A big THANK YOU to Very Nice Brewing in Nederland.

Susan, owner of Very Nice Brewing in Nederland- wow! I owe her so many thanks! She has allowed me to hang my work in the brewery and sells pieces for me here and there. This opportunity has helped me grow in so many ways. I find I want to keep pushing myself to grow, to try new things, so that I can keep the walls fresh and bright. I have a couple friends who are also trying new adventures and all of us question ourselves constantly. It's a weird, scary transition from seasoned pro as a teacher, to a whole new identity. Keys for me:

1. Be bold (not my nature, so...) and take chances. Easier for me than others perhaps, simply because I am not financially dependent on making art

2.Be open to looking at your journey with a critical eye, to hearing the bad and the good. Take it for what it's worth and keep on growing. I'm not going to be perfect, to please everyone, so I ask for feedback from people I trust and I put things aside so I can look again later with fresh eyes and then decide what I like and what I need to change.

3. Two stories: There is an older gentleman, kind and gentle who comes to see me at the Farmer's Market and loves foxes as much as I do. It's such a joy to chat with him and he has some of my foxes on his living room wall in "a place of honor". So, I see him and I feel like an artist. Story two: Yesterday a woman walked by my booth, glanced, smirked, rolled her eyes and walked on. At least she didn't say anything mean. Ha!! Anyway, that's gonna happen and it has helped me grow a thicker skin and keep working. No art will speak to everyone and that's just ok.

4. Conclusion: If there is something you have wanted to try, even if you don't think you'll be good at it, do it anyway. Do it just for fun, for challenge, for keeping your brain and heart alive.

Below: My first display at Very Nice and The Farmer's Market in Louisville: