Taking my art one step further.

Do you ever get to a place in your life where things are really comfortable?  Well, I do.  Sometimes I just sit back and coast and enjoy the ride.  Not a lot of effort has to be put forth to go through the motion of each day.  Then, all of a sudden, I realize I can and need to do more.  This happened to me a few  months back with my art.  I have painted for over 30 years and have taught many, many classes.  I love to teach.  I love to paint.  However, now things are all online.  Social Media has entered the picture with live videos and sharing very personal pieces of art with the world.  YouTube is out there to share tutorials and videos with anyone who feels like watching them.  I've watched a lot of videos on both platforms and have thought to myself, I could never put myself out there like that.  I need face to face teaching environments.  I then started to think that if I enjoyed others painting so much, maybe someone would like to watch me.  NO!  They would NOT!  This is not for you Karen.  I prayed about it and pondered it for a long time....many weeks.  One day my daughter-in-law and I were talking about it and I said.....let's do this.  She was completely excited and on board.  I needed her to be the fun, young, adorable face of our social media because I felt old and perhaps out of touch a bit.  Little did I know, I can talk to a camera, even if there is no one on watching, and teach the thing I love to do....PAINT!  All different techniques and so many colors to share.  I definitely can not do this without Jamie. She is so talented and is a beautiful painter and a sweet soul.   It has opened up a part of me that I didn't think I'd ever get in touch with again.  I am forced to create and push myself beyond just one style of painting.  It has been a great journey so far.  I am learning from other artists out there how to navigate this online business and the ins and outs of social media and YouTube.  It is fun and it is scary for me but when I start to doubt myself, it seems that someone posts something inspirational that gives me the courage to keep going and to show others the things that I love to do.  I am enjoying this new endeavor and I intend to make the best of it and give it my all while I am able.