Earlier this year I had the opportunity to take a course called "Flying Lessons" given by a very talented artist - Kelly Rae Roberts. It was an excellent course that covered such topics as letting go of yours fears, going after your true passion, and many other things. One of the best things about the course was, I got meet and learn about a lot of talented artists, all in on different paths, but all working towards making their dreams come true and learning to take flight. Flygirl Fridays is all about these wonderfully talented people and a little bit about them, so you can get to know them as well!
Please join me in welcoming
Sally Rose!
Sally Rose!
Please introduce yourself, who are you and what do you do?
My name is Sally Rose, and I am a Mixed Media Artist and instructor. I try to focus on inspirational words and images that, hopefully, share wit, wisdom and hope with others.
My name is Sally Rose, and I am a Mixed Media Artist and instructor. I try to focus on inspirational words and images that, hopefully, share wit, wisdom and hope with others.
What is something that you really love, and why?
I love nature in all her wild, fierce and delicate glory. I love the tiniest details that knit together in living things that make them viable and unique. I guess you could say that I love life. Not as in, “I love my life” but as in the “essence of life”. It is random, precise, fragile and all powerful. Life is just so improbable, and yet, here it is! I am constantly amazed by this...
What would your dream project be?
I have always dreamed of having a place, an art retreat, where people can come together to teach and learn about the amazing creative souls that they have, just waiting to be released. A weekend camp-out somewhere quiet and nurturing with guest artists and crafts people, teachers and students, good food and fun times. I would love to build a place like that. If that's not in my future, I would love to be a guest instructor at one or more of the wonderful art retreats already available across the country.
I have always dreamed of having a place, an art retreat, where people can come together to teach and learn about the amazing creative souls that they have, just waiting to be released. A weekend camp-out somewhere quiet and nurturing with guest artists and crafts people, teachers and students, good food and fun times. I would love to build a place like that. If that's not in my future, I would love to be a guest instructor at one or more of the wonderful art retreats already available across the country.
What’s the best piece of advice that you’ve ever received?
Wow, that's a tough one. There have been so many fascinating people in my life, and so much useful advice, I have gleaned some wonderful gems over the years. It is difficult to pick just one. I will say that the most important thing I've learned was something my dad taught me, the fact that everyone you meet has hopes, fears, dreams and pain. If you can help anyone you meet with any of those things, your life is well lived, and you have worth.
Wow, that's a tough one. There have been so many fascinating people in my life, and so much useful advice, I have gleaned some wonderful gems over the years. It is difficult to pick just one. I will say that the most important thing I've learned was something my dad taught me, the fact that everyone you meet has hopes, fears, dreams and pain. If you can help anyone you meet with any of those things, your life is well lived, and you have worth.
Where does your inspiration come from?
I love that question, because I have a somewhat strange notion of what inspiration is. I think inspiration is all around us, all the time, just floating there, looking for a target. Sometimes I am walking around with a great big inspiration target on my forehead, and am bombarded mercilessly, no time for sleep or anything practical like eating or doing laundry. Other times, I feel as though I am invisible to it and waiting in neutral for the next attack!
That being said, I will add that I get a lot of my inspiration from other artists online, watching their techniques and processes in videos and on blogs. I then try to put my own personality into whatever I have learned, and go from there. I am also inspired by words or sayings that just have to be shared. We all feel drawn to raw truths that capture our attention, make us listen, then hit us with the kind of meaning that sinks right down and bonds with us, becoming part of who we are. As an artist, I want to show that, and hopefully, someday, I can...
I love that question, because I have a somewhat strange notion of what inspiration is. I think inspiration is all around us, all the time, just floating there, looking for a target. Sometimes I am walking around with a great big inspiration target on my forehead, and am bombarded mercilessly, no time for sleep or anything practical like eating or doing laundry. Other times, I feel as though I am invisible to it and waiting in neutral for the next attack!
That being said, I will add that I get a lot of my inspiration from other artists online, watching their techniques and processes in videos and on blogs. I then try to put my own personality into whatever I have learned, and go from there. I am also inspired by words or sayings that just have to be shared. We all feel drawn to raw truths that capture our attention, make us listen, then hit us with the kind of meaning that sinks right down and bonds with us, becoming part of who we are. As an artist, I want to show that, and hopefully, someday, I can...
What do you think is the biggest thing holding you back?
I would have to admit the answer to that is lack of focus. My life has recently changed, I am no longer in the role of full time mom, and that has been a real challenge for me. I thought I would breeze right past the empty nest thing and delight in my time alone. Instead, I feel as though I have lost my identity, and am having trouble finding my direction again. There are so many things I want to try and do, and like a kid let out from school for the summer, I am trying to go so many directions at once that I get nowhere. I've started reexamining what my goals were all those years ago when I gave them up to raise my children. My hope is that I will rediscover who I am when I am not a mom, and be able to move forward into this new phase of my life.
What change do you think would most help your business grow?
I feel it is time to get my art “out there”, share it with others. That's why I took the Flying Lessons Class. I knew very little about the process of online promoting and branding, and realized I had a better chance if I learned from someone far more clever than myself. I feel it is time for me to start an Etsy shop, and make my work available to a wider audience. I love the teaching part of my art, and am hoping to pursue that end of my business as well, by working with our local community schools program to teach courses in Artists Trading Cards, and Mixed Media Collage.
I would have to admit the answer to that is lack of focus. My life has recently changed, I am no longer in the role of full time mom, and that has been a real challenge for me. I thought I would breeze right past the empty nest thing and delight in my time alone. Instead, I feel as though I have lost my identity, and am having trouble finding my direction again. There are so many things I want to try and do, and like a kid let out from school for the summer, I am trying to go so many directions at once that I get nowhere. I've started reexamining what my goals were all those years ago when I gave them up to raise my children. My hope is that I will rediscover who I am when I am not a mom, and be able to move forward into this new phase of my life.
What change do you think would most help your business grow?
I feel it is time to get my art “out there”, share it with others. That's why I took the Flying Lessons Class. I knew very little about the process of online promoting and branding, and realized I had a better chance if I learned from someone far more clever than myself. I feel it is time for me to start an Etsy shop, and make my work available to a wider audience. I love the teaching part of my art, and am hoping to pursue that end of my business as well, by working with our local community schools program to teach courses in Artists Trading Cards, and Mixed Media Collage.
What’s the biggest thing that you took with you from Flying Lessons?
This is the easiest question to answer! My online connection to my fellow fliers has been the absolute best thing to come from taking this course. Don't get me wrong, the course content was phenomenal; it expanded my understanding of the business of art far beyond what I could have imagined. But this community of nurturing, supportive, and vastly creative artists has become my touch-stone. I can count on them for encouragement, advice and gentle criticism when needed. They are the people that helped me realize how much I enjoy teaching, and that is a fantastic gift alone. I never would have had the courage to show my work outside my family, if it hadn't been for my lovely friends. I doubt, in fact that I would have ever been brave enough to say yes to an online interview...;)
Websites:
Blog: www.sallyhow2.blogspot.com
Email: sallyrose@nvinet.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sallyrosehow2
Beautiful interview. So much fun learning more about Sally Rose.
ReplyDeleteGreat interview, as always! I luv Sally's art and it was great reading about her inspirations!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the including me in your project! I had a lot of fun doing the interview, and it is very affirming to see my goals and inspiration in print, or on the screen, I guess you would say. I am enjoying all your interviews, what a wonderful collection of creative souls!
ReplyDelete