Surviving, Striving, or Thriving?

My partner and I were on a hike last weekend. On the trail, we said “hello” to an older gentleman in a felt hat. When I asked “how are you?” he said, “surviving.” I think he was going for equal parts charming and cranky as his age may entitle him to do, but his response got me thinking.

In life, we can be surviving, striving, or thriving. Oftentimes we navigate in and out of these three areas within short periods of time. With the launch of my new site and Fall Pop-Up coming up in a week, this feels like a season of “striving” for me. Striving to paint more, striving to reach more people, and at the risk of sounding "sales-y", striving to make more sales! I am so grateful for the love and attention on socials, but I’m feeling hungry to make art that people need in their spaces- in their lives.

I started painting seriously at a time of life when I realized I had kinda just been surviving. My life had been consumed by a church that used and abused me. While there were aspects of my marriage that were good, there were also unhealthy cycles and patterns of behavior that were very challenging. I was feeling worn down by the demands of the public school system. My painting practice, as well as coaching, helped me shift from surviving to striving. I started to come out to myself and my loved ones. I started to submit my art to galleries and festivals. After being silenced, pushed aside and marginalized by systems and the hurt they caused, I wanted to be known.

I’ve had many moments of straight up thriving since then, but it hasn’t been easy. Being a solopreneur and an artist takes strategic discipline. There have been no “fast wins” and “quick money” as so often advertised to us on Instagram. Rather, there has just been building relationships. That’s why I’m writing this actually. I’m hoping that we can get to know one another and that maybe, in the process, you can get to know my art.

So, tell me about you. Do you feel like you’re in a time of surviving like my fellow hiker? Are you striving for what's next? Or, maybe you’re thriving as all your efforts align?

However you’d describe your current stage, do you feel like you have objects and resources around you that reflect it back to you? The slow, blurry pain of surviving, as well as its subtle heroism. The relentless efforting and brave reaching of the strive. The exuberant and knowing energy of thriving.

You need physical reminders of each of these stages; they can’t exist without each other. I’m starting to go back and mentally catalog my work, as I have pieces that speak to all of these categories. Take a look at the paintings at the bottom of this newsletter. Each painting below represents each of the phases I was in at the time I was painting them. They were, in a sense, a diary record of where I was and where I was (and am) heading.

All that to say, I think the best way to get to know people is to listen. So, if you’re reading this and want to chat- even if it’s to tell me you didn't like these paintings- I’d love to hear from you.