My accidental art journey.

My Art

Like everything I've written about in Finding the Gift, my art shows up as a metaphor for life and the lessons I'm still learning. Abstract art challenges me to quit trying to figure it all out and create a masterpiece in ten minutes or less. Abstract painting forces me to be lost for a while and trust I will come out the other side, better for the journey. I remember to enjoy the process, to just be and expectantly wait to see what will happen next, as beauty emerges from the chaos.

Read below, or watch a gallery interview, to learn how I unexpectedly launched my art career the same night I launched my book, Finding the Gift. In the interview, you'll also hear about my spiritual process at the easel, including how my abstract art is titled. (Some paintings name themselves!)

My Accidental Art Journey

I avoided the nudge to explore painting for over two decades. The unexplained longing kept showing up, and every few years I purchased more brushes, canvases and paint, sometimes even the occasional how-to book, but I always put them in a drawer or closet for someday.

You see, I had another voice that came with the longing to get lost in paint, to get out of my head and let my soul speak in this new language. That voice had a lot to say, such as:

• You don't know how to paint.
• You don't have any training.
• You wouldn't even know where to begin.
• Why do you keep wasting your money?
• You have more productive things to do.
• You don't have time to paint. That's stupid.

And so on. You may know this voice as well as I do.

After tiring of this war within, in 2014 I decided to treat myself to a few lessons from a trusted friend who is an accomplished artist and a passionate teacher. Soon we realized I was drawn more to abstract art, and she referred me to my then-eighty-two-year-old mentor. I took several series of classes with her and almost every day, I wanted to quit.

I hated being a beginner. I struggled to give myself permission to not know what I was doing. The internal critic said, You have no talent and you need to stop making a fool of yourself. The quiet longing insisted, No, let's keep going. I love the feeling of paint on my hands. She won!

When I published my book, Finding the Gift, the launch party was held at an artsy coffee shop in November, 2015. The quiet-longing voice insisted I bring several of my paintings to my book launch. I was already nervous about showing my friends a new side of me with my book, but now my art, too? Reluctantly I agreed to do it anyway. I wanted my art to surround me and help tell the story of re-emergence — of coming back to life after my corporate career had ended.

When the party was over, the owner of the coffee shop approached me about keeping my art to put on their walls. I said, “But people will see them!” They laughed and told me, “Yes, that's the point.” She said we could offer them for sale, too, if I wanted. “But they don't have hanging hardware. But I'm not sure I want to sell them. But… But…” When I ran out of but's, I said yes. The next year led to several public exhibits, a private commission and multiple sales.

In the following spring, I was asked to speak to a local art society about Finding the Gift and how to market art, given my recent success as a new artist. That keynote was held in a local art gallery and I brought several of my paintings to help me connect with the artists. After the talk, the gallery owners approached me and asked if I was interested in letting them represent some of my work.

But… But… Doesn't anyone know I don't know how to paint?

Meanwhile, my soul said, YES! And now we're celebrating ten years of working together and many new collectors.

All of this happened because I let one voice grow louder than the other one. Because I listened to my heART.

Which voices are you listening to? Which voices need to be turned up, and which ones need to be silenced and proven wrong? Someday is now. Do it.