Art & Travel - Ohio
North Eastern Ohio is where I spent part of my growing up years - middle school, high school and community college. It’s where I bought my first car for $500 when I was 17 years old. A clunky, tank of a vehicle that wouldn’t always start so I had to shove a pen in the carburetor to fire up the engine. I was a terrible driver and nearly destroyed our apartment garage backing into the frame multiple times. I’m grateful the land lord liked my mother and didn’t kick us out!
One the most fun jobs I’ve ever had was working for an amazing woman who owns a paint-your-own pottery studio. She’s an incredible artist, loves her family, enjoys her customers and is very involved with the small business community where her shop is located. Her energy and creativity are inspiring!
I was so fortunate to have her as a boss and she was very supportive of my artistic endeavors. During this time, I was trying to start my own art business (the first attempt or second attempt, I can’t remember). I landed a few commissions from friends and family painting murals in kids’ rooms, signs and other projects. My boss came up with projects for me, painting hand lettering designs on almost every wall of the studio to inspire customers’ creativity and a small mural at the check-out desk to show off my work. She even let me keep out a stack of business cards in case it might bring me an opportunity.
The painting featured in this post is that mural in the pottery studio. It’s a rendition of Vincent van Gogh’s ‘The Starry Night’ and painted in the corner is his famous quote “If you hear a voice within you say ‘you cannot paint’, then by all means paint and that voice will be silenced” It’s a good reminder to just do the creative endeavor that you want to do and enjoy the process. And I actually did get one commission from having my artwork in the studio, which was totally awesome.
Earlier this year, while visiting my family in Ohio, I stopped by the pottery shop in hopes to see my former boss. I was so delighted that she noticed me the minute I walked through the door and gave me a big hug. We hadn’t seen each other in 12 years. It was an absolute pleasure catching up and sharing stories. And it my artwork … it was all there! That afternoon brought back so many good memories and I left our visit with a heart full of gratitude.
