Postcard for the upcoming exhibit,

"How do you paint Courage?"

It has been 6 months of living outside of my comfort zone to get to the upcoming exhibit this Thursday.  As an artist, I love living in my comfort zone and controlling my risk. Most of my friends think that I am willing to take risks every day with my creativity, but in all honesty

I can pick and choose some of the challenges in my world....studying with a new teacher, trying a new technique, inviting a group of artists over for a brain storming session.

Nine months ago I hung a show in a local hospital and had such a successful response from patients and staff.  That started it all.  I got a group of artists together with the purpose of encouraging and building hope in venues that may not always be considered.   A local gallery owner has agreed to host the opening exhibit as a gift to the artists and the community.  The local newspapers and magazine writers will be attending and support groups have been invited. Venues in 3 counties have scheduled the show, knowing that the show is not going to produce revenue until the end of the tour 15 months down the road.

So if the art is not for sale in 6 venues, what will any of us gain from all of this work?

I already have comments from some of the artists that express a new level of purpose in their art, and in their feeling about themselves as artists.  For a new passion to be released into their creativiy...well, we have already been successful.

To hang an exhibit in a cancer center, Hospice, and down a hospital corridor, where someone is needed hope for the day......that will be the second success..and if the paintings should sell at the ending venue....that would be great....but so not the focus.

We all desire to be know, to matter, to make a difference and we each have an amazing voice like no one else, a painting that no one else will paint.  What a joy it is when someone falls into one of our paintings and just have to buy it! But do we all have something else inside, hidden away, that only we can birth?  Is there a gift to the community in each of us that can change hearts, cause a smile, support a cause that might be overlooked? Maybe, just maybe, there is a gift that is stirring beneath the surface of all Creatives that will bring pleasure, healing, and hope to mankind without a pricetag, without expectation of anything more than using your creativity to bring good things to people that may never enter a gallery. 

So, I just want to encourage us all to paint outside of the box! I know that many of you do and it makes life much sweeter!

We have started a little blog about the show and even that has been fun! I have learned so much, been stretched way beyond

risk and comfort.  The amount of information that I have learned about the process and about myself has been so worth the

journey!

www.ArtWPurpose.blogspot.com

Today I sold two large paintings. I would not have sold them had I not been willing to take a risk. I was asked to do a one woman show in a very public place....a show that I would have to sign a waiver agreeing that if there should be damage or loss I would not hold them responsible. I had turned down this opportunity twice due to that one clause in the agreement. 

But again, I was called and asked if I would hang a show for the month of December and January....and I had to look at this again......this was a hospital....a place that would be full of worried people, sick people and 

some that would be leaving with loss in their hearts....and many Doctors and Nurses, spending long hours trying to bring the best outcome to each and every family. 

Sometimes we play it safe, as though the art really belongs to us and we shrink back, calling our decision wisdom, when many times it is only fear of loss, fear of something being taken from us....

I have learned a valuable lesson and it has built more confidence in the Creator to hold me and all I have in His care. 

I had several calls from people that were on their way to xray or procedures  with fear of the unknown

looming over them.......they were so touched by the paintings and drew peace from them...one family walked the hall where the paintings were while waiting for family member to go through the procedure.....some many of the staff made sure that I knew how much they loved the colors and would go out of their way to come down the hall where the paintings were exhibited.....

So, I think that risk is a good thing....I dont' think we were created to always play it safe...and even more than that...art is meant to be life,passion, peace and a stirring of the soul......I think that the arena of public places it a very valuable part of reaching the community that might never set foot in a gallery...and if we bring beauty into the ordinary, then we have made our sphere of influence a much better place.

I have meet some amazing people through this risk and I am a better artist because of it....the fact that I sold paintings was a by product.....and as it should be......I must paint and change my world because I was created to paint and release how I see the world...I can find a greater purpose in that..

This will be my second year to paint something for my Christmas card...It has made me realize how little I actually sit down and hand write anything....and yet, I love to get something personally written just for me.....

This is a good time of year to slow down and just jot a few lines to the people that mean so much......

My cards will be on sale at Community Arts Cafe in Winston Salem.

Merry Christmas! 

It seems strange to have spent the whole day working on paper work and not having the smell of paint surrounding me.....After 5 weeks of painting everyday, for most of the day, it was difficult to stay away...

Out of all of the paintings that were done for the market , this is the one that 

I will keep and sign....I love the simplicity and look forward to working with 

a different subject over the next few months.....I think it is time to hide away 

and just paint....