Risk...can you handle it?

My husband, my two youngest kids, and I went to San Antonio this weekend for Spring Break. Our main event was a day-long visit to Sea World. My husband, being the moderate adrenaline junkie he is, dragged us to a roller coaster as soon as we entered the gate. He was using the "we're here early so the line will be short" excuse but I firmly believe he was just excited about the rush.

This was the first roller coaster ever for our 7 year old and the first "real" roller coaster for our 9 year old. They were quite reassured by Dad that they'd love it so they waited with increasing excitement during the short (yes, he was right) line. I, on the other hand, was getting more and more nervous.

As a kid, I LOVED roller coasters...the badder the better. Maybe it was the adrenaline rush..maybe it was the knowledge that I was making my mom cringe in fear for me. Whatever it was..there was no roller coaster I wouldn't try...and then hop back in line to do it again!

So why was I getting nervous? I'm not sure. I was thinking about it as I stood in line, fanning my flushed face furiously. I think as we get older, we get more concerned about risk. Risk is defined differently for each adult though. My husband, who has bungee jumping and sky diving on his "do before I die" list won't spend over $100 without a full 3 months of research. I can loosen the purse strings a little faster but I won't even consider jumping off anything higher than the side of the pool.

What struck me as peculiar is how often, as adults, we avoid risk in our daily lives...and the profound effect it has on our future. Consider how many people who are dissatisfied with their jobs..but won't take the risk to find another. How many people have a dream of running their own business...but can't imagine being without a guaranteed income. How many budding authors have never put their ideas on paper..or worse yet..have written it..but hidden it away in a drawer. How many artists have stacks of paintings stacked in the studio..never to be seen by an audience? How many dreams do we not fulfill in order to avoid risk?

As I stood their gulping for air and fanning harder and harder, I realized that this roller coaster was going to be difficult for me..but it would be over in about 90 seconds (my engineer husband timed it while we were waiting). My art career is also going to be difficult..but I'm ready to ride it for the rest of my life. I'm going to have some ups and downs, some incredible highs, some sickening drops...but I'll get off at the end knowing ...I DID IT!!

Paperwork is killing me!

"Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life."
-- Confucius

Confusius was obviously never a small business owner. I am DEFINATELY doing what I love. I'm creating art...I'm teaching kids..work-wise..it doesn't get any better than this. But I'm working..all the time!!

Unfortunately..teaching and creating is only about 30% of the time. The rest is paperwork..paperwork..paperwork. Taxes, web crisis..you name it..that's been 2008.

I recently posted a "Fresh Off the Easel" on my home page . It is a small 7" x 5" painting. It is a cute painting..but that is the only painting I have completed this year..and this is March!! I'm behind on a pet portrait commission..I have 3 incomplete horses..and a ton of ideas not anywhere near the canvas yet!

Before I sink myself (and my dear reader) into a pit of depression...I will note..I'm still doing what I love!!

Web crisis? yes..but that was a big nagging to do that is mostly done now! I love the new website and I'm excited by the technology used and the ease of updating. It took a lot of my time to get it up and running..but the time I'll save in easier updates will be made up before the end of this year.

Taxes? I learned that I'm now in the black! How exciting..my dream is actually making money! Not that I'm going to be buying the Taj Mahal anytime soon..but to not go in the negative is a wonderful milestone for every small business!

Paperwork? Yep..I've got a lot more..basically because I am getting more and more 'successful.' This past Winter Session was my largest ever..32 students!! Spring is almost as large and enrollment is not over! On the art side, I'll have grossed more in the first quarter of this year than all of last year (had some great sales so far!). So success=busy..hard to complain too much.

So..I brush off my frustration and look at what I HAVE done so far in the first 2 1/2 months of 2008 and instead of crying..I'm giving myself a little pat on the back!

Steven Covey talks about perspective in his book, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People (which I WILL finish one day!!). When you are feeling overwhelmed..change your perspective. I have definitely had to practice this but I feel it working. I'm not drowning in paperwork but riding the high of a successful business!

Feeling overwhelmed -----> feeling successful ------> feeling more confident -----> feeling more creative---->creating more work------>getting more business------>rinse, repeat!

It will all come full circle in the end!

New Website & Spring Enrollment

As most of you know by now..my new website is up and running. Same web address..totally new look. I have to send out a big thank you to my husband, Russ, and our good friend, Blake, for all their help on my new site. I had a vision of what I thought technology should be able to do and their engineering brains made it work for me! Blake sat at my computer for 5 hours with me beside him saying.."I was thinking the gallery could do this.." and he'd make it happen..over and over again!

They are both still on call as we work out the vision of the Student Gallery..don't worry parents..it won't be long!

As the saying goes..when it rains it pours and the work is pouring right now in the studio. I have commissions to work on..lessons to plan..schedules to finalize...and on and on.

Enrollment is currently underway for Spring 2008 classes for kids. This year I'm adding a twist to the annual Portrait Study..Animal Portraits! Don't worry parents..we'll still do our 20" x 16" acrylic self-portrait! I have to say I have had so much fun with the kids' classes this past year. I've been really blessed to have a great (and very LARGE!) group of kids and we've done some awesome artwork! My only complaint is that the time is going by so fast! It's already time to plan for Summer Camps..where is the time going?!?

I'll be updating an adult schedule soon..in the meantime there are still 2 collage workshops available. Please let me know if you have an interest. I"m still experimenting with the right amount of days & times. To the right is an 18" x 24" watercolor completed by one of my students in the Feb. 20th Watercolor Workshop.