In Passionate Pursuit
Teaching my very own art classes has been a dream come true. I waited and dreamed and waited and continued to dream. The right season finally came and it was time to pursue. Deciding to go after it is one of the best decisions I've ever made. Not only am I fulfilling my passion, but I am sparking creativity in the lives of children-including my 3. They are over the moon to be swimming in art supplies. I have overheard them conversing about how Mama is an art teacher and they would like to do something like this some day. Oh my heart. Whether they become creatives, it feels right to know that my children are admiring me through this pursuit. Honestly, one of the hardest decisions came with the reality that saying yes to Art Darling would inevitably mean saying no to some family time and availability. I must put my husband, Nick, on blast. He has been unbelievably supportive. I couldn't imagine a better partner, especially in these shifting life seasons.
Allow me to take you on the little journey that brought me here. I had been sharing with family and friends the desires of my heart to begin art sessions with children. I have known for a long time that this is what I was created to do. As 2017 began to wind down, I decided the new year was the time to begin. I just felt I needed a nudge. As I sat down to journal and sift through the swirling thoughts of what would become Art Darling, I peeked at Instagram. I had been following Meri Cherry and her art studio out in L.A. for a while (check her out here). She has inspired so much of what I'm doing. Meri posted the release of her Process Art Toolkit AND announced a Process Art Workshop at her studio. Immediately my heart began to pound. "I am supposed to attend this." There are several reasons why this seemed crazy. First, I was coming off the heals of a girls' weekend in N.Y.C. My husband surprised me and sent me for some time away (see what I mean about what a fantastic partner he is!?). The Process Art Workshop was just a few weeks away- and across the country in L.A. Financially we were pretty strapped, all 3 of our children had birthdays coming up as well as the holidays. Nick never shot down the idea. If I could figure out how to make it happen for X amount of money; it would be so. I immediately began looking up flights and I reached out to Meri. Her support through this decision is just one of the reasons she inspires me. Our friends and family were all ready to jump in and help me get there. So...it happened. I flew out West at the beginning of December. I stayed in Boulder City, NV. for the first few nights. Then my friend Monica and I pilgrimaged through the desert to L.A. Cruising past mountains and miles of Joshua Trees at sunrise. It all felt as though it was written in the fleeting stars out my car window.
Our first stop in L.A. was a visit to the Broad Museum. What better way to start a day of art exploration and education? If you are ever in the L.A. area, please check out this fabulous museum. Yayoi Kusama's exhibit was life changing. She is such an inspiration. Her range of work is just awe inspiring.
I went straight from the museum to Meri Cherry's studio. I had that same pounding in my heart when I entered. Butterflies were swirling around in my stomach. I was there. The environment I had been so closely following and dreaming of some day recreating in my own way. I was in the middle of it and not just with Meri, but with a room full of kindred spirits.
Fast forward a few months and I am doing it. I began as a pop up studio and am working towards my very own studio space. I currently offer two art sessions a week, have done in-home art parties and will host my first Art Darling birthday celebration next week. I can't believe it's only been two months! It already feels like I've been at this for years...I guess that's how it's supposed to be when you are right where you're meant to be.
