When I was a kid - I remember hearing that idealistic saying "Love what you do and you'll never have to work a day in your life."
It really stuck in my head - when it came to deciding what to do for work when I left High School - I had a dilemma - I had no idea what I wanted to do - or "who" I wanted to be. So I examined those around me and saw people doing many different things... some were content, some were unsettled, some felt stuck, some coasted through their jobs and some really toiled with it all.
I thought about the many hours that are spent at "work," the 40 hour work week seemed to be an underestimate and I saw most spending 10-20 hours on top of this to fulfil work requirements and satisfy their chosen profession. This is a whole substantial chunk of our finite resource - TIME.
So what would I do - as a teenager with little experience of the real "working world" aside from few hours cleaning a bakery, processing photos the old school way and making specialty chocolates..?
Well, I knew that I LOVED being creative - but had the "starving artist" myth planted in my head (think it went something along the lines of - did I seriously think that painting pictures would put food on the table!) so I chose to learn more about another passion of mine and studied communication at University of Waikato.
I have always believed in the power of words. In potent yet small doses - words can bring comfort, make decisions, alter paths, teach us, inspire us, celebrate, destroy, give hope and mean everything.
I was sure with this in mind, with a little determination I could use dedicate my working TIME in a personally significant way. After working in a media setting for several years and in teaching (which is still a big part of my life) - my own venture Art Out Loud NZ - enables me to share my love of words with others along with my primary desire to be artistic... it is delightful that the creative outcome really resonates with people and allows me the fortitude to use my TIME to participate in such an enriching process.
{FOOD FOR THOUGHT}
How did you come to do what you do? Did you fall into it or cave your path? Do you love your work or are you hankering for a change - and will you? I would love to hear your thought in the comments below this post!
It really stuck in my head - when it came to deciding what to do for work when I left High School - I had a dilemma - I had no idea what I wanted to do - or "who" I wanted to be. So I examined those around me and saw people doing many different things... some were content, some were unsettled, some felt stuck, some coasted through their jobs and some really toiled with it all.
I thought about the many hours that are spent at "work," the 40 hour work week seemed to be an underestimate and I saw most spending 10-20 hours on top of this to fulfil work requirements and satisfy their chosen profession. This is a whole substantial chunk of our finite resource - TIME.
So what would I do - as a teenager with little experience of the real "working world" aside from few hours cleaning a bakery, processing photos the old school way and making specialty chocolates..?
Well, I knew that I LOVED being creative - but had the "starving artist" myth planted in my head (think it went something along the lines of - did I seriously think that painting pictures would put food on the table!) so I chose to learn more about another passion of mine and studied communication at University of Waikato.
I have always believed in the power of words. In potent yet small doses - words can bring comfort, make decisions, alter paths, teach us, inspire us, celebrate, destroy, give hope and mean everything.
I was sure with this in mind, with a little determination I could use dedicate my working TIME in a personally significant way. After working in a media setting for several years and in teaching (which is still a big part of my life) - my own venture Art Out Loud NZ - enables me to share my love of words with others along with my primary desire to be artistic... it is delightful that the creative outcome really resonates with people and allows me the fortitude to use my TIME to participate in such an enriching process.
{FOOD FOR THOUGHT}
How did you come to do what you do? Did you fall into it or cave your path? Do you love your work or are you hankering for a change - and will you? I would love to hear your thought in the comments below this post!
Getting requests for personalised artwork to celebrate the union of couples - really makes my creating time feel purposeful and alive with the anticipation of the joy it will bring on the big reveal! There is nothing quite like the feeling of love and support - that is communicated by the thought a friend or relative has put into requesting a piece of specialty artwork... this delights the couple and fuels my desire to make the piece (no matter how much of a challenge it can prove sometimes!) - into a unique reality.
These meaningful and original customised artworks - are often inspired by shared visions of sentiment, modern reinventions of Kiwiana or twists on current global design trends.
It is also wonderful that although hand-drawn, I am now finishing many of my artworks digitally so people are able to request colour combinations that reflect those the couple gravitates towards or even has featured in their wedding party theme. The matron of honour requested mint green and silver to feature for the wedding couple within the Art Out Loud NZ Tiki Design Print below.
These meaningful and original customised artworks - are often inspired by shared visions of sentiment, modern reinventions of Kiwiana or twists on current global design trends.
It is also wonderful that although hand-drawn, I am now finishing many of my artworks digitally so people are able to request colour combinations that reflect those the couple gravitates towards or even has featured in their wedding party theme. The matron of honour requested mint green and silver to feature for the wedding couple within the Art Out Loud NZ Tiki Design Print below.
VALENTINE'S FACEBOOK GIVEAWAY
It is a very appropriate time of year to mention LOVE - with Valentine's Day fast approaching and even though this is something that can be celebrated all year round (or on a daily basis!) Art Out Loud NZ had a little giveaway to offer some Aroha to our ever-supportive Facebook fans.
With well over 200 nominations - TWO entries were drawn for the prizes pictured below:
(WINNERS or your nominators - please PM me on Facebook with your email and postal address to claim the prize specified - which are ready and waiting in mailers at my door ready to go!)
Congratulations to:
Laura Murphy (for Chris Murphy (A) - Home Sweet Home Tikis - as pictured)
Kiriana Apatu (for Roxanne Goode (C) - Winged Aroha)
It is a very appropriate time of year to mention LOVE - with Valentine's Day fast approaching and even though this is something that can be celebrated all year round (or on a daily basis!) Art Out Loud NZ had a little giveaway to offer some Aroha to our ever-supportive Facebook fans.
With well over 200 nominations - TWO entries were drawn for the prizes pictured below:
(WINNERS or your nominators - please PM me on Facebook with your email and postal address to claim the prize specified - which are ready and waiting in mailers at my door ready to go!)
Congratulations to:
Laura Murphy (for Chris Murphy (A) - Home Sweet Home Tikis - as pictured)
Kiriana Apatu (for Roxanne Goode (C) - Winged Aroha)