Something's Missing...

You know when you have that feeling that something's missing but you can't quite put your finger on it?  Well this time, I can tell you what it is - it's my blog!  Yes, it's true.  The reason you've been feeling so out of sorts lately is because you haven't read one of my blog posts in such a very long time!  I know you've tried to fill the void with other stuff but it's just not the same, is it?

Well, I am truly sorry.  The reason I haven't written anything for awhile is that I've been working behind the scenes on a brand spanking new Off The Wall website with blog included.  And it isn't finished.  Not by a long shot.  This technical stuff is crazy complicated and it makes my hair hurt.  But I will finish, and it will be awesome!  If it's the last thing I do on this green earth, I will finish. 



before

In the meantime, I just wanted to give you all some love and let you know that I will blog again.

I can also share some minor progress that has been made on my studio renovation - which is another project taking way longer than necessary.  I had my favorite contractor, One Source, in to rip down the ugly drop ceiling with flourescent lighting.  It's been replaced by a beautiful new ceiling with recessed lighting.  Now the fun part begins!  I get to paint it!  if you need me this weekend, that's where I'll be.

after



Sticks and Stones

Sometimes words can hurt.  That's what I try teach my children.  And the other day, I was the victim of one of these verbal bullets.

There I am, minding my own business (in the cutest possible way, of course), when I overhear someone criticizing one of my paintings.  Oh yes, she did! It was clear that she did not realize the work was mine, nor that I was listening, and she was being quite unkind, to say the least.  Ouch!  To my satisfaction, as soon as she knew that I knew that she'd said what she'd said, she scampered away, sufficiently embarrassed.  But still, ouch.

My first thought was to let it ruin my day.  Yes, this was the thought “now I have to be upset about this for the rest of the day and let her abrasive words chip away at my confidence”.  As if there was no choice in the matter.  Certainly there was a time when that was the case.  In art school, we had weekly critiques in each class and some of the more seasoned professors were especially ruthless.  Actually, they were downright nasty.  A great critique could leave me giddy but I also heard my share of “constructive criticism” that left me doubting my ability and whining to my roommates.    

Now here’s the cool part.  What came to mind next was more along the lines of “I am a grown woman and professional artist (dammit!) with nearly two decades of accomplishments on my resume.    All of my clients love my work and I’ll be damned if I’m gonna be taken down by some 19 year old punk who doesn’t know jack about art!”  Ok, so the fact is, I can’t actually verify her status as a punk, don’t know her real age, and I’m not privy to what, if any, art training she has had.  But in my mind, for that moment, she was a know-nothing kid. 

Moreover, even if she had been a world-renown art critic, there’s still no reason I should adopt her opinion as my own.  We all know that art is subjective and when you put it out there, some will love it, some will hate it and some won’t even notice it.  Pretty much the same as if I had gotten a new hairstyle.  (But I really do hope that everyone loves my hair because if not then I really might have to cry.) 

If I’m honest with myself, I must recognize that there is a shred of truth in what she said.  It was a painting I had done several years ago, and not necessarily my best work.  It did have a few key mistakes.  The colors, however, are fabulous and the overall look is professional. I'm still proud to have my name on it.  Remembering how much the client LOVED that piece and how much my work has improved since then further bolstered my confidence. 

Then, and only then, did I truly understood how to use criticism to my advantage.   Even when the "benefactor" of this "advice" forgets to temper it with kindness, I can still put my feelings aside and find the lesson.  Next time, I will look for ways to use those hurtful words to make myself stronger, rather than allowing them to tear me down.  That, and the security of knowing how much you all love my hair, will see me through the tough times. 

Busy Month Ahead!

April is going to be a great month, I just know it!  First of all, the weather is definitely going to improve soon.  It just has to, doesn’t it?  My mom always told me the best thing about being at the bottom is that you have nowhere to go but up!  That’s definitely the case with the weather right now.  Now that I’m thinking about it, I do wonder why my mom had to tell me that so often?  Hmmmm….

Anywho…on to the other great things that are coming in April….

This week and next, I will be painting the new 25^th anniversary logo on the wall at Ledo’s Pizza  in Crofton.  This is a really fun job for me because I painted the 20^th anniversary logo for them 5 years ago!  Although this is not my first repeat client, it does hold a special place in my heart because it was one of my first jobs when my family moved from New Jersey to Maryland.  I had to re-launch my business then, and working there again this week reminds me of that time.  I am looking forward to painting the 30^th logo and having my children paint the 35^th!

I am also registered for a  ”Website Kickstart” course offered by Tara Gentile which begins on the 11^th.   I have been following her posts for a while and she is an amazing consulting and coaching resource for creative people.  She is going to show me how to integrate my blog with my website and blow the roof off the whole thing!  Look for big changes coming with my site.  I guarantee it will look better, function better and be easier for you to use and “follow me” which is what I know you all want to do.

On the 14^th I will be attending the opening reception for the Anne Arundel County Arts Council 2^nd Annual BWI Exhibit “Natural Wonders”.  My painting, Cypress Creek, will be featured in this exhibit which is on display from now through July.  This is a big thrill for me as it is my first Art Show since my college days.  As some of you know, I have been pretty focused on my murals for the last few years, and only recently started painting on canvas.  This is the first show I have applied for in ages and I’m so excited that my work has been accepted. If you're at the airport, check out the artwork between concourse C&D in Departures. 

To top it all off, we have a big finish planned for the month of April – a trip to Disney!  We took the kids, currently ages 4 & 7, about 18 months ago and we can hardly wait to go back.  It is going to be a blast.  So even if the weather doesn’t improve here in Maryland by then, I’m sure it will be great in Florida!  Of course we're flying out of BWI, so this will give me another chance to visit my painting.

I plan to return fully rejuvenated and ready for May when I put the finishing touches on my new site and gear up for one hot summer!

If this post entertained, amused or inspired, please share it with others!  And don't forget to click the follow button so you won't miss out on a single, juicy detail of my fabulous life.

DIY - Hand Painted Lettering on your Walls

Today I'm going to switch things up a little bit and give you guys a fun weekend project to think about it.  As a muralist, I am occasionally asked to add words to an image or sometimes there is no image, a client just wants a favorite phrase painted on the wall.  This is one of the more technical yet less creative parts of my job.  Still, I am happy to do it!  But if wanted to, you could do it yourself and experience that smug satisfaction that comes with a job well done and a few dollars saved.  So I'm going to offer up the "how-to" and see if anyone's inclined to try it:

 1. Type the phrase in a word processing program so you can choose a font that you like.  Play around with several fonts and choose the one that is best for your message - playful, traditional, romantic - you get the idea. 

2. Once you have it looking the way you want, print it out on a transparency sheet.  You can buy the sheets at any office supply store.  Make sure that you get the right kind for your printer (it says "inkjet" or "laser" on the box) or the ink won't stick to the sheet.  Big waste of time and money.  Been there, done that.

 3. Decide where you want your phrase.  Use a level to get a straight line and use blue or green painters tape to mark the line on the wall.  I do not recommend using pencil to mark your line unless you want to clean up all the pencil marks at the end.  

4. Use an overhead projector to project the words on to the wall.  You can rent one for less than $100 for the weekend.  You might even be able to buy one for that price.  If you're really lucky, you can get it from a local school, library or the office where you or your new BFF neighbor works!  Check around. 

You'll probably need to put the projector on a table or something so that it's level with the area of the wall you're projecting on.  If you try to project from the floor up, your text will be distorted.  Project it so that the text sits right on the tape line you've made.

If you're not into the whole straight line business or you don't have a clue how to use a level, try something like this:

Once you have your lettering projected where you want it, tape the transparency to the projector and DO NOT TOUCH ANYTHING.  It's pretty important not to move, shake or bump the projector for the duration of the project.  I think it goes without saying that this "DO NOT TOUCH" thing is best accomplished when there are no young children around.  But I said it anyway.  So don't say I didn't warn you.

Now that you have the image projected on your wall, you can paint it!  Just go right over it with a solid color.  If you're feeling fancy, add a highlight or shadow to each letter.

You can do this! It's only four little steps!  It's just painting over the projected letters! 

If you decide to give it a try, post a pic of your results on my facebook page.  I'd love to see it!

Networking for shy people – a case study

Last week I had the chance to attend a great networking event, filled with just the kind of people I need to meet, in a place I need to be.   I haven’t done any networking in quite awhile simply because I have a very limited childcare schedule this year.  And I haven’t missed it.  Not one teensy weensy bit.  You see, I like walking into a sea of strangers just slightly less than I like being chased by rabid dogs, having an appendectomy without anesthesia, or eating pickled chicken feet with wasabi. 

A few days before the event, I stopped by to see my friend Pete Albert, of Pete Albert Photography, in his new studio.  I shared my nervousness with him, and he offered some advice.  Concerned that he was going to tell me to picture everyone in their underwear, I started to protest.  But he assured me his ideas were better than that.

Pete’s idea, in a nutshell, was to have a game plan.  Here is what he offered:

1.        As soon as you walk in, look for the registration table.

2.       After you register, ask where the refreshment table is.

3.       Head to the refreshment table and get yourself a beverage.

4.       Beverage in hand, scan the room.  Find the one person in the room who looks the most uncomfortable.  (Nope!  Can’t choose yourself!) Go and rescue them.  They will be forever grateful.  And you will have gotten your fist connection out of the way.

5.       Your goal should be to make at least 3 new contacts.  (No, the bartender and the restroom attendant do not count, unless that’s actually relevant to your business).

6.       Offer your card, tell people what you do and then ask them questions about themselves.  Listen to the answers.

And one last thing to remember – “The Exit Strategy”.  When it’s time to move on to the next contact, simply say “It was nice meeting you”, then shake hands and go.  (Without mastering this last skill, you might allow that desperate person to monopolize you all night.)

That’s it!  Seems very practical and simple, right?  I decided to try it out.  Armed with my mission, I was almost excited about the event.  Almost.

I walked in, found the registration table, registered.  I could see the refreshment table so no need to ask.  Drink in hand, I scanned the room and found the most desperate looking person.  I approached him, lost my nerve, and kept going.  Seriously?  That was pathetic.  I got a hold of myself, turned back, and introduced myself to Justin.  Turns out that Justin has just graduated from Towson about…oh I don’t know…about five minutes ago…and he barely even knows the name of the company that employs him, let alone what to do at a networking function.  Who was the genius that sent this guy out to represent the company?  I quickly employed the “exit strategy”.

Next up was John.  John was an absolute tank of a man who made me feel like Thumbelina.  His attitude was one of complete disinterest in not only me, but the whole event.  I wondered why he was there.   He talked a lot about himself and to tell you the truth, he was boring as hell.  I was really beginning to dislike him.  But he did have one good idea for promoting my business and a suggestion of someone in the room that he thought I should meet.  So I went off in search of that person.

Before I could find him, I met another artist, who, like me, is recent transplant from New Jersey.  Cha Ching! Jackpot!  Feeling very much in my comfort zone, I could have talked to him all night.  But alas, he told me it was nice to meet me and then he was gone.

Circling back around the room in search of my next victim, I passed John again and he was talking to the very person I wanted to meet.  Not only that, but when he saw me he pulled me in to the conversation, introduced me and pitched the great idea that has the potential to help my business!  And the other guy liked it!  I take back what I said about John.  We need more people like him in the world.

After that, I had nothing left. It takes so much energy to look confident while feel desperate, seem casual while being calculated, feign interest while feeling bored.  I couldn’t take another minute.    Making a bee line for the coat closet, I felt satisfied that I had done what I’d set out to do.  Having a game plan helped me to not only survive the event, but navigate the room with a level of confidence I didn’t have before.  It’s definitely a work in progress, but now I’m actually looking forward to trying this out again!

Getting Out of My Comfort Zone

For the past 6 weeks, I have been participating in a Duathlon training class.  For 2 hours on Sunday afternoons, we run and bike until we’re ready to drop.  It’s been great for me.  As my profile states, I’m a reluctant runner at best and between running and biking, running is my strength.  This has been just the kick in the ass I needed.

Last Sunday we were working on timed running drills.  Our instructor divided us into three groups, based on previously recorded speeds.   She called my name along with two other women to be in the first group.  The slowest group.  Now, if you’re someone who has ever had the misfortune of taking a high school gym class with me, this should not come as a surprise.  So, it didn't really bother me.  At first. But then someone called out “Awww, it’s the injured group.”.

Insert screeching halt noise here.  What you talkin’ about Willis?  “I am not injured”, I informed them all, “this is my actual speed”.  Cue sound of birds chirping.

And so we ran.  The slow group went first and, to my credit, I smoked those ladies.  Good to know that  I’m faster than a woman with a hip injury and a woman who is not running at all, but rather walking.  And then there are the 10 other women that are faster than me.  By a whole lot. 

On the second interval, I experience a shift in my thinking.  I realize that I have allowed this instructor to define me as slow.  And because I believe her, I am traveling along at a very comfortable pace that is, in fact, rather slow. 

So on the third interval, I announce that I would like to try running with the faster groups.  We take off, and I am running with all my might.  The group is pulling away.  The three fastest ladies are way ahead, and the others are just out of reach, the distance between us ever increasing, despite my best effort.  The entire run is only one half mile.  And it feels like I am going to die.  I come in dead last.  But on the bright side, I end up beating my first two times by about 30 seconds, which is quite a lot. 

On the last interval, I decide to run with the fast group again.  All I am thinking about is that I’d rather be the last winner than the first loser.  Once again, I come in about 30 seconds faster than I was on my first two tries.  It turns out I can run a half mile in 4 minutes and 9 seconds.  And everyone is impressed.  And I am pretty darn proud of myself.

I’ve spent the last few days thinking about how I can this apply this lesson to just about every aspect of my life.  It’s become crystal clear to me that if I am not willing to get out of my comfort zone, I am never going to make any progress.  In any area of my life. 

“Running at a comfortable pace” is nice for awhile, but how can you ever get ahead that way?  If you always run at the same pace, how can you ever improve upon what you’ve done before? 

So I am feeling more willing now to push myself harder not just in running but in all areas.  I am willing to feel out of breath, to have my legs hurt, or my brain, or even my pride.  I am willing to feel like a loser among winners.  Because in the end, that really is better than being a winner among losers.

Of course breaking out of your comfort zone includes overcoming your fear of failure, which was the topic of my last post.  I am happy to report that I successfully pushed through my fear and finished my chair project.  This is the chair that will make its way around Severna Park this spring, along with many others, before being auctioned off in June.  The auction will support the Severna Park Community Center.  The inspiration for the chair was, no so coincidentally, running!

Procrastination and the Fear of Failure

So…I have this project I’m supposed to be working on, but…

I’m not really working on it so much, ya know?

I volunteered to paint a chair for an upcoming community charity event.  I’ve had this chair in my possession since early December.  But then the holidays came, which is all month long around here.  And then it’s so hard getting back on track in January, right?  The planning my daughter’s birthday party, all that fuss over the groundhog….and well, choosing the perfect Valentine’s cards is a lot of work and of course nobody works on Presidents’ day do they?  I mean, if you’re really patriotic and all.  And don’t forget the weather – weather is important.  Lot’s of snow days this year to mess with my schedule and now it’s so nice out you just can’t stay inside.

And so…the chair is not quite finished.  And it’s not because I’m lazy.  Oh no!  Far from it!  I’ve done lots of other work in that time from small paintings to full room murals.  So what is it about this chair?

Well, a very timely email landed upon my inbox the other day and the subject was “the fear of failure”.  After reading it (how could I possibly work on that chair when I have this very important article to read?) I realized exactly what the problem was; I would rather savor the enjoyment of imagining how great this chair could look than face the reality that it might not turn out quite as I had hoped.

Oh yes, I have dreamt about this chair – my most magnificent work yet - earning the highest bid at auction!  Could reality possibly live up to that?  Well, maybe.  But not if I don’t finish the darn thing. 

So, I gave myself a reason to finish!  After reading that oh-so-irritating little article, I learned that it is our attitude about failure that determines whether or not we fear it.  So, I can be someone who is embarrassed by my failures or I can be someone who is proud of myself for trying.  I decided to be the latter.  I decided that overcoming the fear is a success in and of itself. 

Just think how many great works of art, inventions, innovations, medical breakthroughs and just plain old good ideas would never have come to be if people hadn’t tried due to fear of failing!  Surely my painted chair barely registers compared to some of those.  A bad painting, should it come to that, is a small price to pay.

And now I am focused on finishing this darn thing!  Which is a convenient way of thinking since I've already committed to having it done by March 1st.  Wish me luck!  Pix coming soon!

Is the fear of failure holding you back?  What does it keep you from doing?  What other fears are getting in the way of your success?  I’d love to read your comments!

I am a Blog Virgin

It's true. I've never done this before and to be quite honest, I'm a bit nervous. Am I doing it right? Will it feel weird? I'm not sure.

But here we go.

I've given a lot of thought to what I want my blog to be about, and I haven't really come up with anything conclusive. But I do know that I sometimes have the desire to share something that goes beyond the limits of my Face book status. So let's try not to put any labels on this and just see where it goes, shall we?

I promise to try and be as entertaining and informative as I know how to be!

The theme that keeps running through my mind lately is gratitude. I recently had one of those "milestone" birthdays. And I discovered that it's one of those things that can remind you (if you let it) of how lucky you really are. What a great feeling it is to know that my wonderful family and friends care enough to make time to celebrate with me, or choose a thoughtful card or a ridiculously appropriate gift. They like me, they really like me! And these aren't just any people; these are some crazy beautiful fabulous and amazing people!

I know everyone is busy. Super busy. I know how much effort can go into a phone call, email, card, text or gift, let alone the gymnastics of rearranging your schedule to actually see someone. So I appreciate it. And it's a great way to start this year, this new decade.

And speaking of fresh starts, I will be getting one more this year in the form of a studio makeover! Because that was my husband’s birthday gift to me. Ridiculously appropriate. And I am grateful. For the gift and for his presence in my life.

Here are some before photos of the room where I paint. It’s pretty ugly, but we have big plans for it. Check out the new floor and wall color I'm thinking about. And stay tuned for progress pix… who doesn't love a good room makeover?