How God Uses Paintings “God’s Love on my Wall”

I am honored to host this guest post from friend and author Teasi Cannon. Not only do I treasure her insight, I am humbled by how God used my work to speak to His awesome daughter.

What looks like three paintings on my living room wall to others is actually a tangible

representation of God’s goodness and love to me. From the moment I saw Deborah’s painting, “Wild Flowers,” I knew it needed to be in my home. In combination with “Precious Poppies” and “Water Garden,” this arrangement blesses me each and every day in ways that are hard to describe. The first time I saw them together, I actually cried, and it was hard to look at them for long for fear that I would be a blubbering mess. I think it’s because as I looked at all the beautiful colors – colors that seemed to bounce off the canvas as they reflected the sunlight coming into the room – I felt God’s immense pleasure. I felt His goodness in a way that my soul needed more than I knew. I could almost hear Him laugh with delight at my joy.

There are many colors in the paintings, but the ones that stood out to me at first were happy…light…pinks and blues and greens…colors of goodness. As one who thinks too deeply about nearly everything, these paintings are a daily reminder to me that there is beauty all around, and that God desires for me to enjoy Him along the way…to stop and smell the flowers (or admire them on my wall ).

The paintings have been on my wall for a few weeks now, but still…when I stop to look at them and really take them in, I cry. Even sitting here thinking about them I tear up. I don’t totally understand yet why I respond this way, but I’m pretty sure it’s because I’m undone by the sweetness of my Heavenly Father and His gentle, kind, beautiful love for me – and the knowing that He sees me as His sweet and worthy girl.

Teasi Cannon’s blog is a fresh look at the condition of our hearts, thoughts, and how we live life.  Her authentic take on life as a real person in love with a real God is refreshing and uplifting.  Her book “My Big Bottom Blessing” has changed lives across the country.  From the back cover: “Loving the girl in the mirror isn’t about changing how you LOOK but allowing God to change how you SEE.”  Teasi is a sought-after speaker who loves to help women remember who they are in Christ.  Visit her website at www.teasicannon.com

Time for a Change

The alarm goes off, 4:00 AM.  Wake up, shower, and hit the road north for an hour and a half.  All for the privilege of setting up the tent in the dark, hanging art, and waiting for the customer(s) with the big bucks to fall in love with my art, open their wallet and buy.

Didn’t happen.  Failure on a large scale, January’s art show circuit in Florida.  Crazy way to make a living I often thought.  Really stupid way to loose money.  Then a voice of reason from my dear hubby, “We don’t have to know what we are going to do in order to know that this is no longer working.”  Absolutely right.

So home to Tennessee with no looking back.  (Even recently sold my tent and all of the trappings.)  Freedom!  But freedom to do what???  It has been a journey of discovery this year as I have spent countless hours on the computer, conference calls, and webinars to research and learn about alternatives to the traditional way of approaching an art business.

Words like demographic, niche market, valued customer, income streams, and points of distribution have swirled around my head as I delved into non-traditional art business plans.  Through an odd set of events, orchestrated by the One who gave me this talent,  I am finally gaining clarity of my new direction and path.

Abide Studio

It is time to make a change.  For 9 years now, I have operated my art business as a marketplace ministry with the emphasis and focus on the marketplace and business aspect of things.  This has been divinely guided and I have no regrets.  The adventure has been amazing!  However, it is time to switch the emphasis in my heart and put more emphasis on the ministry aspect of what I do.

How does this look to my customers?  Not much different.  For me however the difference is significant every time I approach the easel, or hang a piece of art; consider a venue or plan my schedule.   Without a 10’x10′ tent to fill, without show applications and juries to consider, without thinking about a cohesive body of work, I will simply create what is in my heart and vision.  And you won’t find me in the studio on Thursdays as I dedicate that day for personal ministry related appointments.

The puzzle pieces are still coming together.  I cannot say I see the whole picture, but I am beginning to see shapes and colors coming together.  I am excited and full of anticipation for this new chapter.  I hope you will join me for the adventure.  The best is yet to come!

How have you faced the dips in your career?  Is it time for a new perspective on your journey?  I’d love to hear from you. Please comment, share, tweet…

What’s Your Art Done for You Lately?

“Lifted Higher” 18×24

Is your art just a pretty face on a dull wall?  Contrary to popular belief, whatever you put on your wall should be more than a splash of color to brighten your room.  Art in whatever media and form should speak to you and your guests.  More than paint or pastel, photography or pottery, art’s job is to transport.  I am not suggesting that everyone’s art should look the same.  Or be liked by everybody.   Just as one person’s music is another person’s noise, art collections are as unique as the individual collecting them.

What I am saying is that when you buy art you are purchasing more than color, line, texture, and composition.

Visual art is a change catalyst.

Visual art changes atmospheres.  A gloomy room becomes lighter and more vibrant when a painting full of bold, bright colors  is added to the environment.

Visual art changes moods.  One look at an uplifting painting can shift a depressed spirit to one full of hope.

Visual art transports.  Look at a painting of a waterfall painted in cool tones of deep green and blue on a hot day, and suddenly the day is not as stifling.

Visual art that speaks to the heart and soul is not necessarily found in the pages of a Pottery Barn catalog or on the walls of Restoration Hardware.  It’s not even found in Anthropologie or IKEA.  Just because a print, poster, or piece of original art “goes with” a certain vignette featured in any of the above does not make it the right choice for you, the end user.

Want to make a difference in your own life?  Pick wall jewelry that uplifts, transports, and inspires you.  What you spend matters not.  A $5.00 note card that makes you smile is as valuable as a $5000 painting that does the same.

Want to make a difference in your life?  Make a difference in your art.  You will thank me in the end.

 

Say What?

“Coming to Life” 36×48

Recently I have read a number of articles and blogs that suggest that practice of technique is more important than talent.  In fact some have gone so far as to say that there is really no such thing as talent.  Putting in the hours, they say,  is what matters.  Say what?  I must object!  Being a colorist, I know that there are elements of my painting style that cannot be taught or explained.  It is an innate sense of what to do next, which colors to use, and how to manipulate them to enhance rather than detract from the overall composition.  Comments from other accomplished artists “Your use of color is amazing.”  “I don’t know how you can put those colors together and keep a harmonious and peaceful painting.”  “You have a fearless us of color that is admirable.” confirm my opinion.  

My personal testimony lies in the music world.  I studied piano for 10 years;  by the time I was looking at colleges my instructor encouraged me to pursue piano on the college level with the goal of becoming a concert pianist.  I enjoyed playing piano.  I did it well.  But I could never sit at the keys and create a piece of music which by the way frustrated me to no end because I longed for creative expression from my soul.  So I opted instead for another line of study that ultimately led me to the visual arts.  That longing for expression has been fulfilled now for years. 

Combine an innate longing to create with recognition that (even as an experienced teacher) there are techniques, styles, and colors I use that cannot be taught and I find myself firmly planted on the side that says there IS such a thing as God given talent.  That said, I also will be the first to say that every talented musician still needs to practice, every gifted painter still needs to paint regularly.  Both must study  if they are to progress in that talent.  But to say that practice, no matter how many hours, weeks, or years, can replace being gifted by the Divine?  Let’s just say I “strongly disagree.” 

What do you think?  Where do you land in the push/pull between talent and education?  I’d like to hear your thoughts. 

Fred Factor

Fred Shea is a real-life mailman who inspired a movement.  I had the privilege of hearing the man responsible for Fred’s fame the other week.  Mark Sanborn brought a word of truth that strikes close to my heart and is exactly where my life has been lately (funny how that happens when we surrender to the Divine’s timing).  Mark has now written two books based on Fred Shea  “The Fred Factor” and ‘Fred 2.0″ .  The principles that Mark spoke of that morning are worth sharing.

The four basic Fred principles:

1.  Everybody makes a difference.

2. It is all built on relationship.

3.  You can add value to everything you do.

4. You can reinvent yourself continually.

Hidden within those basic principles I heard a few other nuggets.  “Fear nothing but to waste your present moment.”    At a time when my art sales have struggled and my studio lease is iffy I face a decision.  Either I can sit and waste my present moments waiting for things to change thus being reactive instead of proactive.   Or I can look up and beyond my circumstances and see what opportunities surround me to serve others.

Nugget #2  “Move from transactional to relational”  fits well with serving others.  What can I offer my customers, my colleagues, my friends and acquaintances other than “Here’s this painting and it sells for this much”.  I realize that I consult with most of my customers on any number of things one on one, but have never taken that expertise to the streets (to the webisphere).

Number 3 is the acronym CARE:  Create A Rare Experience.  Don’t we all crave rare experiences?  Recently I was at a local coffee shop with a friend.  My lunch arrived before my latte, in other words delayed.  Finally it arrived with an apology.  However the owner chose to go beyond;  she refunded the cost of the latte AND gave me a gift card for my next visit.  That coffee shop has become my new favorite place to meet friends and/or sit and write.

Fourth: abundant life is found when we take “ordinary” (art, service, relationships, business practices, etc.) and take the “extra” effort to make it “extraordinary”.  This follows Seth Godin’s theory in his book “Purple Cow”:  do not settle for very good, go the extra mile to be remarkable.  This is a philosophy I have tried to live be for years, but worth repeating and sharing here.

Creating an extraordinary experience is the core to The Fred Factor which leads me to my final nugget.  “Be more concerned about your customer’s (friend’s, family’s) needs than they are”.  Principle #4 (every day I have a chance to reinvent myself rather than replicate who I was yesterday) inspires me to get up every morning, to be more transformed into the image of the Creator, and to apply myself  to be more concerned about others well being than I am about my own.  Don’t ya know if we all took that approach the world would be a better place.

Thank you Fred Shea.  Thank you Mark Sanborn.

What’s it Worth?

Isn’t she worth your sweat?

It was on a Sunday morning in October that my life changed.  I walked into my suburban church, sat in my comfortable chair and opened the bulletin to see a face of a child similar to the one above with the caption “Isn’t she worth your sweat?”  What could I say but “YES!”  Off I went to the meeting for Team World Vision.  By the end of the week I had signed up to be on a team that would run “For the Kids”.  Nashville’s Rock ‘n Roll Half Marathon is in April.  Running with Team World Vision is a commitment to train, run, and raise funds to bring fresh water to children in Africa.  My goal:  to raise $50 for each mile run:  $650 minimum.

Changed my life.  I am not a runner.  At best over a decade ago, I had a love/hate relationship with the sport.  And several years ago I tried again, but my knees would not allow me to run.  But I am determined (some would say stubborn thanks to my German heritage) and I believed in the cause and in the training program set before me.

The task before me was and continues to be daunting.  I am now mid-training (with no knee problems which feels like God smiling down on my every time I go out).  The race is April 27.  What lies before me this week,  a 7 mile long run on Saturday, sort of makes my heart beat faster just thinking of it.  And then I remember:  I who am not a runner, have already run 9 miles this week.  Running a long run of 7 miles this week, 8 next week, or 13.1 on April 27th is no more daunting than taking those first steps to run the first 2 minutes of the first week of training back in November.

My life has changed because as I push myself off the couch and out the door to run 3 days a week, or run a distance that would have freaked me out last fall, or charge a hill on a hard run day, I am very aware that I am doing all of this for something so much bigger than myself.  Many “run” mornings I face “not feeling like it”.  Whether it is an easy run (no such thing in my book), a hard run, or a long run, I could easily find a good excuse to put it off.  “For the kids” has become my motivator and I see that little girl’s face cheering me on.

I want to change  lives by supplying water. Will you join me in the race?  You can cheer me on  by supporting World Vision.  Anything helps.  No amount is too little, no amount is too large.  I won’t let you down.  I will finish the race.  “For the Kids” will become “For the Kids AND For You”.

You can go to my page (Deborah Gall under fundraising menu) at http://www.teamworldvision.org or Click here to donate.

A Matter of Perspective

Memories, 48×48

“A good abstract should work from at least 3 sides”.  I heard this from a very accomplished abstract artist set up next to me at a show recently.  I know that; I paint that way; but I had never spoken it quite so definitively.  As my life has been on full tilt, as my career feels like it is a study of shifting sands, “Art imitates life” has smacked me full in the face.

As in, I can look at all of the changes I am dealing with and working through in a negative way, or I can take a new perspective and ensure a positive result with a positive  attitude.

-Because I didn’t sell well this year on my Florida circuit I have enough inventory to relax the painting schedule and take the time to write, build a marketing plan, and explore new distribution channels.

-Because there aren’t customers clamoring to get to the studio at 10 or 11 every day I can redefine my space from retail shop to artist studio and set new (more relaxed) hours which allow me to train for the half marathon without getting up at the crack of dawn.  Or sit here at the coffee shop to write my blog.  Or close early to enjoy time with my son from out of town who is in town for a visit.

-Because my studio is full, I have two complete bodies of work that I can present.  Relaxed from deadlines, I push the envelop of my own creative style and explore the next level of “What if?” with the painting currently on the easel.

Rotated, Memories takes on a landscape look

We all have the freedom to choose the perspective by which we look at things.  I am amazed at how we see the positive in others’ lives, but take the negative road in our own.  I see wisdom and strength in a friend’s face; she sees wrinkles.  I see a friend looking younger; she sees weight gain.  I see a woman’s hair as “silver fox” she sees it as old and gray.

As an abstract artist I am accomplished at looking at the world differently.  Emotion, color, line, texture, and composition jump out at me more than image, scene, location, or place.  I am enamored by the beauty behind and under the obvious.  “Life imitates art.”  We would all benefit if we started looking for the beauty that underlies the shifts in life. “Life imitates art.”  It is the highlights and lowlights that add dimension to a painting and to life.  Looking at life as an abstract painting.  Sounds like a great perspective to embrace.

Rotated again, Memories becomes an angel

Why Me?

                                                “Above and Beyond”                       24×30

“Who do you think you are to tackle this subject?”  “Everyone is going to know that you’re a fraud.”   “Who made you the expert?”  These are the questions of self-doubt I hear as I prepare to speak to my local arts council on the subject of social media/networking for artists.

As I have been working on my presentation I have found myself questioning my ability to tackle such a subject.   What do I have to say that someone can’t find out for themselves through conversation, exploration, time spent on the computer?  Wrestling with my level of expertise has opened my eyes to an area of qualification that does not involve knowledge or experience.   It is the willingness to share that qualifies me.  I’m afraid that all too often we artists become hoarders.  We hoard our materials, our sources, our galleries, our techniques, even our successes in fear that any or all might be stolen and another artist could become more successful or popular.

I may not be a social networking guru, but I have gathered a few crumbs and tidbits along the way.  A crumb of knowledge.  A tidbit of experience.  My crumb could be what unlocks a new opportunity for someone.  My experience could save another hours of time pursuing something to no avail.

I will gladly share what I’ve learned on my art biz journey.   There is, after all, that story where crumbs and tidbits were multiplied to feed thousands.  Call it what you will: paying it forward,  the law of reaping and sowing, volunteerism, karma, etc.. It’s why you will find me at the county library this Friday morning,  sharing what I know and hoping to pick up a few new crumbs and tidbits to add to my basket as the conversation continues beyond my knowledge or experience.

Who Knows Where

I recently returned from an art festival in Louisville where I have previously shown with success.  Not so this year.  Not one sale.  Zip. Zero. Nada.  I left the show thinking “I could have had so much more fun with the $600 I just spent to be here!”  The experience left me pondering.  If I look to financial success to define the weekend it will always and forever be an abysmal failure.  However (you knew that was coming)…

If I look to the results of the show I will be left with a different view point.  The results:  a decision to pursue different types of shows and festivals, a confidence to know it wasn’t about the quality of the art I create, a confirmation to be intentional with my pursuit of honing my craft and developing my personal style, a sensitivity to the art festival market, a beginning of a 5-10 year plan that might take my art out of the outdoor festival model.

Armed with a different perspective, Louisville will never be a failure.  It will be a turning point.  The ah-ha weekend.  The starting line of the next leg of this adventure I call life. ” Failure” is only the end of the line if I allow it to be.  I vote for allowing it to be a catalyst to a creative problem solving process that will move me forward in my journey.  Not the end, but the beginning of the next step.  Who knows where that step will lead.  The possibilities are endless.  I’m all in.

U-turns and Switchbacks

Some 12 years ago our family visited Monument Valley.  It was amazing; it was inspiring; and it was vast.  You hardly knew you were in a “valley” .  Until the road we were traveling seemed to disappear into the rock canyon wall.  There we found ourselves traveling a narrow road with hairpin turns that took us to the top.  Once we reached the top the scene was vast and the vista wide open before us.  It too was amazing, inspiring, and vast.

So, today quite by accident pages I had written during that trip fell out of a book I opened.  The pages contained a letter I had written to myself as my artist’s mentor.  Here is what I’d written, “Stop trying to reach the top of the mountain in a single jump.  The road to the “top” is like the road in the canyon, it twists and turns.  It feels like a U-turn but it is always going forward and upward, often at great pressure to the mechanics of the vehicle.  Ever feel like you are going to crack from the pressure?  That is growth.  The U-turns aren’t U-turns at all, they are hairpin curves continuing up.  You may feel like you are looking at the same landscape, but it is from a different perspective, therefore changing it.  Trust you will reach the top.  And remember what you found at the top of the canyon wall:  the landscape reached out, not down, but out.  More vistas to explore, more visions to be realized.  Smoother driving perhaps for a while, until another canyon wall needed to be climbed.  Trust yourself.  Trust God’s guidance.  Don’t fret.  It only looks as if the road ends, because you can’t see beyond the turn.”

There’s great peace and hope in the message that says when you think your life is doing a U-turn, perhaps it is actually a switchback taking you higher up the mountain.  Guess I needed that!