This was not the plan. This was not at all how I thought life would look when I looked ahead five years ago. There is very little that has met the expectations for that five year plan. Where do you see yourself in five years? What a weird question that feels like now. Five years ago I was getting my doctorate in education. Specifically, in special education with a focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) while thinking about research and lesson plans and dissertation dreams. Well, let’s be honest, dissertation dreams felt a bit more like nightmares and I thought was causing some night sweats. But let’s not digress down what was really causing the sweats. That’s for the book!
Fast forward, through treatments and Covid scares and the pandemic and changing jobs and redesigning our home and spending a lot of time with the dogs, and now here we are. My heart and soul continue to return to art at each of the twists and turns that life throws my way. I had no idea when I was younger the gift my mom was giving me by fostering a love of art with classes and giving me this balancing, life sustaining practice. Art has saved me. Art brings me peace. Art gives me purpose. Art provides a much needed vehicle for getting the feelings from deep down out where I can see and understand them.
I have done some shows here and there over the past two years. Arts and craft shows, shows in barns, Sip and Shops, First Fridays, and Weekenders get added to the calendar. But during these venues it is the connections and conversations with the people I am meeting that is fueling me. As I listen to people to talk, I am drawing, painting, collaging, and putting pieces together in my mind to show their stories. When I return to my studio I borrow from these to get inspiration and create pieces.
The universe gives us shiny little gems to grab ahold of and say “yes” to. Luckily, I watch and listen for these and am often rewarded. My friend invited me to do a make-a-take at the weekender event where she brings together small businesses and handmade crafts and local artisans in these adorable pop-up shop style shopping days. If you have the opportunity to check out Retrofit Culture in Bloomington, IL, DO IT! Since she opened her brightly colored door (on her first location) it has been among my favorite shopping spots with unique and cheeky one of kind items. Now she has a beautiful store front just west of Downtown Bloomington. Okay, she asked me if I wanted to do a make-and-take. Being a teacher at heart, I thought, yep I can do that.
One the backburner since January I have been working on an online offering for bringing together creative souls for an art retreat time weekly. I even took a class to help me learn about managing this type of endeavor and connected with the most amazing souls you could ever hope to meet. Again, I grabbed a gem the universe flashed me and I am so glad I did! I had a launch date for May 22 for the online course-art-retreat-thing I was creating but no audience other than my friends to market to you. In the class I took, there was some guidance for marketing but it didn’t focus on the “hard sale” which is good, because I would have failed that!
During the make-and-take, I was able to guide people and watch their excitement as they created. I stepped in when needed but really gave permission to play, have fun, experiment, and make something that was cool to them. And from there, I decided this was where I wanted me art business to go. With lots of support from friends and Emily spending lots of “business” dinners discussing possibilities, I have landed on an idea.
So, I present to you, Collage and Cocktail! I provide the collage materials and you provide the cocktail(s). Together we set the stage for an exploration experience to create art!
If you want information about booking your own party with me, just contact me! I am so excited to see where this goes!
mindful art by mw 