It all started when I was in Daycare. Yup! I was around 9-10yrs old, drawing a little doggie for a friend. I looked up and realized I had a line of my peers with various requests... That was the moment I knew I had a gift, one I wanted to share with the world! I decided then & there I wanted to be a famous artist one day.
-and so here I am! Well-pursuing the dream anyways. Because while I knew in my heart what I wanted, my dreams didn't happen overnight. In fact, it's taken quite a few years...
-yea, I'm not as young as I look, and I'm still not "famous."
-But, I am a "known artist" in a few communities I've lived in over the years. ;)
I actually didn't start pursuing art as a career choice until a few years ago.
I was coming out of a really difficult time in my life. My family and I had just moved back from Oklahoma City to Mississippi. This move resulted after someone made a very grave mistake, causing my life to be turned completely upsidedown. Everything I'd been pursuing for the previous four years to become a Foster Parent was taken away from me in an instant. I lost 8 children, a beautiful home, and eventually all our savings. My oldest, Brayleigh, was just a year old at the time and I was pregnant with our second child, Easton. It took me a long time to grapple with the immense loss I was enduring. Eventually, I had an unquenchable desire to paint. I needed to do something with all the pint up emotions and thoughts I was trying to process. I needed to find a way to heal and move forward again. So-I picked up a paintbrush and just let it all flow.
I did several raw, emotional, and quite experimental pieces. Things I've never attempted before. -but one really stood out to me. A piece that began to change from the dark, moody, and messy paintings I'd been creating. This one was bright and warm. Full of fresh spring life, and light. I couldn't wait to show it to my dad. (He was also very creative and had aspirations to become an artist as a child, though he never quite got to pursue his endeavors like he had dreamed).
A few weeks later he came to town for a visit. We had dinner and sat around with the kids, reading books together. -And I'll never forget that moment, I'd just tucked the kids into bed when he asked to see what I'd been working on. I pulled out the painting and I handed it to him. -The look on his face, It'll forever be in my heart and mind.
It became awash with immense joy, pride, excitement, and even a look of peace. It was so serene. He just sat there quietly, holding the painting. In speechless awe.
Then he excitedly said, "Wow."
Then again, "Wow- Have you thought about selling it?!"
-Let me tell ya, I was NOT expecting that kind of reaction, let alone that question.
Unfortunately, he died suddenly a month later.
As I was preparing for his memorial, I decided I didn't want flowers. I wanted to paint something just for him and display it right next to him. Afterwards, I decided I wanted to honor his influence in my life by actually pursuing my dreams. So, I took a leap and began selling my paintings locally.
But, things didn't take off from there. There were several more ups and downs and even a few years where I didn't paint at all.
My family and I moved three months later to Kansas City, MO. My kids were then 2 & 1 and I was pregnant with my third. I ended up taking a bit of a break after the move. I didn't start painting again until Lucy was around 6-7 months old.
I painted consistently for about three years. I opened my Etsy Shop during that time as well as set up a few booths at various craft fairs. Then one day, just before a fair, I decided to cut up an old wooden pallet and make some ornaments. I finished them just in time! I set them up along with various canvas paintings -and they sold out immediately!! -That's when I realized I was onto something...
A few months later, I had a friend asking for someone to do a home portrait, and though I'd never done one, I jumped at the opportunity to give it a try... Needless to say, she LOVED it and things really took off from there!
Just as things were picking up steam, my then husband got news about a job offer in Washington. I took a little pause until we got settled. I was painting for about a week-maybe two-when all of a sudden COVID hit and the entire country shutdown. My kids, now 4,6,&8, were all sent home to begin distant learning. So, once again I put my artwork on pause. That pause turned into a few years due to some family issues. I took the kids and we moved to Minnesota to be closer to family.
A year has passed, and we've taken some time to process, heal, and get settled into our new normal. But it's time. It's time to dust myself off and bravely go after my lifelong dreams once again. The journey hasn't been easy, but there's still a lot I aspire to do with my creative endeavors, and I refuse to let my heartaches, fears, or doubts hold me back any longer.

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