Glimpse In A Mirror

Changing Careers?

For the last several weeks, I've been asking myself some big questions, and really wanting to get at the heart of what is bothering me. The one area I've not touched on much is work, but some interesting things have been happening related to work. When I was working on framing my prints on Saturday, I had the strangest sense that I was going to be covering more stretchers with canvas in my future. I've always had art in my life, and at one point, wanted to study art in college. I ended up choosing more practical things. I don't have any regrets, I have had a rewarding professional life, and for the most part, I do enjoy my work.

But I have always dreamt of having a career that involved art. For a time, I thought my beadwork might be the ticket. I've certainly thrown myself into the art-like projects in my home. I've been content to have art as my hobby. Last week, I took my visitors to see the studio of my favorite artists in Phoenix, and I loved seeing her setup, her easel, and seeing the things she had in progress. She works on her projects while her shop is empty, she has a great balance between meeting the public and doing her art. I have always had a fantasy about living a Georgia O'Keefe life, moving to rural northwest New Mexico and painting. I met a woman on Saturday who lived there, and whose husband was part of the artist colony there, and she knew Georgia. I have made plans to meet with her tonight.

In my meeting yesterday, I met a man who is enrolled in the Interior Design program at Scottsdale Community College. He shared with me his projects and the types of classes he is taking. It sounds wonderful. I had been thinking that maybe, just maybe, I should check out their classes, perhaps take a few, and shop in their bookstore.

All of these things coming together are telling me that I need to be exploring art options in my life. I don't know where this is going to lead me, and I don't have any real ideas about what direction I would like to take. I am just exploring the new and fascinating ideas that are appearing in my daily life, and I trust that this voyage of discovery will enrich my life in ways that I can't imagine today.

My heart and soul need to have the outlet of creative expression more than I've been allowing. I'm deeply moved by visuals, I need bright colors around me, things of beauty. That is why I've got this huge list of redecorating projects in my head, and why I'm constantly moving things around, painting rooms, and dreaming of what my space could become. I am really excited about this change.