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What happens when you are too busy for your passion?

Whether it's the love of your life or simply a casual hobby, one of life's greatest frustrations comes with the realization that there is simply not enough time to spend indulging in something or someone that you love. . . That is of course, if you are in the box along with the millions of Americans who choose to work in an industry that is different from the area of life that you love most. Practical example: I enjoy practicing law. Interpreting a seemingly unambiguous statute to mean completely different things based on the interests of my client... that is a fun little intellectual challenge. But I love art... I mean, I really really love learning about new techniques and I love finding myself lost in a new art gallery or even just floating down the aisles of Home Goods and looking at the trendy and trite commercial paintings. My favorite lazy Sunday afternoons are spent in a room flooded with natural light, painting whatever whimsy my heart desires.

I also love Spanish, and home decorating, and cooking, and tea parties, and spending time with my honey... How will I ever know about all of the other fantastic things in life that I would enjoy if I spend the rest of my life stuck in an office interpreting statutes?

See the frustration?

So, the possible solutions to this little dilemma require guts and ambition, and super spunk. But the possibilities that could result are endless... Think

Jordan
Martha Stewart
...the people on Dancing with the Stars.

When you are bold enough to ignore the temptation to make quick money doing something standard and determine that you'd rather do what you love for the rest of your life, well... you may end up broke. BUT you may end up filthy rich and super happy...

I Got The Job!!!

I'm so EXCITED!!! I'm officially an artist for Sips N Strokes.

My Sips N Strokes Audition Piece...

Tell me the truth. Would you hire me (keeping in mind that I didn't choose the scene to paint and had about two and a half hours to play with this)?

Random Rantings

Because this is still just my blog, I'm taking executive liberties and dedicating this post to the random rantings which I would ordinarily think through while attacking a blank canvas in the middle of my boyfriend's dining room table. I'm out of paint supplies and still not able to get to Michael's....Nashville took a pretty hard hit from last weekend's rain fest and much of the city is still underwater or just recovering from the damage. Lesson learned - always prepare for the worst and stock up in advance. Larger lesson - God is great, so merciful and kind when the biggest of my worries is that I'm out of paint supplies. Friends of mine took their exams with borrowed books and laptops because their homes were completely washed away. Guess tonight is one of learning lessons - the next one being cling to those things which are eternal. This world is not our home, we're just only passing through.

If I had a canvas tonight, I would paint a scene of despair, reflective of the many tumultuous feelings swirling through my head, my home, and my city. The air outside is filled with grief and disaster. Just take a walk through the Kroger in Bellevue... everyone sort of looks like they were abandoned and left to die. I think a good number of the pajama-wearing-no-hair-combing zombies are just taking advantage of this little situation to relax their already quite relaxed standards a bit.... but its still pretty depressing.

Then there is home.... a war zone of flashcards and outlines at the moment. I've completed 4 huge exams, and with one more to go I am so mentally exhausted. I would paint something dark and angry in hopes that getting those dramatic sentiments out on canvas would calm my spirits and help me to return to the sweet sensible person that I normally am. Note to anyone thinking of law school - it is a stressful character-building experience to put it nicely.

To sum it up, because there is still that one exam to study for, I'm blessed tonight to be alive and well and loved. Can't let complaints of stress and disaster take that away...

Saturday Night at Sips N' Strokes!

So, many of you have heard me talk about how much fun it is to have a night out with the ladies (or guys if they are into this sorta thing) at Sips N Strokes - a fantastic concept by Wendy LoVoy. If you live in the Southeast you MUST give it a try. All you have to do is grab a friend, your favorite drinks and snacks, and head to the art gallery dressed in your best painting jeans and comfy t-shirt. A talented and very funny art instructor takes you step by step through your own masterpiece. Its so much fun that you can easily get swept up in the socializing and forget about detailing your painting - which sometimes turns out to be pretty cool. The greatest part about the night is that the artists are very committed to sending you home happy, so if you're not satisfied with your work they will help you turn it into something magnificent before you head home.

They provide EVERYTHING including the mood music (usually a random mix of 90's R&B and pop) for just $35, which is much less than you'd spend out on the town.

The point - when I first found out about this place I thought "wow! what a dream job!" You have to know by now that I'm just as excited about art as I am about the law so, YES, I think that being an art instructor for Sips N Strokes would be a dream.

And guess who got an audition (if you can call it that) for the part THIS SATURDAY NIGHT!

Big smile - your truly. Wish me luck. I'll be sure to post a pic of my painting Sunday morning.

BTW here is the link to their site: https://www.sipsnstrokes.com/home.aspx. Check it out, and if you are going in the TN area please do extend an invite. I'm always down.

What is your inspiration?

Currently my main motivation to create is EXAM INTENSITY. Could be a a subconscious way of avoiding my real responsibilities... I'd like to think of it more as a positive way of redirecting energy.

My inspiration comes from nature, love, law school-induced stress, music, sunny days, cloudy days, ALL THINGS SPANISH.... Literally any and every thing that brings an emotion inspires me to paint. Often, the more emotionally charged the better my work!

Here is a challenge - the next time that you hear a song that makes you do a little dance, paint it out and see what happens. The next time that you are so stressed that you could scream, grab a brush! I promise, what becomes of that experience is sure to be a masterpiece!!!

I need your help! Should this giraffe be leaning over or reaching up? Please vote in the comment section to help me decide.

Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures. ~Henry Ward Beecher

Life beats down and crushes the soul and art reminds you that you have one. ~Stella Adler