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| Autumn Harvest - my first Charcoal Still Life ('96) - ©CindyRippe2013 |
I've started working on my interactive online Botanical classes again. I've been teaching drawing/design/technique classes for over 20 years. If you've followed me at all (or read the name of this blog) you know that I'm inspired to create images of flowers and botanicals. Most of them have an inspirational theme but it's always about nature.
Last year about this time I recorded two online classes with Interactive Artist Magazine with the intention of launching my own online classes immediately after that. I had already planned to take my business in that direction and have so much experience in the creative industries as a national teacher, professional demonstrator, author, consultant and even a stint as a guest on QVC. I figured it would be "a piece of cake" and allow me to work from my home studio more. The travel across the United States was getting harder while caring for my family (and myself) so I thought was a great idea. Well, here we are. It's almost a year later and I've been working on my classes VERY slowly. I've let life and all of it's chaos take center stage and put my art business on the side. I'm still teaching at a few national conventions but I've become an expert at excuses.
This morning, as I walked past the china cabinet, my charcoal sketch caught my attention. I don't usually look at it because I can see all of my mistakes, but today I could almost hear it saying, "Last year you made the choice to change things in your life to allow you to focus on your art business. This year it's about accomplishments. What are you afraid of? Get busy and share your knowledge with other artists that want to grow too." A powerful thought for a 16 year old charcoal sketch to inspire! I guess all artists are growing in one way or another. Either by brushing up on their skills, learning new techniques or getting over the fear that nobody will be interested. I've decided to do it for myself, with hopes that thousands of artists will come along for the ride, and I hope that I'll be able to get them past their own art fears.
“For God's gifts and His call are irrevocable. (He never withdraws them when once they are given, and He does not change His mind about those to whom He gives His grace or to whom He sends His call.)” Romans 11:29 (Amplified Bible)
