How To

Karen, with Crane Trust Nature and Visitor Center welcomes my delivery of artwork

 “You’re doing it!” said a friend I hadn't seen in awhile. 

Huh?

“You’re doing the artist thing! Lookatchyoo! Exhibits! Galleries! Sales!! What‘s your secret?”

Does anyone ever say to their banker, “Hey! Way to go on that whole money thing! How’dja do that?”

Or to their shoe salesman, “Wow! These shoes fit! What’s yer secret?”

I have just spent the last 3 hours writing clever and charming ways to let you in on my 10 fun secrets to “doing it”.  After 3 hours of pounding my keyboard and wearing out my delete button, this is what I’m left with:

Sorry to say, there are no 10, 8 or even 2 easy steps. There are no secrets.

Paintings at Crane Trust Nature and Visitors Center

And that's the hardest thing of all. No shortcuts, no quickies, no magic. 

What's left then? All toil and trouble? Don't be silly.

I get to wake up every day knowing I'm my boss, and I like working for me. I'm a good boss. I let me wear painty jeans to work.

I get to create. 

I get to talk to people about things that make them happy; color, shared experiences, memories.

I get to share what I've learned with some really great people.

 

I get to  make people happy. Really happy.

And I'm happy to tell you that The Crane Trust and Visitor Center on Interstate 80 at the Alda interchange, has invited me to share my work for the next six weeks. No secret there; they asked, I said yes. Show's up now until February 24th.

2014 Sandhills Gale 8x10 oil currently hanging at Crane Trust and Visitor Center

I'm also sharing my magic at The Burkholder Project in Lincoln, Ne. in the Corner Gallery, where I've got my very own wall to hang my paintings on forever. 

Come to think of it, that's how it's done.

Keep At It

 Climb every mountain!! Ford every stream!  Follow every rainbow!! Cue the aria,  and dramatic music sweeps over us, carrying us up higher and higher…

And when you reach the top of the mountain, what do you see?

More mountains.  More rivers. If you look closely, a few rainbows. For those of you old enough to remember phonograph records, this is where the needle skips and skids across the grooves in a high-pitched screech.

 ©2012 Patricia Scarborough  6x8 oil, Into the Woods

 Scale that mountain. Wade that stream. Track down that elusive rainbow.

Can you imagine what those folks who drug wagons and families over the front range of the Rocky Mountains thought when they reached the top and saw more rocks and cliffs, peaks and crags as far as they could see? 

I’ll tell you what they thought. They gathered their fears, doubts and dreams together and sat down to rest. And then they said, “okay, let’s get going”. And they did.

 © Patricia Scarborough 6x8 oil Sandhills Trail

It’s been a grand climb so far. Being a solo-preneur has been more satisfying, challenging, exciting, scary, ridiculous and sublime than I ever imagined.

As I write this I am preparing for my last exhibit of 2012 at the Norfolk Arts Center in Norfolk, Nebraska.  At the same time, I’m preparing for several other events timed to coordinate with the coming holiday season.

It’s been a grand climb so far, and I’m feeling a little weary today. Heavy clouds have blanketed us against the summer sun. It feels good today to curl up and rest.

                                                     © Patricia Scarborough 6x8 oil Fresh Light

So I will.  And in a few days I’ll gather myself up against the next magnificent ascent with renewed vigor and excitement. 

Many of you are hard at it, challenging yourselves daily to climb the next mountain range.  How do you keep at it when the phonograph needle starts to skip?