Art Classes

It's almost summer time and although I haven't been here like I said I was going to, I'm back and ready to make some things happen!

I am happy to announce that I will be holding "Intro To Drawing" and "Color Theory" art classes starting at the end of May in Swedesboro, NJ. I am posting the flyers with all the details added.

You won't see this in the flyer, but these classes are for those who are 12 and older. I am going to be starting classes for youth ages 5 to 11 soon.

Hit the Paypal button below each flyer to register for the class. Please be reminded that registration will close 3 days prior to the first class starting.

Corner of Gratitude:

New opportunities

Pearls of Wisdom:
"Entrepreneurs are simply those who understand that there is little difference between obstacle and opportunity and are able to turn both to their advantage."

~ Victor Kiam

Your Thoughts:
What obstacles are you turning into opportunity?

Until next time...

2019

In A Sea of Rights

2019 has come! We are actually 7 days in and these 7 days have proven to be inspirational. 

A few months ago I made it a point to post every day. I crack my own self up! The obligations of life were plenty and I was unable to keep up with that schedule. And even if my schedule was a bit freer, I wasn't in the place mentally to be able to commit to blogging every day. 

I'm not committing to things that I know that I won't be able to accomplish. I'm going with the flow here and making sure that my artwork is developing, growing and thriving. I am taking the time to make sure that I am developing, growing and thriving on a personal level. I am working on making sure that there is nothing that gets in the way of me well...being me! Me in all of my glory! What GOD created me to be and loving every bit of it!

I hope that your 2019 has kicked off with plenty of blessing and amazing things and even more in a multitude to come!!!

Corner of Gratitude:

A prosperous, abundant & healthy life

Pearls of Wisdom:
"I want to do things of significance, things that will inspire people to know  how good life can be."

~ Judge Reinhold

Your Thoughts:
What do you consider the "good life"?

Until next time...

Art Education

I graduated from the University of Maryland College Park close to twenty years ago with my Bachelor's in art. That's quite crazy to say, but true. 

Some of the best times in my life were in college. I gained life long friends, had the opportunity to be part of a division 1 track & field team, and even came into who I was as an individual. 

While I appreciate UMCP for so many wonderful experiences, I don't believe I was academically prepared to face the real world of art. The business of how the art world works. Truthfully, I am not sure many schools outside of traditional art schools do a very good job of equipping their students with what is needed to survive in the art world. 

At UMCP I had several teacher's who were really instrumental in helping me to find my artistic voice. I 

Back then, and sometimes like now (although I'm working to change this) I was a perfectionist. I wanted great grades and to be the best at what I was doing. The preliminary classes that I needed to take for my major were difficult and meant to serve as weed out courses. You know the courses that would separate those that could make the cut and those that couldn't. Well, I suppose I was one of the ones that couldn't, and it ate at me badly on the inside. 

I was studying harder than I had ever studied, had tutors and still wasn't getting the grades I thought I deserved. The information just wasn't sticking. The truth is, I was having trouble concentrating. It wasn't until years later that I understood my attention span to be about the size of a flea, and in science, that just doesn't cut the mustard. 

Again, I am unsure of what would make me want to resort to art as a major. I had taken a few classes in high school, which I loved. I took everything from drawing to jewelry making to sculpting. Each class was freeing to me. I was able to use my hands, be creative and socialize all at the same time. Time spent in class seemed to fly by and in the end, there was always something for me to take home that could be displayed. It was rewarding and sometimes useful. 

The transition from Zoology to art was fairly simple outside of having to stay a few extra semesters. Art classes were laid back and long...typically three-hour time blocks. The length was great because when creative juices started to flow three hours felt like twenty minutes. It was good for my attention span and I was all around a happier individual. My stress level surrounding my academic load was low and my grade point average was high. 

It was meant to be...art and me. It hasn't always been an easy and smooth ride for us, but a ride I don't mind taking to this day!!!

Corner of Gratitude:

Being able to have options

Pearls of Wisdom:
"If you want to achieve something, you're going to run into roadblocks, but you have to learn how to pivot and explore your options."

~ Hannah Bronfman

Your Thoughts:
What options have you chosen for the better?

Until next time...

Why Art?

For as long as I could remember as a child I wanted to be a Veterinarian. I liked the idea of caring and healing animals although growing up I only had one pet. She was a guinea pig and once she was gone, it was a hard sell to get my parents to get me any animal larger than she was.  

In college, I ended up studying the arts. It seemed like a random pick for me as I started out as a Zoology major. I don't remember when the light clicked on in school that art was what I wanted to do, but my mother says she remembers clearly. She says I came home in my sophomore year and blatantly stated that I was changing my major to art. 

Back then, and sometimes like now (although I'm working to change this) I was a perfectionist. I wanted great grades and to be the best at what I was doing. The preliminary classes that I needed to take for my major were difficult and meant to serve as weed out courses. You know the courses that would separate those that could make the cut and those that couldn't. Well, I suppose I was one of the ones that couldn't, and it ate at me badly on the inside. 

I was studying harder than I had ever studied, had tutors and still wasn't getting the grades I thought I deserved. The information just wasn't sticking. The truth is, I was having trouble concentrating. It wasn't until years later that I understood my attention span to be about the size of a flea, and in science, that just doesn't cut the mustard. 

Again, I am unsure of what would make me want to resort to art as a major. I had taken a few classes in high school, which I loved. I took everything from drawing to jewelry making to sculpting. Each class was freeing to me. I was able to use my hands, be creative and socialize all at the same time. Time spent in class seemed to fly by and in the end, there was always something for me to take home that could be displayed. It was rewarding and sometimes useful. 

The transition from Zoology to art was fairly simple outside of having to stay a few extra semesters. Art classes were laid back and long...typically three-hour time blocks. The length was great because when creative juices started to flow three hours felt like twenty minutes. It was good for my attention span and I was all around a happier individual. My stress level surrounding my academic load was low and my grade point average was high. 

It was meant to be...art and me. It hasn't always been an easy and smooth ride for us, but a ride I don't mind taking to this day!!!

Corner of Gratitude:

Being able to have options

Pearls of Wisdom:
"If you want to achieve something, you're going to run into roadblocks, but you have to learn how to pivot and explore your options."

~ Hannah Bronfman

Your Thoughts:
What options have you chosen for the better?

Until next time...

Melanated Magic Tea Party

It's Monday and this weekend had its share of things to get done (hence a few entries missing).

Yesterday was hectic, but such a breath of fresh air. I was able to vend at a dear friends event. It's a new venture for her. She is an amazing nutritionist who traded her profession to make more time to spend at home with her family. The trade didn't seem to be a difficult decision for her to make since she is a nurturer and entrepreneur at heart. 

The first business venture I can remember of hers outside of nutrition is her PAWSE body care line. She makes everything from body butter to eyelash serum, and all of it is handcrafted and made with natural products. But this venture was a bit different in nature. 

She touts a lot about her 3 beautiful children. In fact, they were what encouraged her to create PAWSE in the first place. It was her 2 daughters and other little girls of color that inspired her to create moments of magic at this tea party she called Melanated Magic Tea Party. 

It was a great time! Mothers and daughters all dressed up in mostly matching tea time attire.  Conversations between new mother friends, and dancing between new daughter friends. Various teas and finger sandwiches. Photographers to capture special moments and vendors for the ladies to purchase various items. 

Kudos to you Stacey Matthews-Woodson! You threw an amazing event that served it's purpose to uplift the lives of little brown chocolate girls! Thank you for allowing me to be a part of such an event. I look forward to seeing your much-deserved success in all of the ventures that you have your hands in!

Corner of Gratitude:

Collaborations 

Pearls of Wisdom:
"Entrepreneurs have a natural inclination to go it alone. While this do-it-yourself spirit can help you move forward, adding an element of collaboration into the mix can make you unstoppable."

~ Leah Busque

Your Thoughts:
Who are you collaboration with?

Until next time...

Social Media Platforms

I would have never thought in a million years that I would be the one that would be attempting to detach myself from social media. I used to love it...with Facebook being my favorite. Now couldn't be any different, although I still use various social media platforms.

Things these days don't function without social media. It's a necessary tool (evil to some). In a study done by  www.statistica.com, 2017 social media sites as a whole managed to lull 2.67 billion users into its lair. According to Adweek, 88% of businesses they polled with 100 or more employees use social media in some capacity to market their product. So that means that social media has become a permanent fiber in our societal fabric. 

It is almost necessary to actively participate in social media for business purposes these days. I haven't run across too many businesses that don't use it in some form or fashion. However, how do I fit in this social media societal fabric to promote my business without losing the beauty of old-school communication? 

I mean, let's be real...Blogger is considered social media and I am here. And here for several reasons, one being to promote my businesses, which wouldn't make me much different than the rest. I know there is nothing innately wrong with social media. But I feel like there is so much more to blogging. There is a vulnerability...a truth that doesn't always happen in other social media platforms. Mostly I feel those who use social media are concerned about being/looking perfect and perfectly stating something poignant and pivotal in order to bring their craft to the masses instead of allowing the authenticity and vulnerability of what they say and the sharing of their craft to bring the masses. 

There really is no judgment to those that are immersed in the social media world (we all are whether we want to be or not in some form or fashion). It's more of a desire for us to be intentional in how we use social media. A hope that we find ways to use it to uplift and connect and to be as lights unto each other. We all evolve when we connect with others when we authentically learn from their strengths and weaknesses. 

Corner of Gratitude:

Authenticity no matter how it comes

Pearls of Wisdom:
"Authenticity means erasing the gap between what you firmly believe inside and what you reveal to the outside world."

~ Adam Grant

Your Thoughts:
Are you authentic on your social media platforms? Why or why not?

Until next time...

I Must...

I must continue to FORGE AHEAD in this journey!!!

I have to remind myself of this quite often. On a daily basis to be exact! 

It's hard to believe that at times it is hard for me to do the thing that I love the most. Hard for me to start the process, knowing that this is what I was built for. But I owe it to my Creator and myself to get this thing right! 

Corner of Gratitude:

Tenacity

Pearls of Wisdom:
"The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. The fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do. You can act to change and control your life; and the procedure, the process is its own reward."

~ Amelia Earhart

Your Thoughts:
What is it that keeps you wanting to forge ahead?

Until next time...