measuring 8" x 24",  that will also become future growth charts! 

I'm already attached to the calm and imagination with a touch of adventure represented in these paintings, the "Wildflower Garden" and "Delightful Dreamers" (an evolution of he first version) And yes if you look closely you will see that there is a tiny kitten ;) featured in the bottom left corner of the "Wildflower Garden". 

Enjoy the newest additions to the Creative Thursday collection! The originals are available to purchase here.

hello kittens!

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".

Life on Mars

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

hello Instagram Stories!

IG Stories!

If you don't know yet? Instagram released it's own version of "SnapChat". When you update your Instagram App, you'll see a row of circles featuring the profile photo of those you follow above the photos feed. Anyone with a circle featured in that row, or with a red circle around their profile photo on their instagram page has created a "story" featuring a 10 second or less series of videos or photographs. 

As you know I've been live streaming for exactly one year, and I was recently trying out Snap Chat. All this familiarity with video made hopping on IG stories an {almost} comfortable next step. Now matter how many times you hit the record button, sharing more of yourself with an audience is always a stretch.

While I'm sure it's the novelty that's getting so many eyeballs on my "stories", I feel especially excited to explore this new short video format. I always want to create thoughtful, fun, creative content for you and this platform is no different.

I will tell you that I'm sharing even more behind the scenes snippets of life and business on IG stories than I have anywhere else. Right when I was done with the polish and perfection of Instagram, a platform I've been consistently posting to since 2010, this new feature came along. And it's basically reathed a new life into social media for me. I love sharing and learning more about all of our worlds in a less polished, real way again. 

They only stay up for 24 hours, so you might catch a glimpse of a few recent stories where I share the importance of hiring help when you need it and not waiting until you think you can budget it {if you're a solo-preneur like me, you'll think you can do it all yourself for far too long}. You can also catch the longer conversation recorded this past Monday, about my thoughts on IG Stoires, SnapChat and live streaming on Periscope. Yes, I'm still live streaming too ;) Watch the broadcast here.

To all of you who continue to follow me and tune into streams and now stories. Thank you for watching! 

a BIG box of JOY! Giveaway

I don't know about you? but I've been feeling like we could all use a little more joy these days. So I decided to gather up a collection and put together a "Box of JOY". There's a big box {only 16} and small box {only 8} packed with whole bunch "surprise" Creative Thursday treats, including a personal note from me to you over at the shop. 

And! I'm also giving away 1 SURPRISE SUPER BIG BOX OF JOY with all kinds of treats, including an original painting plus access to a mini-course of your choice. 

Here's how you enter:

1. Comment below with 1 - 2 words that describe the Creative Thursday "brand" to you
2. Share a success or a struggle {or both} and what you can personally use support, help with right now.

The giveaway is open through Tuesday August 2 @ 12:45 pm PST. A winner will be chosen randomly and announced Tuesday.

If I can add little more joy to your day by delivering happiness and inspiration in a box for yourself, or {holiday} gifts you can share, then let's do it! Good luck!

YAY!! Our winner is Kristy Wesolowski! Congratulations! Thank you everyone for sharing! It was a joy to hear from you, thoughts on branding, struggles and successes. xo

Fruit Salad

The little pear totally has eyes for the dreamy orange.

A new series of paintings and prints now available in the shop.

2 types of people...which one are you?

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!

This is why I haven't been blogging {as often}

Simply because, in the decade I've been blogging things have become more, way MORE. And by things I pretty much mean everything. An increase in experience and clarity coupled with a desire to be more efficient have happened for me as a business owner. I would expect this, yes? But the amount of "things" I have to keep up with, keep track of and manage as a solo-preneur have reached a tipping point. I truly can't do it all and I'm sad to say that blogging has been one of them.

I have loved this space and still do. This is not an "I'm quitting" the blog post. It's just an explanation to my less frequent posting in months/years past. 

Let's be honest, the blogging space has changed a lot since many of us started, and while I don't think it's going away any time soon or ever? the way in which we communicate and share or I should say the all of the ways {plural} have changed. They haven't become less but for many of us they became more, much more.

As a creative, an artist who likes to paint it is becoming increasingly difficult to manage my time between social media sharing/marketing and finding quiet time to create from an inspired space. Not good or bad, just how it is now. Rather than resist it as I've done in the past I've embraced it and given in to forging a new strategy on how to continue to evolve my business.

One of the other reasons it's been harder to commit to writing time here is also because I've added 2 additional start up ventures to my life and business goals as well. So in fairness it is not just the social media element, of what to post, when to post and wondering if anyone is really listening? that's hijacking all of my time - it's my choice of following inspiration and ideas that has the potential to take the story I started telling here to a much wider audience. 

With all of that said I realize as I share this with you today,  how nice it is to communicate through the written word. I love writing too. But right now I have to choose the easiest format for me to communicate my ideas and my work and lately it has been live streaming. Makes sense right? I've always enjoyed sharing via my voice, my spoken voice. I started this blog with a podcast back in the day. And this past year I found a medium that fulfills all of my expression in a much quicker format. Writing takes time for me. It takes much thought and editing on some days especially. Lately with so much going on, it's just felt easier to push a button and talk the thoughts I used to blog about, directly to you. And even better, you share back. I get engagement and community that I've missed here since the introduction of mobile devices.

And yet I know live streaming is new and not everyone is on Periscope or following videos on Facebook and reading is an experience far different than listening to and/or watching video. For this reason I don't want to miss those of you coming to visit me here either. 

Remember? when all we did was keep a blog? it feels like it was so much easier back then? Maybe I should re-read old posts and realize I felt overloaded then too ;)  I don't have the answers and I'm not sure where it's all headed - really ever? just trying to go with the flow and squeeze in as much as I can as long as I'm having fun with it all. What I am doing today actually is talking more about this subject of Blogging and What's Next? on my Facebook Page and my Periscope in - especially for those of us who've kept regular blogs for the past decade, like my friend Betz who's celebrating her 10 year blogiversary this month who inspired this live stream and this post ;)

The photo above is when Sean told me to take everything out of my head, write it down on index cards and use magnets and a white board to prioritize it. After years of listening to my constant state of overwhelm... he's been suggesting this...for a while. I finally did it, and it was an eye opener. Obvious, yet not? until I saw the pile of cards/tasks laid out in front of me - that I'm truly trying to do too much at once.

Not an overnight shift, I'm in the beginning stages of unraveling myself from the path I put myself on. While it may take longer than I hope especially as I see these new projects through - or maybe I'll just give into the juggling that I've gotten used to and call it my new normal - as this is not the first post about balance and overwhelm and it won't be the last ;-) I'll let you know how it's going.

In the spirit of not taking too much time to write, forgive the very conversational, not so carefully edited post. I'd rather say something then nothing at all for fear of it not being perfect enough. Something my experience with live streaming has taught me. Until next time! and for now, you can catch me Live Streaming on Facebook and Periscope and occasionally on Snap Chat. "See" you soon! and happy blogiversary BETZ! xo

Why it takes more than Luck to Stay Successful in Business

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.