Sign up for my free art newsletter - get updates on new work, shows, & more!

Creative Changes

by Jean McGuire in My life, Thoughts on Painting
     
Looking Up, 12″ x 12″, mixed media, Jean McGuire, ©2019.

Five years ago I was a cog in the corporate wheel.  I was miserable working for other people. Even worse were the people who brought politics and agendas into the workforce. On more than one morning I woke up and burst into tears at the thought of having to show up at my work place. I knew this was not how I was meant to live my life.

With enough in savings to live on for six months, I closed my eyes and took a leap into the unknown. I quit my job without having the vaguest idea of what I would do with the rest of my life. When I told people what I had done they looked at me like I had grown a second head…or like I’d completely lost the one I was born with.

Fortunately, I had the grace to take some time to really focus on the things I loved. I spent weeks meditating and writing a daily list of the things I loved. One of the things that kept showing up was writing; another was teaching yoga.

Focusing on those two loves, I decided to make some YouTube videos and to start a blog. In August of 2014 I launched my YouTube Channel, Jasmine Petals Yoga, and my blog, jasminepetalsthoughts.com. Jasmine Petals Yoga is a series of videos with me teaching the yoga classes I love. With my blog website, Jasmine Petals Thoughts, I shared my thoughts on anything and everything that was on my mind each week.

When I first launched these website, I was constantly asked how I would make money from those endeavors I would say I had no idea, that at that time I was just stirring up energy. I knew, deep in my heart, that if I just kept focusing on what I loved good things would come.

And boy did I stir up energy! In October of that same year, I was offered the opportunity to return to my first love, painting. I had forgotten how much I love to play with colors and shapes, exploring my vision of the world around me. I was extremely fortunate to be asked to start showing my work after just a few months of working on my art.

Then, after a couple of years of painting, I created my art website, artbyjeanmcguire.com on the website builder, Foliotwist. It was an easy to use tool that allowed me to create a website to highlight my artwork.

I have recently re-assessed my need for a separate website for my blog posts. In weighing the pros and cons, I have decided that when I receive the renewal notices for my Jasmine Petals Thoughts website in August, I am going to shut it down. I will continue to post my blog, but it will now be located on the same website as my artwork. I started this conversion last week. I will continue to post on both locations for the next couple of months.

If you receive emails from my blog every week, please let me know if you’re interested in continuing to do so. If you’re interested, I’ll do my best to figure out how to make that happen.

As of right now, my Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook presence will not change. I hope this website change will actually be easier for everyone who follows me. You’ll still be able to read my weekly thoughts while also being able to see what I’ve been up to with my artwork.

I am a big believer in making decisions and moving forward with them. Leaping into new endeavors and ways of thinking has become my preferred way of functioning. I consider this one more leap of faith that will help me and my creative efforts move forward. I hope you agree!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

FOLLOW