Counting Blessings

I didn’t do a good job keeping up with writing about all the things I’m thankful for during the month of November.  December is already here and although I didn’t write about it, I did take time to think about all the good in my life.   I made several lists, some on paper and a running list in my mind.  My life is packed exceptionally full of blessings.  Here are some of the highlights from a few of my lists:

My car that gives me so much independence, a job that allows me to support myself and brings people into my life, kindness from strangers, my apartment, prayer, memories, good parents who love me, the gospel of Christ, food, education, Hope, life in America, my art, sisters, nature, faith in God, incredible siblings, my bed, hands that work, holidays, insurance,  life with a disability, temples, good books, a forever family, oxygen, contacts, nephews, nieces, my wheelchair, free agency, courage, co-workers that watch out for me, light, spiritual gifts, adventures, sweet grandparents, compassion, my church calling, summer, opportunities to grow, friends to love and who love me, my ability to be happy, scriptures,  an able mind, determination, atonement of Jesus Christ, good ideas, physical health, music, brothers, promises to keep, my wheelchair, guidance from the Spirit, modern technology, clean water, ventilator, my ward, tender mercies from God, a sure understanding of who I am and what this life experience is for, a living prophet, opportunities to learn, Faith that grows, my testimony and connection to my Heavenly Father.

This is a small sample of the good things in my life.  With so much good there is little room or time to examine problems or difficulties.  Problems do exist, yet my blessings outweigh them a hundred times over and within the blessings I am given all that I need to handle them.  My hope is that I can live a life and develop a character that will express the gratitude I hold in my heart for the generously blessed life that is mine. 

 

A Thankful Heart

Despite the coming of cold weather, I really like the month of November.  I like that people verbalize their gratitude more than usual.  It’s a habit that should be developed throughout the year but it’s cool that people share it more during the month of November.  I like to get on Facebook and read each day the posting of what people appreciate.  I wanted to do the same sort of thing here in this blog.  I feel like my life is very blessed.  Even exceptionally so.  I’ve always tried to pay attention to the good things in my life and honestly it’s pretty easy to do.  When your life is brimming over with blessings it’s easy to recognize the good that surrounds you so closely.  I’d like to post a several things every few days.  Things, people or ideas that God has so graciously placed in my life and my heart.

1.       I’m blessed with an independent spirit that grants me the desire to do what I can for myself, have ambition to go after the things I want, and live an active life.

2.       I’m thankful for modern medicine and medical technology that allows me to live and be healthy.  My wheelchair that takes me everywhere I need to go and conserves my energy.  My ventilator that keeps my respiratory system functioning.  Antibiotics help my body fight infections that frequently find me.  Had I been born even 50 years ago I would not have lived to the age I am and I would certainly not live with the ease and comfort I am able to enjoy.

3.       I’m thankful for my apartment and the ability I have to live on my own and care for myself.

4.       I’m grateful for the power of FAITH and its trusty companion HOPE. These two bring peace to my heart and light to what would otherwise be a scary and uncertain life.

5.       I’m thankful for my nieces and nephews.  Each one of them brings delight and entertainment to my life.  They are magic and I so enjoy watching them become people and feel the influence of their beautiful spirits.

Utility Box Art Project

Last week was amazing.  In my previous post I talked about the art utility box project that I was invited to be part of.  Week before last one of my paintings was scanned and printed then installed on two utility boxes that stand side by side located on 3300 South and 300 West in South Salt Lake.

Last Thursday there was a media event held on the location of the boxes where several news channels where there to interview the Mayor of South Salt Lake City, Cherie Wood and the project director, Glenn Smith and to also feature me as an artist.  What an opportunity for me!!  I get nervous seeing and hearing myself on camera but this was an opportunity I could not pass up. 

Soon after I returned to work that day another news channel called asking if they could interview me in their studio that afternoon.  A quick outfit change and back to the city I go.  I was pretty nervous after I arrived at the studio.  I’d never been on the live news before and I wasn’t certain what questions they would ask me. 

See the news clip here:

http://www.cw30.com/content/news/state/story/Utah-artist-s-mission-is-to-beautify-South-Salt/q9HJz-rjLkKSWMmbt2y_jg.cspx

I’ll never be comfortable seeing and hearing myself on camera but I feel like Channel 4 did a good job and made a nice story of the project. 

The Deseret News also sent a reporter who talked to me and the story ran in Sunday’s paper.  It was a very nice article and I am delighted that they wanted to write about me and my art.  I was not totally thrilled with the headline which reads “Disabled woman takes leap of courage and gets her art on display”.  It was such a nice article but I don’t love the term Disabled Woman and prefer woman with a disability.  I know my art and disability walk close together.  I realize that the disability side might lead me to opportunities that might not otherwise come but my hope is that people see my art more then they see the disability.

Deseret News article:

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865589199/Disabled-woman-takes-leap-of-courage-sees-her-artwork-on-display-in-South-Salt-Lake.html

From that story my information was given to a talk radio host who set up an over the phone interview which took place yesterday.  I was interviewed by Abby Bonell, a radio host with a fantastic British accent! The interview will play on the radio Sunday morning at 7:15 on My 99.5, 97.1 ZHT, Rock 106.6, Oldies KODJ and again Sunday night at 7:15 105.7 Talk Radio.

It’s been so exciting for me to have these opportunities.  It makes me feel happy that other people are connecting and responding to my artwork in positive ways.  I’m so luck and incredibly blessed to do something I love and have others appreciate it.  It’s an honor for me to have my art on display in a public place where people thousands of people will see it every day.  I hope that if people look at it, it will bring happiness to their heart, if even for just a brief moment.

Art of the City

I’m really excited about my latest project!  A few weeks ago, during the Harvest Moon Celebration, a man named Glenn Smith found me at my booth and was very interested in my art.  Glenn works for the City of South Salt Lake and as we got talking he invited me to be part of a project he facilitates under the Urban Livability Dept.  This is the project:  Glenn looks for artist whose work uplifts and would add vitality to the streetscapes.  A work of art is scanned and printed onto plastic material.  The same kind of material they use to make car wraps.  The art will then be used to cover utility boxes around the city.

The idea behind this project is to bring art to the city and its residents.  The artwork on a utility box creates a vibrant, interesting and a more beautiful urban environment.  It is also a means for discouraging vandalism and enhancing community pride.  Click here to read more about the utility box art project and see pictures of boxes that have been wrapped in art.

As soon as the project was explained to me I was in love.  What a genius idea!  I love the concept of taking something functional yet boring to look at like a utility box and making it interesting.  Transitioning the mundane into color and beauty!  I was incredibly excited when I was invited to use a piece of my art to be wrapped on a box. 

This last Wednesday I took the piece I created for this project down to the city offices.  I was able to meet with Glenn and the Mayor of South Salt Lake, Cherie Wood, who gives the final go head on the art that will go on the boxes.  She was excited about the painting I had done and would like to do a media event later in the month once my art gets scanned, digitized and installed on the box.          

My painting will actually be used to wrap two utility boxes that stand side by side.  The image will appear split when looked at head on, half the painting on one box and the other half spilling onto the second box, yet each box will have the image wrap entirely around it.

This is such a great opportunity for me!  It’s a way to get my work out in the broader community and be part of an incredible project.  I just love the idea of art being placed around the city.  I’ll be posting more on this as the project progresses.

 

Farmers Market, Harvest Moon, Thomas and Trains

Yesterday’s farmers market was combined with Ogden’s Harvest Moon Celebration.  It was the last of the market season for me.  The day was really great.  Warm but not hot and the light has changed into a muted sparkle that only happens in the autumn.  The day was a prefect end to the season.  I was able to sell eight paintings of various sizes and as always I met some great people.  I wish I could give an account of each experience and each conversation I have with the people that come into my booth.  Art does something to people.  It makes them open up and share in ways that they might not otherwise do.  I love when people walk into my booth, look around for a moment and comment on how happy the art makes them feel.  I think it’s the color.  The human soul craves colors.   I love when people are able to make personal connections with my art. 

 

 

A few weeks ago a woman came to my booth and told me of her experience with my art. She said she bought one of my paintings at the market the year before.  The painting had silhouettes of two birds on a branch, surrounded by lots of blues and turquoise.  She said when she purchased the painting she was single.  She decided to get the two birds anyway.  She hung the painting in her room and looked at it everyday.  She came to find me this year and told me that she now has the most amazing boyfriend.  She wanted me to know that she feels like my painting helped her be brave and now the picture will always have a lot of significance to her.  Her story filled me with so much happiness.  People need art in their lives.

While I was in my booth I worked on a painting.  I didn’t get much done as I was usually busy visiting with people.  But it was fun to be outside and paint in the autumn light.

I also made some good contacts and a possible project is on the horizon.  There will be more about that later. 

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again.  I have incredible parents.  I wouldn’t be able to do the market without them.  They have given many of their Saturdays to help me and they work hard.  I don’t know how I am so lucky but I hit the jackpot when I landed them as parents. 

I had some visits from friends.  A few friends from work came by and my best friend Michelle with her husband Kevin and adorable little Thomas.  They came at the tail end of the market so after my booth was cleaned up I was able to go with them to explore the rest of the festival.  Harvest Moon feels a little like a scene from a movie.  I love how people are out, laughing, having a good time and so many things going on at once.  There was fashion shows, live bands, all kinds of activities for kids and tons of food vendors. 

We made our way through the party and found ourselves at the Union Station, an old train station, that is now a museum and event center.  Michelle’s little boy Thomas is so in love with trains.  He goes nuts for them.  We had a fun time letting him be in absolute awe over the big engines. 

I really love spending time with Michelle and her family.  I’ve never seen a child like Thomas.  Many children are fascinated by my unique look and tiny size but he like loves me for real!  I never have to take his hand, he always places his hand in mine like it’s the most natural thing.  It’s not enough for his parents to explore the trains with him or for me to get up close.  He tugs on my hand till I get out of my wheelchair and climb onto the trains with him.  When we were leaving the station he was not content walking beside me holding hands or even riding on my lap.  Again he pulled me out of my chair and it was obvious he wanted me to walk beside him.  So we did.  Michelle with her very long legs climbs into my wheelchair and drives it.  Otherwise it would have been left at the station.  It was hilarious and we got some fantastic looks from people as we made our way back to the Harvest Celebration.  There is nothing as awesome as feeling the love of a child.  It might be the purest form of love to be found on this earth.

End of the Market Season

I’ve been busy every evening this week to be ready for the Market on Saturday.  This week is the Harvest Moon Celebration.  It’s a big festival combined with the market.  Activities, bike race, and live music happening all day and into the night.  Lot's more vendors and lots more people. It’s also the last week I will be setting up to sell this season.  I am working hard but I feel like I have nothing new or exciting.  I’m sad that this is the last market but I will also be relieved as I won’t feel so rushed to get pieces ready. 

After Saturday I have a few orders that people have put in and then I want to take some time to try to get some new ideas together.  I want to try a few new directions and hopefully be able to invest some time experimenting.  When I’m working to get ready for markets it’s hard to spend time trying new things, not knowing if they will turn out.  Trying new ideas is what makes art fun for me and I’ll be happy to get back to that. But for now I'm busy trying to replenish my stock with some favorites.

 

A Painting for People First

This is a painting I did to donate to People First annual silent auction. 

People First of Utah is a self advocacy organization that assists people with developmental disabilities learn how to advocate for themselves, increase their independence and become apart of their community. 

I wish I could have had more time to work on this piece.  I stated the background at work during the painting class I was helping with.  After work I had meetings and dinner with friends in Salt Lake in the evening.  I didn't get home till eleven o clock last night.  I knew the painting needed to be ready by today so I got to work and did what I could till one a.m.  It was a late night and it wasn't quite what I wanted it to be but it was a fun to work on and I was happy I could donate my work to raise money for a good cause!

To Wander

 

It’s been a really great weekend!  My adorable niece Mailee came to stay with me Friday and Saturday.  We had a movie party Friday night complete with a trip to Target to stock up on Oreo cookies and find our pals Ben and Jerry.  Saturday we set up to sell at the Farmers Market in Ogden.  Mailee was such a great help to me!  She helped me haul all my paintings on a cart. a block and a half to the market.  My parents were there as always to help me set up and take down. 

Mailee and Me with Ben and Jerry

It turned out to be an excellent day at the market and I sold six paintings!  In conjunction with the farmers market yesterday, there was a Motorcycle Rally taking place.  It was a ride for fallen firefighters.  A couple hundred motorcycles came through Historic 25^th street where the market is held.  One of the bikers came into my booth and in less than five minutes he decided he wanted to buy three of my larger paintings.  Apparently he is the president and owner of a company in Draper and he is needing some art for his office.  I was excited that he loved my work.  As he and his gal were on his motorcycle I will be shipping the pieces to him.

 

Motorcycle friends

 

 

I’ve mentioned before that I love the people I meet at the market.  This week I met a young man who was admiring my work and we got to talking about art and life, two of my favorite topics.  This young man told me he is a wanderer.  I asked more about that and he told me how he worked a job desk in California for a few years and saved up all his money so he could travel around, study life and find adventures or wander as he calls it.  We shared ideas about what it means to wander, agreeing that there are many forms of wandering.  I have always wished I could load up a backpack and  take off to explore the country, perhaps on a motorcycle.  Although that life is not practical for me I decided that through my art I am able to wander.  My art can fill me with knew thoughts and perspectives,  giving me knew eyes again and again.

We talked about faith and truth as well as the power of thinking positively.  There were many ideas that we agreed on and some that we did not. This young man said we can never really know who we are and why we are here and when we embrace that idea of unknowing that is when we have peace. He was confident in his ideas and it was obvious that he lived with a measure of peace.  Yet I was sad for him. During this conversation I was struck a feeling of gratitude.  I am grateful for the faith and truth I have as a foundation for my life.  I’m ever thankful for the understanding I have of a loving Heavenly Father and an absolute knowledge of who I am and faith as to the purpose of my life.  I told this man that my peace and happiness came from my faith in God.  He respected that as I respected his ideas.  Although there was respect I was wishing that he could have the understanding that I have.  My spirit might always crave the ability to wander the globe but my soul is content on the solid foundation which it rests. 

 

Painting Class at Work

 

I work at an Independent Living Center.  It’s a non-profit organization that provides resources and different services to people with disabilities to hopefully help them to live on their own in their communities.  One of the programs we have is recreation and this includes occasionally holding classes. 

The last two days I have had the fun opportunity to teach a group of people a little bit about painting.  My involvement was kind of impromptu when a co-worker asked if I could take a few minutes to talk about art and maybe give some instruction on painting techniques.  In no way am I a qualified instructor and I have very little formal education in art.  But it was a laid back class and the participants were eager to learn anything I could share.  This made it easy.  I gave a short lesson on composition, color, gave some suggestions on how to start and shared tips for manipulating paint with different brushes.  The group wanted me to stick around and assist them if they ran into problems or had questions. 

Most the participants had little or no experience painting.   Some were hesitant to get started but after sharing my ideas about what art can be and encouraging them to let go of ideas about what art “should” be they jumped in with confidence.   They were delighted at what they were able to do!  It was so much fun for me to help people create something they were happy with. 

The class went three hours each day for two days.  I was impressed with what they came up with and I absolutely loved being able to assist them when they ran into a problem.  I surprised myself with how much I was able to share with them and help problem solve when problems came. 

I strongly believe that anyone and everyone can benefit from art and opportunities to be creative.  As humans we need this.  Whether it’s painting on canvas, arranging a stellar living space, or putting together a genius wardrobe we all do better when we are able to create and express through artistic means.  How fun to be able to help others discover this!

A Day at the Market: New Friends and a Goose Named Gladys

I had a nice day at the Farmers Market.  It was a little slow but I did sell a few paintings.  It's always fun to sell but my love for the Market has little to do with how many paintings people buy.  I really love the vibe at the Market.  There is a feeling of community and there is always fun things to watch. Lots of people walking their dogs or their kids (yup I saw a kid on a leash).  I like visiting with other vendors, talking with strangers as if we are good friends, seeing old friends and frequently making new ones.  Today was no exception.  I met an amazing girl named Leah who made the request to be wheelchair buddies.  Yes please!  She and her sisters were so adorable.  Her mom bought two of my paintings (leap fearlessly and love fiercely).  We swapped wheelchair stories and I'm pretty certain we will see each other again.

Adorable Leah, my new wheelchair buddy!

My next charming new found friend was a goose named Gladys and her owner.  Gladys rides in a baby stroller and wears diapers.  She let me pet her and it was obvious is was not her first time posing for a picture.  Her owner was very kind and friendly as well.

Me and Gladys

There were many people that stopped to look and talk about my art.  I really love meeting people that are moved by my work and make a personal connection with it. 

Setting up my art at the Market has become one of the things I love best about summer.  It's a lot of work to get my booth set up and I am forever grateful to my incredible parents that come help me set up, take down, and are there for everything in between.  They are so supportive and this girl is beyond lucky to have them with me!

Market Prep

It's a busy Friday night as I work to be ready for an early morning at the Ogden Farmers Market.  Evenings before market days are always a rush as I scramble to do touch ups on paintings, gather my supplies and sometimes even try to put new last minute inspiration on canvas.  There is an energy to the evening as I listen to Mumford and Sons and let my studio room become even more messy. I sit on my paint chair and shift through my brushes, too impatient to clean them till I've used each one.  Soon they are all full of paint and it becomes absolutely necessary to clean them. There is a happy kind of stress to the night.

 Market booth spots are assigned at 6:30 a.m. and its best to be there before that.  I still have lots to do and 6:00 a.m. will be here soon!

Colors of Kelie

I love to paint.  I have creative energy inside of me and painting on canvas has become my outlet for that energy.   I like to experience new things and collect positive encounters with good people.  I have the opportunity to experience life with a physical disability.  Most days I like this opportunity.  Some would say it’s a struggle, and sure, I guess some days it is.  But every person has struggles and I have everything I need to not only handle mine, but to have a happy and downright awesome life.  I’m starting this blog as a way to document my art, the things I love, and a little bit about my life and all the good that exists in it.

This past year was my first attempt at getting my art out and seen my others and it has been so much fun for me.  I have been invited to hang my work in a few local coffee shops and even an art gallery.  I sell my work out of my apartment and at the Farmers Market in Ogden.  I have hopes to one day get my art into some shows and hopefully continue to sell. 

I kind of feel that my art is an expression of my soul as it evolves.  I would love to continue to share that with others who connect with and are moved by the work I create.

I don’t paint because I think I am good at it, I paint because it makes me happy.  For me, it’s not always about the final result but rather the process along the way.  My art is not perfect.  But I don’t think I would want it to be. 

Everyone has a story.  My art tells mine.

I love painting elements of nature.  Flowers, plants, trees and birds are my favorite.  To me nature is ultimate beauty and art.  I use nature to express the reassurance that no matter what, no matter how tough life gets, I am loved and watched over. I am part of something much bigger than myself.  I use birds a lot.  This is the image I use to convey the human soul.
 

Everyone sees the world in different ways. Vibrant, bold color express how I determine to think and love in life; covering every canvas completely.  Almost all of my work used bright streaks of color. I use bold color to express determination and courage as well as hope and happiness.  I use heavy strokes of deep color. These strokes declare that I decide the course of my life, and that we are all able to, with fierce courage, live the life we were made for.  

Life is an adventure. Leap fearlessly.