make it, love it, show it

I was looking through pictures of my art to see what all I had sold and forgotten. This piece I made before The Art Mill opened and while it was leaning against my living room wall with about 15 other paintings my good friend Kim purchased it. It looks great in her house but it brings up a question that I have heard people talk about...

Once you make something that you spent so much time on and put your creative energy and yourself into, how you can let it go? Three reasons. 1. I like to see other people find enjoyment from something I made as well as find a piece they connect with in some way. 2. I don't have a big enough house (or store) to show all the things I make. My art cries a little when I tuck it in a closet or dark corner. And 3. I have overhead now. :)

What is strange is that it wasn't that long ago that I didn't show my art at all. I would make it, love it and put it away in my studio. Although, I didn't like to admit it this made me stop creating art. If you are creating and tucking (even if you don't want to sell) find a way to show your art. You are sharing a bit of yourself with the people around you and although it may be scary at first it is freeing.

Be happy with where you are now.

 Ahoy Mateys, I have been adrift in a sea of chaos and art supplies, but I am once again able to sit and contemplate and share what is going on with The Art Mill.  I finally got my Christmas items up at home and at the store. Big check mark off that list.  Aside from events and classes my next big project is to revamp the website. So much has changed since I first set it up 8 months ago! Wow does time fly.

I have been thinking about what I want to change for myself and for the functionality of the store. I am all about being flexible and changing how or what I do to make this work, which brings me to this blog. I've realized that while I want to stay positive and upbeat, because lets face it art is fun and I am so lucky to be in this place at this time, I also want to let you in on my dirty little secret that I struggle. I struggle with my art, my store, who and what I want to be. So for me to put that out there, I can be real and not just another business that is using a blog as a marketing tool.  I want you to be able to connect with what I am doing and encourage you to face your struggles and continue on with your dream.

I've realized that I love to share my space, my art and my knowledge. I get goosebumps when people come in and share their story of how they were searching for a way to get back to their creative path. They are sure that this place, The Art Mill, will help them get a step closer to what they were searching for but not able to put into words. I love that I can be a part of the first steps.

I know that I look at what other wonderful successful artists are doing and I start to think that they have it all figured out. That I am behind and will never catch up. Some may have it figured out but I like to think that they are just like me... making it work day by day because they love what they do. Maybe they don't know how it will turn out, that they will get a book deal or be published and recognized world-wide but they keep going because their heart tells them to. So, I want to be honest with where I am, what I struggle with so that you (whoever you may be) can figure it out with me.

My search right now is to figure out a balance between keeping my business alive and continuing to do my own art. I put myself into the art that I do now during classes or in preparation for classes because I know that the only way potential students can connect with my art is if it is real and not a "product", but there is more I want to do. What I am realizing - slowly - is that although there are so many things I want to accomplish personally, professionally and so on - I need to enjoy where I am now. That I don't need to have it all figured out by tomorrow or I will fail. I can do this gradually and the people that are a part of The Art Mill will be patient with me while I do figure it out.

So here is a big thank you to those that do read this blog. Although, I am happy to just put these thoughts out into internet land for it to be gobbled up and lost, because getting it out of my head makes me feel free and sane again.  Now, because I love to share art and photos and not just my rambling thoughts, I've attached an image of a ceramic head I made and covered with encaustics. She feels amazing I just want to pinch her cheeks.  There is also an image of an encaustic piece of art Mom (E.D. or Eva Darling as she has been lovingly named here) made and sold.