courage. display. success.

today is a new day for me—i'm very excited because last night i posted the last of my paintings at a local hamburger joint in the city where i live. i know it may not seem much since it's just a local hamburger & hotdog restaurant, but for me, it's a matter of pride and self-worth. this is the first time that i have ever exhibited my paintings—or artwork for that matter—anywhere in a local setting. so yeah, it means a lot.

straight view of "pablo," abstract "crazy  mind," 

 & "francis francis espresso machine"

side view of restaurant and paintings

full view of restaurant as you walk in

"pablo," "crazy mind," "francis francis espresso machine,"

"harry potter," "pablo's bowl" & "pablo's bone"

"harry potter," "pablo's bowl," "pablo's bone" & "sting"

"sting"

it's new for me and i have to admit, i'm a bit nervous. although these particular paintings are not for sale, i'm hoping with the advertising of my business cards beside my work, that someone will call me for that one ideal commission for that one perfect custom painting. but only time will tell.

when i was a senior in college, the art department gives their graduating seniors the opportunity (for extra credits prior to graduation) to host a senior exhibit. i, however, chose not to participate. i was too nervous and too insecure to get involved which ultimately could have turned into something so skittish and apprehensive, that i chose not to participate in fear of getting criticized and rejected. i had no idea how it would have turned out, so i didn't try. it's something i always regretted and wish i could have followed through with instead of running away from it.

do i regret it? absolutely. what did i have to lose? nothing but criticism from local professors and students. although i was a graphic design major, i always enjoyed painting as my "hobby." since i had never studied painting for a foundation course prior to my concentration, i was afraid my amateur status would come to fruition thus causing a public embarrassment for me and my work. 

i was scared.

i've learned over the years, that unless you try something different, you won't be recognized for this divergent step in your career and/or your work. unfortunately, it took me 7 years since i graduated to realize this. although i am filled with regret for this decision, i now know in order to succeed, i have to give it the ole' "college try" or it won't take me any further in my career to feel confident and proud to be an artist. regardless of what the public may think of my work, it's a reflection of me and who i am when i paint and i love it. 

it gives me satisfaction.

when this local restaurant advertised for local artists to showcase their work, i immediately dove in and went for it. i decided to go for my 'oyster' as i had nothing to lose, or gain if i didn't at least try. now i know, as i gaze at my paintings from afar upon walking into the restaurant that i'm excited and i'm proud of myself for going for it. because again, what did i have to lose? nothing, nothing at all.

perhaps this is the start of my career as i know it. whether it be graphic design or as a freelance painter, i know it needed to be done. at least for me and my psyche. although there's the chance that my work may never go farther than these four walls at a local hamburger joint, i can still feel proud that my work was displayed publicly and proudly. 

i showed courage. i displayed my work, and i now have inner success. that says a lot.

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take those dusty trophies out of storage & display them proudly

recently i discovered while going through my storage unit, hidden in a plastic tupperware tub, were my old tennis trophies that i earned from the 90s. since in my opinion, trophies are hideously aesthetic, after every win, i just tucked them away and knew in my mind that i had won. never displayed them and never looked at them again.

what a waste, right?

until recently i thought, wow wouldn't it be cool to display those trophies again but this time, not with pride, but with fun colors? after seeing the soccer trophies my daughter was winning, and how she displayed them, although fun and inviting, they were still that brass color that i hated—still the same old trophies lined on every athlete's shelf, still would not look good decorated in my loft.

yeah, i'm that picky.

with my idea in tow, i headed to the nearest hardware store and purchased five bright colors of spray paint—chartreuse, fuschia pink, orange, sun yellow and of course, purple. i couldn't wait to get home and start my new project.

i was surprised at how well the paint stuck! i envisioned lots of drips and many coats of spray paint later, only to see how wrong i was. no dripping, and only two coats of paint. they turned out fabulous!

take a look!

Unfortunately, the pics don't do the bright colors justice.