The house I grew up in.

8x10 inch, watercolor and music sheets on paper, mounted

This is the house I grew up in.  My parents moved our family here when I was 5.  I moved out when I was 25.  So much happened in those 20 or so years.  Like, for example, the room on the top left was were my older sister Kim slept when the lightning struck the tree right outside her window.  On the other side of the house was Kari's room- the smallest in the house, yet the most coveted.  Across from Kim was my parents room where my little sister Jamie and I would sit on the bed and watch movies during those long hot summer days.  My room was on the other side of mom and dad's and had a nice heavy wooden door that made the house shake when slammed.

The tree right outside my bedroom window was the best for climbing.  My favorite tree in the yard though was (and still is) the huge oak on the other side of the drive where my dad hung 3 tall swings from the branches.  I loved to swing.  I loved to spin Jamie on the tallest swing until she was so dizzy she'd puke.  And she had to let me.  #bigsistersubmission

Out on the farthest corner of the yard was a treehouse my dad built.  That tree house is where I'd sit for hours and read "Harriet the Spy" and pretend that I too was a spy.  It's where I learned and practiced all my best spying tricks.  It's also where I'd climb on the catwalk even though my mom always told me not to.  It's where I'd do all my deep thinking.  :)

And the yard.  So full of adventure for a weird and overly curious little girl like myself.  The yard is where I'd play soccer with my friends on my birthday in the rain.  It's were our pets were buried and where I'd find all those cool rocks (you know, for my collection).  The yard around the house is where I'd make Jamie run laps when she annoyed me.  And the bushes to the right of the house was were I'd hide.

Max and Dottie are my parent's dogs now.  They've inherited the place now that all of us 4 girls are gone.  They're my parents' new children, and with all of the attention they get, I'm sure they couldn't be happier.

my story...

Have you ever heard it said that telling your story can be one of the best marketing strategies?  I've been trying to figure that out lately.  What is my story?  Even now as I think about it I have a difficult time defining "my story."  But, after a nice and lovely conversation with my little sister, I think I have had a break-through...

My focus was just in the wrong place.  I was trying to define all of these past experiences and work that I've already completed in order to gather enough information to accurately describe who I am.  But I'm always changing and growing and evolving.  So, how can I accurately define my story based on my history when my history is constantly changing?

Here's the thing I realized.  It's really not so much about the story of my past as it is about my future.  What will my next piece look like?  Where will I direct my focus from this point on in order to CREATE a story that I want others to hear?  Constantly focusing on the "mistakes" of my past work can be constructive up to a certain point, but eventually I just need to let go of all that and point myself toward the future, working from THIS day forward...and allowing myself to be exactly who it is that I've been wanting to be all along!

And how wonderful is it to know where you are going!  How motivating!  Now that I have FINALLY given myself permission to change and grow my artwork, I feel more focused than ever!  A strange paradox. 

I hope this is making sense.  And I hope it helps YOU no matter where you are with your art.  It's just nice to finally have the light bulb go on.  So, thanks sister Jam.