Artistic Life Design

I am creating a new artistic life design as a creative entrepreneur.  The long days of summer are on us now and yet I have a propensity for sleeping in the afternoon. My best work seems to shape itself around nocturnal melodies. Artistic life design sometimes requires one to make sacrifices. But there are also payoffs. Ingenuity is a must to organize oneself in the most comfortable efficient way.

Flexibility is a wonderful thing although ‘living the dream’ sometimes gives me the same feeling as skipping school. The truth is none of us need permission to run our own show. For me it is the best way I can serve. I know people are out there who need my skills. We need to live our passion. Managing myself is like leading more than one person, due to my love of so many things.

About Grief

For those who know me, it is no secret I have been in transition for a very long while. Part of it is the stage of life I am in and the rest has been partly triggered by grief.  Grief can have a larger effect on us than we first realize. The whole process has devastated me, influencing my personal relationships and my finances.

Unknowingly, when my brother died several years ago it set something off deep within me. A downward slide occurred and I found myself being stuck in the quicksand far deeper than I would have ever imagined. Then, a few short years later my father was also gone and it has not been that long. He knew me well as fathers know their daughters and pegged me as an artist by the time I was 16 years old.

Of course I see all these experiences as a necessary part of living. Everyone has had their sorrows and we grow from them. I will emerge victorious as my tears turn to sweet memories.

Finding My Way

It has been five years to the day since I was laid off from my regular job. Steady work has been a pipe dream since I never found another, so my income fluctuates from month to month. My focus is on building up my creative businesses.

I am grateful for those who have stood by me and have helped in so many ways. Part of the message here is I must do what I am here for. I think some amazing songs will come out of this. From chaos comes creativity. I want to share my talents with the world, for that is my purpose.

All my life, I have been an overachiever, accomplishing what I had set out to do and reaping the financial rewards. That is not to say there have not been hard times, however everything I have needed has come to me, one way or another. I am ready to move beyond that and now ask for more. A simple financial miracle would be most welcome.

Design

I have found mostly piece work, small contracts and somehow it buys me another day, week or month on this planet. A larger project would really help to stabilize things for me. I have put in bids on some murals. The right project has not appeared yet.

Besides hairdressing, freelance writing, teaching and some musical gigs, I also restored artwork on a vintage sign (10 ft X 12 ft)for a hipster café that will reopen soon. I will share once it is has officially been announced. I would love to do a mural this summer. Have a look at my murals here. I am also available for live music performances, including house concerts.

I also did some architectural drawings for a builder. I had not done any technical drawing for some time, and there are many difficult angles on these. They are hand-drawn, 15 X 20 on illustration board. Most of what is here is what the renovations will look like when complete.

Addendum

I often think of Elton John’s song, “Where To Now St. Peter?” in times of transition. It has always touched me in a mysterious way, sticking out,  despite being one of his more obscure creations. Indeed, if it is about a soldier, we are all soldiers in this life.