Level Up & #️⃣ArtGoals2022
The beginning of the new year comes with all the enticing possibilities of how you can better yourself, improve your relationships, become more fit, be a kinder, better, stronger new you. This idea towards “leveling up” is broadcast all through January in forms of New Year's resolutions, new fitness memberships, diets, and personal goals, and it does a good job at creating an exciting starting line for people. I can literally feel all that energy just surging through me right now as I prepare for 2022. Last year was our first year of business at The Painted Paw LLC. When I say we, I am referring to myself and my wonderful, gorgeous and majorly supportive wife. (Our little buddy Korben also was by my side as I painted. So, I gotta shout out to him as well.)
We literally began this on the ground and built up from nothing but an idea, well-meaning intentions and a lot of time and love. The holiday season of 2020, year of the ‘rona, we and our neighbor’s would socially distant gather out on our front lawns most evenings, commiserating about how weird the times were. We all have dogs, so it quickly became a social hour for them as well. One day before the holiday season, I had a brilliant idea to paint their dogs as a gift for them for Christmas. The look on their faces when they received their paintings was so awesome that I got hooked. Working as a nurse, I already know I enjoy that feeling of service towards others. This was something different though, something selfish, even. I found enjoyment in their expression of gratitude and in the knowledge that I had created something so meaningful for them. That was to be expected. The surprise came when I discovered the satisfaction I found in my own self, my ability.
I have always been artistically driven, but never put much effort forth in establishing myself as an artist. I thought myself too busy surviving in the “real world”, so heavy with responsibility for others and ultimately for myself. Haha, I don’t actually know where I even got that from, growing up with a successful artist as a father. I grew up with someone not only telling me but providing an example that I should love what I do for work, so much so that it shouldn’t feel like work. I loved art and the act of creating something from nothing, but I figured it would be too difficult to support myself independently along that pathway. I believe that for me, one of the most difficult things last year was that I had to admit to myself that I had been repressing this very important piece of myself for well over a decade. Seems dramatic! But it’s true. I have always quietly daydreamed of how my life could be different if I chose the less practical pathway. The Painted Paw is how I’m finally doing this thing that has been there all along.
After brushing the dust off of this natural gift, I gradually morphed my vision of what I could see as possible with painting pet portraits all throughout 2021. With each newly completed portrait, I gained confidence, developed my skill, received feedback, and developed clarity of what it was I was doing here. I decided to make the name official and registered as an LLC, created this website, and developed a logo. All of this took a sharp learning curve and was eased along with plenty of advice from entrepreneurial friends and family. And now I have these beautiful business cards, a website, and I can’t wait to share with people what it is that I do.
This will be the most prolific painting year yet. I have had a moment to build the structural parts of this business, so now I can really focus on the joy of creating, painting, and showcasing these many ideas that have just been dormant before now. My goals for the New Year are many, and I believe each is attainable. I will be representing myself at art shows in Florida, attend vendor pop up events, wine walks and farmer’s markets throughout the Central Florida area, all while continuing to make people happy with my one-of-a-kind pet portrait paintings. I feel constantly inspired by the stories I hear and the people I meet doing this. So, whether you’re out at one of Orlando’s many wine walks or art festivals this year, a farmer’s market, or just scrolling through your social media, come check me out. Help me “level up” my dream!
