You ARE creative. Let me inspire you!
Need to reach out? Email me at brenda@angelwhispersart.com
I love flowers, tie-dye, and lots of color! I looked up the definition of Hippie and the online Cambridge Dictionary says, “a young person, esp. in the late 1960s and early 1970s, who typically had long hair, believed in peace, and opposed many accepted ideas about how to live”. (https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/hippie). That’s pretty much me! I graduated High School in 1975 so I believe that qualifies me. And I was quite the Hippie back in the day! And in spite of it, I enlisted in the U.S. Army the Summer after graduation.
I wanted to see the world. You see, I grew up in a small town in North Central Iowa. I lived in the same house the entire time, well, technically I understand that my parents bought that house when I was 2, but I don’t remember that, so I don’t think it counts! Anyway…I was ready to “Get out of Dodge” by the time I was 18! I’ve moved 14 times and lived in 10 different places since then, some for as little as 6 weeks and as long as, let’s see, I’m going on 15 years now here in Hereford, AZ. I am finally home! I tell everyone that I live here on purpose. I love this place more than any other. It’s where I met my husband, fell in love, got married, and had my first child. It’s a very Romantic story!
Here's a list of all the places I've lived. Maybe we were neighbors!
In August 2021 my brother was in a motorcycle accident and suffered a traumatic brain injury. He was living alone and my siblings and I have all rallied to help him. That meant moving to Iowa from Arizona, in the Winter. Some say I'm crazy and they'd be right! But family is family and I'm where I'm supposed to be for now.
I am So Happy You’re Here!
I can feel that we’re kindred spirits already!
I’m Sassy, You’re Sassy!
I’m compassionate, You’re Compassionate!
I’m Beautiful, You’re Beautiful!
I’m Imperfect, You’re Imperfect!
I’m an Artist, You’re an Artist!
Wait, I didn’t just lose you, did I? You know you ARE an artist, right? Well, You ARE! We are all artists! I understand if you are skeptical but hear me out. If you are being creative now, that’s awesome! Stay on that journey, keep doing what you’re doing, it’s a blast! But in case you’re not totally convinced that you are an artist, close your eyes, oh wait, you’re reading. Read the rest of this paragraph, then close your eyes and remember. Remember when you were in grade school. Did you love art class? How about Music class? How about outside of school. Did you keep a journal? Did you make things with your Mom, or your Grandma? Or even your Dad or your Grandpa? Did they make things? Were they writers or musicians? There are all kinds of ways to be creative. I’ll even bet you don’t have to go far in your family to find someone that is an artist, however you define it.
When I was working “For the Man” (I love to say that! It’s from School of Rock, one of my favorite movies with Jack Black, but I digress…) When I was working “For the Man” I used to say that I needed to color code everything because it was the only way to make my inner artist happy. And through all the years of my “working” life, I always had some craft that I was passionate about. As a young stay at home mom, I made dolls, toys, ornaments, and other fabric arts (I love my sewing machine), and I sold my stuff at local craft fairs. I also did crewel embroidery and cross-stitch. (I learned from the best, my mom and my Granny P and what they didn’t teach me I taught myself!) Once I started working outside my home, time became precious, and as the demands of my “professional” career grew, my creative time shrunk. I still stayed engaged and shifted to papercrafts, card making and digital scrapbooking, and I noticed something. The less time I had for creative endeavors, the more stressful my job became and that translated to a more stressful life. I was not happy!
Does any of this sound familiar?
I’ve always loved art and crafts. I studied art my first 2 years of college and I adored Art History! You should know that even though I loved it and considered myself to be artistic, I never thought I could draw. There are lots of artistic things you can do without that skill. I became a pretty good photographer (pretty images, no drawing!) And one day, a couple of years before I retired when I had some time off and I was staying with my sister Teresa, I just started doodling. And I liked what I drew!
I had recently discovered Pinterest. I couldn’t get enough of the beautiful images! I found amazing drawings, illustrations, doodles, and then I discovered Zentangle®. I wasn’t really sure what it was, but I loved the images! I started buying books and teaching myself how to draw these Zentangle patterns. The doodles I drew at Teresa’s house were not Zentangle patterns, but that day was the day that something in my brain shifted, and that is what really turned things around for me. It was the first time I stopped judging my drawing and just enjoyed it! It was Magic!
I admit I am a recovering perfectionist. Practicing the Zentangle Method of drawing has changed everything! Zentangle has showed me that I am an artist. That perfection is not achievable, and in fact, imperfection is beautiful! It’s who we are, and once we embrace imperfection, we can do anything! In 2017 I became a Certified Zentangle Teacher (CZT) and today I teach the Zentangle Method and I also incorporate it into other art mediums as ZIAs or Zentangle Inspired Art. It gives me such joy to see my students faces when they see their finished piece and say “Wow! I made that!” And all of a sudden, they start to realize that, “Yes, maybe I am an artist!”
It doesn’t always happen right away. Sometimes our inner artist is shy after hiding for so long and she slowly watches to see if we are really ready. She loves to play, so make sure that you take time to play! She’ll start to show up more if you’re playing, and she loves to play with her friends!
When I retired from my job and started making art whenever I want, I realized that it was the creative process that makes me happy. It doesn’t really matter what you create, as long as you live a creative life! And that’s why I’m here! I want to help you live a creative life. There is an amazing energy in a room filled with artists! I love to spend time with my creative friends, and I love to share ideas, teach and learn from each other. This is why I started Angel Whispers Art and opened my home studio, Angel Studio. If you’re someone who wants to wake up her inner artist, or if you’re a confident, seasoned artist already living a creative life, you are in the right place!
I believe that we all deserve to be Happy. And I also believe that being Happy can change your life! I wish I understood this many years ago. If I had, I believe my life would have been less stressful and that’s one reason I’m passionate about helping you understand the power of art and the joy of living a creative life!
So What are You Waiting For? Check out one of my classes get out the art supplies asap! You’ll thank yourself, I promise!
