Having Your Cake & Eating It Too

Sharing....

I've been painting, making art and selling on the Internet for over 10 years now. During that first half of that time, I've tried out 2 assistants...which didn't work out. During the last half of that time...I did it all myself. I figured I just didn't play well with others. But secretly...I always wished, dreamed that the coolest assistant/manager/organizer would come along. I would be free to create and do what I do best.

Now, I had a wise Aunt Jane that practically raised me since my Mom was sick growing up. She always asked why "Wine Husband" didn't help me and go into business with me. Well...he always had a bigger, fancier job...that was essential to the well being of our family. She just shook her head, and said it would be a match made in heaven. As I said, Aunt Jane was a wise woman, and I knew deep down she was right. His strengths are my weaknesses, and vice versa.

Well, the first of the year came and Wine Husband came to a major career crossroads. The traveling was getting unbearable, and the stress became less and less worth it. Last Wednesday, he came to me and said he didn't really want to go back to all of it. He missed his family too much. He loved living on this Island too much. He wanted to go to work with me and make my business a success. Wow...I just about had to be picked up off the floor. We talked over the details, and decided to try it. It's probably going to mean a lot of macaroni and cheese dinners for a little while...but we've survived worse.

So, the goal is to get the the gallery opened to the public, without losing my Internet business. Over the last few months, I haven't been able to do that by myself. I had great ideas of how I wanted it to look, but couldn't find the time. So, I'm learning to put away all my preconceived ideas of how I wanted things to look in the studio and gallery...and let someone else take over. I'm having to share....and play well with others. But, you know it's working. Slowly, but surely as I look up from my art desk...the place is being transformed. The entire family is involved. It's a really great feeling to know that you have so much love and support and that the ones that I'm closest to...really believe in my art. I am so blessed. Here's some photos I shot of the transformation in progress.

A little sign on the stairs letting everyone know we're going to be open soon.

"Wine Husband" cleaning up the courtyard.

Luke cleaning off shelves and reorganizing.

Logan planting flowers for the courtyard.

The stairs have artwork hanging now!!!

The new gallery area.

So things are changing. Wow. It's so wonderful. I am having my cake and eating it too...and learning how to share. I think I can play well with others. Thanks Aunt Jane!!!



A short video on the new painting, "You Can't Have Your Cake and Eat It Too...Sometimes You Have to Share".

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We All Need to Play A Little....

Last Friday, I did something rare. I took the entire day off. I had a "Art Play Date" with my very good friend Kelly. Now, Kelly is an extremely accomplished jewelry designer who can wrap up wire loops neater and more consistently than bath towels folded at Macy's. So, we had a little agreement that she'd give me the wire wrapping "secret" and I'd teach her some of what I knew about painting and collage. I think I made out like a bandit on that deal. She showed me "The Secret" in 5 minutes or less. I on the other hand, tried to teach her all my tricks and secrets to my paintings. It turned out to be much harder than I expected. Well, what I found was that...How do you teach someone to "Just Play". How do you teach someone not to fear making mistakes, and just let go. Once you have some basic knowledge of paint, glue, and water....you just have to experiment. Let things happen, there is no right and wrong. It was really hard to describe to someone...and I learned in the experience that most of the time I work very intuitively, and there is no rhyme or reason. Kelly did create an awesome painting, and wrote about the experience on her blog. You can see it here.

After she left for the day, I was dumbfounded as to what I crummy teacher I had been. I thought after all these years of experience...that I'd surely be qualified to teach someone something much more credible than to "Just Play". But, I guess as adults with all sorts of responsibilities we forget to that. It's something we keep thinking we should do...and never get around to it. As artists, we always need a new supply or a new technique to "create". We put off our creations, and continue our search. I did it for years. Sometimes, I still catch myself doing it. The truth is...we don't need any of that stuff. Remember, Kindergarten? You could make anything out of anything. You didn't need the latest, greatest technique...the latest greatest paint....YOU JUST DID IT!!! You Played and had a blast doing it. We all need to PLAY more.
We'd all become the artists, we dream about becoming...if we just let go, stop procrastinating, and Play.

The whole "Play Date" taught me a lot. I had a painting in my mind for years that I never did because I always felt like it wasn't the right time, I needed more experience, better techniques, better supplies. I was saving it. So, I decided to forget that silliness....find my own silliness...old brushes and all...and just Play. I'm so glad I did.


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Indulging the Soul

I just finished this painting. It has a lot to do with how I've been feeling lately. As many of you know, I credit "The Secret" and the laws of attraction for scoring my dream studio last June. My studio is incredible, it's fabulous. I should be soaring on top of the world. But, once I got here...things didn't come so easy. There was the back breaking move (literally...almost),the culture shock of moving to a small town, and the new pressure of having a studio with overhead (something I took for granted... working from home for so many years). It's been challenging. And through all those challenges, my faith started wavering. What if I wasn't cut out to be an artist with a fancy studio, maybe I should have stayed home and done this part-time, etc. I was self sabotaging myself with negative thoughts. I found that... I get back from the Universe exactly what I project. If I was negative and down...not so great things happened. If I was ho hum, I got ho hum in return. It's one thing to say positive things....but if in the back of your mind you have doubt...things are not going to work very well. Your words, thoughts and actions have to be firing in complete alignment. Then everything you seek to attract will come your way with ease. This is so hard when we all seem to have a little guy on our shoulders...always telling us that we're not good enough or wrong in some respect. How to you get past that? For me, I just have to trust. I have to thank the Universe for giving me the challenges. I have to know in my heart that the Universe will provide for me. I have to do what makes me happy, because I know it will make others happy. A friend asked me today how I could stand putting my original paintings on eBay for 99cents without a reserve. I'd be lying if I said it wasn't hard or scary. But, I just have to again...trust. I can't be checking auctions every 5 minutes for bids and worrying. I have to trust that those bids will come and the Universe will provide just the right amount for each painting. I have to let go and keep things in motion by creating new work and just let things "be". I have to do what I love, looking at each painting as a learning experience to refine my art and grow...and not get hung up on the $ amount it brings in. I know that... if my heart, mind, words and actions all believe in the same outcome, the Universe will too. It happened before...and it will happen over and over again. I just have to make my dreams real all the time. Please make yours real too...it is so worth it. What are you waiting for? Love, WyannePin It

The Power of a Muse

Seems like a lot of artists, have a muse. Someone or something that gives them their inspiration. The incredible artist, Sharon Tomlinson talks about her muse Norah'S (Sharon spelled backward, quite often. I read an interview on JustBeConnected, where she tells of how her muse has to do with the whole left brain/right brain thing. In all the years that I've been creating, I never really stopped to think about my muse, until recently. I decided that I have two muses, one a physical entity and one a spiritual. So, I ask you... does a 6 year old count as a muse? I think so. I've been painting a lot of young girls lately, but it is not really a representation of my daughter on canvas. It's more of a self portrait. I know...you are totally confused. You see...I kinda feel like I was robbed of my girly girl childhood. As many of you know, I was adopted at three days old by wonderful parents who were much older than typical parents. They had a natural son finishing college when I was born. Up until I was about 6 years old, everything was great. A typical childhood...then my mom got sick. It started out as a series of small strokes that eventually led to Alzheimer's Disease. I slowly lost her over many years . She spent the last 17 years of her life completely debilitated in a nursing home. I grew up fast. I had a wonderful Aunt who I spent a lot of time with, but it just isn't the same as your mom. But, now I have this great gift of a daughter who allows me to live my girly childhood again on a daily basis. Oh my gosh...what fun it is! I see things through her that I never experienced, never imagined and now can live out through my creativity in my paintings. I can ask her, "What do you think I should paint next?" And off her imagination goes...sweeping me off my feet and taking me to places that I never thought I would go. It starts off as, "I think you should paint a fairy". And, in my logical mind I think...I've done too many single fairies lately. So I respond, "Maybe I should paint two fairies, this time." She excitedly latches onto this and says," No Mom...three French fairy Princesses!!! They are sleeping under the most beautiful cherry tree!" As she does her best ballerina spins around the room, I sit there stunned. Where does this come from! I think...I can't do that. But then the Universe (my other muse) tells me...Go with it. This is your gift. And so I do.

"La Fée Princesse Sieste" or "The Fairy Princess Napping". Currently on eBay. Click here to get in on the bidding.

And here's a video of the making of the painting. Enjoy. Love, Wyanne

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New Mermaid Painting

It is so hard to live on an Island, and not paint the ocean. I've loved mermaids since I was 3 or 4. I had a 1960's copy of "The Little Mermaid" complete with some sort of hologram image on the cover that I was mesmerized by. And growing up, my mom would always take me to Weeki Wachee to watch the mermaids. So, mermaid's are a constant in my work. Now that I've left the hustle and bustle of Atlanta behind, and live where I look at the ocean every morning....they are always showing up in my art. This one is simply titled, Love. My soon to be 7 year old, is growing up so fast. She's doing more on her own, and it's so scary as a mom. You want to help her reach her dreams, but oh how scared you are inside. That's what this painting is about. Letting go, Trusting and Loving. It's up on eBay with another crazy starting bid of 99cents. So, if you love it...please bid. And in the meantime...I'm going to go paint some more. Love to all. More about the painting below in the video.


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New Original Painting

Hi!!!
Sorry I haven't posted in a few weeks...but you've been keeping me pretty busy! I finished packing up 42 shipments from the Wyanne's Lost Her Mind Sale. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! You are so incredible and I feel so blessed to have such loyal wonderful customers. doing a happy dance X 3

So, I just finished this fun, fun painting! She's called the "Wallflower Party Girl". Because that's me...really it is. I am so painfully shy at times...and I LOVE, LOVE parties....but I'm the wallflower at them. Luckily over the years, I've managed to come out of my shell some. So, this painting is for all of you out there just like me. A Wallflower Party Girl. She's up on eBay right now...with a low, low, low starting bid. Click here to go!

Also, I did a video of the painting. Sorry for the lousy quality, but I'm still using my son's kiddie video camera. I'll try to get a better one soon for you. Enjoy. Love, Wy


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