Today’s shared story comes from New York-based artist , who shares her experience of how doing what she loves led her to Oprah!
For me, doing what I love means living a creative life both in and out of my art studio. It means staying open to opportunities, both big and small. It means developing awareness, taking chances, using talents, sharing gifts, and endless possibilities… Doing what I love means living the life I’ve always dreamed of!
As a shy child, art was my way of expressing myself. Thanks to the encouragement and support of family, friends, and some wonderful teachers, my creative journey began at an early age. When I was 10 years old I painted my first “mural”. My fifth grade teacher hung paper floor to ceiling the length of our classroom wall and told me to “Go for it!”. Looking back, that was a pivotal moment in my artistic career. It was the moment it started to become clear that my art might be valued by people other than my family and myself. Throughout school I continued to use my art as a form of communication. Instead of passing notes, I drew pictures for my classmates, and by the time I reached high school I knew that I wanted to turn my passion into a career.
When I was in art school, I worked as a waitress. In addition to serving the hungry masses, I also created paintings and signs for the restaurants I worked in. I was thrilled… It was the beginning of being able to make a living doing what I love!
After receiving my BFA, I took art education certification classes, student taught, and even spent some time working in the framing department at a craft store. Even though I really enjoyed teaching and working in a craft store kept my toe dipped in the creative water, eventually it became clear that I was yearning for more… I realised it was time to take control of my artistic future, so I took an enormous leap of faith with a friend and fellow artist (Zoe Kothe)!
[All images courtesy of Kristin Dudish]
From 2000 to 2007, I was the proud co-owner of “Brush of Class”, a mural and decorative painting company. It was during that time that my confidence grew exponentially. I was able to do what I love full-time and I finally accepted that being an artist and supporting yourself don’t have to be mutually exclusive. It was also during that time that I realised that while I was doing what I love, I could also be helping others. It was that realisation that led to one of the most unbelievable experiences of my life… my Oprah adventure!
The path to doing what I love has been a winding one, but the one constant has always been a desire to infuse every aspect of my life with creativity. Whether it’s doodling in my sketchbook, painting on canvas, or even decorating a cake, I believe opportunities for doing what I love are everywhere!
Kristin is an artist living a creative life and “doing what she loves” with her family in Buffalo, New York. She is also the co-host of Paint Party Friday – an art co-op where painters gather weekly to share their latest painting endeavors.
Find out more about Kristin by visiting her website or blog.
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