Category Archives: women in business

Texas Art Exploration

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All art is a kind of exploring. To discover and reveal is the way every artist sets about his business. ~Robert Flaherty

header_ArtistsGalleryAugust2013Today I continue my interview of artist Sandra Sherrod, an artist who splits her time between Steamboat Springs, Colorado and Houston, Texas.

Sue:  Sandra, what medium of art would you like to try, but haven’t tapped into it?

Sandra: Sculpture. I may try to do that when I am in Houston at a place called Glassell. http://www.mfah.org/visit/glassell-school/.  When I am in Houston I take all kinds of art courses. I am always learning.

In Houston, my art sales are stronger, particularly among women, because my pieces have a feminine side to it. In Steamboat, it seems the more masculine art sells a little better.

Sue: Interesting.  Do you stick with one project and finish it or do you jump from project to project?

Sandra: My rule of thumb is to make 15 – 20 pieces and explore an idea. When I get bored with it, I jump to something else. History has shown that both kinds of artists, those that work in only one medium and multi-dimensional artists can be successful. No matter what, you have to tweak your ideas every so often and not overwork it.

Sue:  What do you like to create the most?

Sandra: Writing is my favorite. As you know writing a book can take years whereas with other forms of art you can complete and get it out quicker to be seen by others. The satisfaction comes more immediately.

Sue:  What are you writing now, anything?

Sandra: I’ve been writing about 1,000 words a day. I just completed a series of eight books in the fantasy genre. They’re intergalactic stories. I am looking for a publisher so I can be involved in other creative projects. The series is geared to age nine to twelve.  I am also writing magical realism – earth stories with magical things happening. These are for young adult to adult.

Sue:  Seems like I’ve heard you read some of them at the Steamboat Writers Group.http://steamboatwriters.com/.

Sandra: Yes, I have read some of them to the group.

Sue: I look forward to seeing them published.

For a long time I’ve wanted to sit down and talk with Sandra about her life as an artist. Since  she was “manning the gallery” the day I visited with her, I had the added bonus of learning more about all the other artists The Artists Gallery of Steamboat represents.

Thank you, Sandra. You’d also make a wonderful art educator because you are so knowledgeable and your heart and soul is really in it!

Sandra’s jewelry was featured at The Artist Gallery in Steamboat throughout August, but it will continue to be displayed – stop in and see it. You can also communicate with her about ordering through her website. www.SandraSherrod.com.

This blog is brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com. See you on Monday.

Gushing with Ideas

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Creativity can be described as letting go of certainties. ~ Gail Sheehy

I spent a delightful morning the other day with Sandra Sherrod, a founding member of the Artists Gallery of Steamboat. I was interested in interviewing Sandra because I wanted to learn more about her creative energy, which seems to be limitless. When I asked her about her enthusiasm for art she admitted that her artistic spirit tends to be unbridled. “That,” she said, “is both a blessing and a curse!” Clearly, she is an individual who is not afraid to explore different mediums – she is a painter, makes encaustic collages, jewelry and she is also a writer.

Today I thought I’d share our discussion.

Sue:  Like so many others who have started down the path to majoring in art, you got sidetracked, for whatever reason. When did you begin pursuing your art full time?

Sandra: I started out with intentions of becoming an artist but then I needed a regular income so I went into the oil business and that lasted about twenty years. All the while I struggled to find time to be creative while trying to support myself. Twenty-one years ago, in 1992, I began showing my art and became a full-time artist.

Sue: You are a founding member of The Artist Gallery of Steamboat. http://www.steamboatgallery.com/ . How has art evolved since you helped start this gallery in 2006?

Sandra: Art is always evolving. There are some new works that combine photography and painting that are controversial. It begs the question “What is considered art?” People argue that some new techniques are not art at all, especially if it is not correctly represented. People’s interpretation of what art really is, varies. But the business of art is meeting the demands of the public.

IMAG0865Sue:  Your jewelry has been on display all month here at the Artists Gallery. I love your original designs.  It seems as if the importance of a captivating display is sometimes forgotten about or not considered by many too artists. Tell me how you came up with the creative idea of using stones, barbed wire and driftwood to showcase it.

Sandra: I have a friend who I call upon when I am looking for different ideas. She said, “You’re in the West, do rocks.” She threw out an idea, and I ran with it.

I considered Sandra’s comment as she took me on a tour of the entire gallery. “Isn’t all art about taking ideas and running with it?”

As we walked the gallery spaces it became obvious that Sandra’s knowledge of art is broad. She told me something about the process of creating each different medium of art we encountered.

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Tomorrow I will share more about this artist who grew up on a ranch here in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. http://sandrasherrod.com .  I will reveal what Sandra says is her most fulfilling form of art to create.

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.

Art at the Heart of the Story

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“Life is a quarry, out of which we are to mold and chisel and complete a character.” ~Samuel Butler

Yesterday we featured a soon-to-be released book by Pearl S Buck. The unpublished manuscript was found many years after her death, and the story is projected to be one of Buck’s best publications yet. If you missed out on the blog about The Eternal Wonder, scroll down and read it.

Photo Below: Pearl S Buck

Pearl S BuckToday I’d like to highlight one of Pearl S Buck’s lesser known stories, called This Proud Heart. The story is about a sculpture artist who is torn between her second marriage and her craft. Her life becomes a juggling act to try to find balance between her relationship with her husband and her art. I wonder how many artists worldwide have this theme weaving in and out of their own personal life and career.

The struggles of the main character, Susan, were particularly burdensome because in the 1930’s when the story takes place, few women ever made difficult choices between marriage and a profession. Overwhelmingly, women stayed the course and made self-sacrifices in the best interest of the marriage. And gaining credibility during that era as an artist or in any business, for women, was much more difficult.

Artists, put This Proud Heart on your reading list. Click for info & ordering
 It is fulfilling to read something other than contemporary fiction every once in a while.  Reacquaint yourself with a classic from time to time, you’ll most likely rediscover some of the characteristics of why novels like this become classics in the first place.

This Proud Heart can be downloaded on Nook and other digital readers, as an e-book. Click for info & ordering

Do return tomorrow to All Things Fulfilling. I will be interviewing an artist about all sorts of things. This blog brought to you by Sue Batton Leonard, author of Gift of a Lifetime:Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected. Click for Info & ordering

Film Friday: Grace Unplugged

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 “In the rhythm of life, sometimes we find ourselves out of tune.” ~ Azgraybebly Josland

grace unpluggedLet’s start the morning with a little movie trivia on this Film Friday. Alabama is the setting for Grace Unplugged, a new movie that will be released in theatres on October 4, 2013. Parts of this movie depended on a lot of extras, however, the producers found that Saturday filming made it difficult to recruit the people needed. Why? People were unusually disinterested – it seemed they didn’t care about getting their “mugs” in the shooting of a movie for cinema. That’s because the movie was filmed during football season in a state where the sport is King.

So, what is Grace Unplugged all about? A young musician who has found her audience yet outside of her community of fans, she is undiscovered. In her desire to become a top recording star Grace rejects everything she has ever known and moves to Hollywood in search for stardom. Are there elements in her previous life that will help keep her grounded?

The name of the Director, Brad Silverman, may be familiar from his other movies “No Greater Love” and It Really Happened: The Flight of Apollo 11 (TV documentary short).

Put this film produced by Lionsgate on your list for fulfilling fall movie viewing.

Click here for info & ordering Grace Unplugged
Have a good weekend, everybody.

Return on Monday to All Things Fulfilling. This blog brought to you by author Sue Batton LeonardClick for info on Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected and www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com . The space where independent thoughts, words and views are all part of the business.

Moonstruck

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“One grateful thought is a ray of sunshine.  A hundred such thoughts paint a sunrise.  A thousand will rival the glaring sky at noonday – for gratitude is light against the darkness.” ― Richelle E. Goodrich, author of Eena

The evening of August 20th was a full moon which always means a short night of sleep for me. Every month my circadian rhythm (biological clock) is always thrown off during a full moon from the light streaming in the bedroom window. As I tossed and turned from 2:30am until morning, it gave me plenty of time to reflect on how grateful I was for the kindness of others who helped me celebrate my birthday just hours before.

My We Write Steamboat networking group surprised me, as I walked into the conference room for our monthly meeting. A birthday cake with lit candles and other surprises to help me celebrate were waiting for my arrival. Thank you all, it meant so much!

IMAG0855Guess what else I received for my birthday? My twin sister took time out of her life to go by train from the ‘burbs of Maryland into Washington, D.C. to pick up some book-related things from the Library of Congress gift shop http://www.loc.gov/shop. She sent some book plates, a 2014 calendar, Library of Congress post-it-notes and a magnetic book marker that reads “I Can Not Live Without Books.” Wonderful present, Jan. It was so thoughtful of you, I greatly appreciate it!  Don’t I have a nice sister?

Speaking of the Library of Congress, there was a recent article in the Wall Street Journal about the explosion of the audio book publishing industry. Did you see it? Must be it will be necessary for The Library of Congress to expand their catalogs to accommodate for the growth of e-books and audio books. Here is a link to the article. http://on.wsj.com/13DcAKm

Again, thank you to everyone who sent birthday greetings on-line from all over the world, cards and phone calls. Who would have thought when I began this business in 1998 that  my list of independent publishing friends and acquaintances would grow  exponentially  – that’s the progression of an industry. I am feeling over the moon because my life is fulfilling and there is no darkness in my life except in the middle of the night, when the full moon is not bathing me in bright light.

books buy happiness

This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com. Come back tomorrow on All Things Fulfilling. Where independent thoughts, words and views are all part of the business.

Clearing the Way

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“The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls.” ~ Pablo Picasso

Are you person who has always had an artistic calling, yet you have never pursued your passion in earnest? You are not alone. There are many people, for various reasons, who have had to travel down other career paths feeling they have not fulfilled their God-given talents.

Matt Tommey book1The book Unlocking the Heart of the Artist: Practical Guide to Fulfilling Your Creative Call as an Artist in the Kingdom speaks to this issue for the new generation of people who seek personal fulfillment as a priority in their lives. He invites others to live fully, doing what makes them happy, and to become “unstuck” by expressing themselves creatively.

The author, Matt Tommey, is a successful basket maker and art consultant from Asheville, North Carolina. His sensible messages to other artists, through his publications, helps clear the way of self-doubt by providing hope and insight to individuals who wish to thrive and become fulltime artists. His book Crafting your Brand: Simple Strategies for Cultivating a Successful Creative Career, is also a good resource for anyone who wants to pursue their calling.

A well-rounded artist, Matt Tommey,  makes a living in a combination of ways, also offering workshops on the craft of basketry. To learn more about his workshops,  how to order these publications and to see his website,  http://bit.ly/1bpQhI9 .

Do return tomorrow for Film Friday, we will be featuring a film that is soon to be released that plays well into our recent topics of writing on All Things Fulfilling. This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.

Human Behavior Dynamics

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Your visions will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. ~ C.G. Jung

I hope you’ll excuse me this morning. I am rather excited. I received a wonderful comment on “Wheels of Change,” the blog posted on August 8, 2013.The reader commented “You need to be a part of a contest for one of the highest quality blogs on the internet. I will recommend this site!”  

Also, another positive affirmation came from Salley, from the You Are Never Alone Foundation http://youareneveralonefoundation.org/ . She said “Your blog blows me away….How do you come up with something every day?” She was commenting on yesterday’s blog on All Things Fulfilling called “Social Entrepreneurs.”

Thank you, readers. I’ll take those comments as  big compliments, and Salley, I think I have ADD – attention daily disorder. Daily, I look for stories that might be of interest our readers. My attention to All Things Fulfilling is rarely at a deficit.

taking flight The first comment came from a psychology internet site which, in part, is what All Things Fulfilling is about.  My goal is to inspire positive change as it relates to self-improvement, career and business or building a more positive world to live in. All Things Fulfilling means different things to different people. Exploring and discovering how our content might relate to the reader, is their own challenge, as they look into their own hearts.

My inspiration for writing comes from observing the world at large. Finding creative ways of bringing personal happiness to myself and others, is what this site is all about. Sometimes contentment means simply reading a book, seeing  images in an art gallery or movie or listening to sounds that educate, inspire, inform or entertain.

Learned OptimismIf you are interested in expanding your horizons, there is a book by Martin E.P. Seligman, Ph.D. called Learned Optimism: How to Change Your Mind and Your Life. Click for information and ordering The book incorporates the principles of how to look at and find the positive aspects of all things, thus changing our life experience affirmatively. Check it out.Click for info & ordering

This blog brought to you by Sue Batton Leonard, author of Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected and www.allthingsfulfilling.com. Click for info & ordering on Sue’s memoir

Spirited Women

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“To me a lush carpet of pine needles or spongy grass is more welcome than the most luxurious Persian rug.” 

-Helen Keller

I like being in the presence of spirited women. I guess it’s a result of my upbringing. My mother says “she has been a tomboy all her life. If she wanted to be with my father, she had no choice but to learn how to fish, pilot a boat, be a carpenter’s assistant and do the things he liked to do or be left behind in the dust.” Friends as children, now married 65 years, I guess the relationship has worked out alright.  She does know how to dress, and act the lady. She’s also led a “cultured life.”

I’ve recently come across some really fun blogs and books, for and about women, who like the outdoor life. Today, I’d like to share them on All Things Fulfilling in hopes that they will be interesting for our female readers to know about.

As write to you from Steamboat Springs. Colorado and a few days after I had drafted this blog, I came across the books Glamping with Mary Jane and Sisters on the Fly at the new retail store Remember Me, here in town. It is a fun store, with a lot of spirit, stop by and visit it!

sisters on the fly

This is your life, so, whatever moves your spirit, pursue it!

This blog brought to you by Sue Batton Leonard, author of Gift of a Lifetime: Finding Fulfilling Things in the Unexpected.Click for info & ordering
 Do return tomorrow to the space where independent thoughts, words, and views are all part of the business.

Life and Comfort Zones

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“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.” ~ Neale Walsh

All week we have focused on women using their own unique spirits and gifts to find success and bring personal fulfillment to their lives. Sometimes it takes courage to dig deep to identify and use the skills we innately have for the benefit of others.

I just signed up to do something that scares the bejesus out of me. In the past, just the thought of it, has been one of my biggest fears in life. I know I can do it. I have found inspiration and accomplished it many times before, and each time, it gets easier. So, I am stepping out of my comfort zone and moving full steam ahead to confront this “thing” head on, for good, once and for all, so it will become a non-issue in my life.

comfort zone picture

I’ve got a plan of action, and in order to accomplish it, this “thing” that makes me uncomfortable needs to become second nature in order for me to successfully go about fulfilling my dreams and sharing it with others. I’ll keep you posted in coming weeks of my progress and tell you what helped me to know I have what I need inside already.

accomplishment

Just writing my thoughts down for good measure and sayin,’ so, now I can move forward …..

Do return on Monday to All Things Fulfilling. The space where independent thoughts, words and views are all part of the business. This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com.

Wholesome Balance

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It ain’t the clothes that make the cowgirl, it’s the attitude and the heart. ~Unknown

Yesterday’s blog writing was about a cowgirl artist. If you didn’t read the article, scroll down and check it out.  Donna Howell-Sickles’ brand of art is fun, and it captures an active way of life, along with a unique fashion style which is popular around many Western states. For gals who have roots in the Wild West, most would probably say they love Western living and find contentment in it.

I came across a blog the other day with interesting reading. Mind ~Body~ Spirit of a Cowgirl: Where Western Meets Wellness is a good resource for women who take living “authentically” seriously; where mind, body and spirit are balanced. Mind you, women living in concert with their souls can be found anywhere, not just west of the Mississippi. We carry our hearts with us wherever we go, and it is up to us to nurture our whole beings with all things fulfilling.

There is something for everyone to explore on freelance writer, Genevieve’s website,http://bit.ly/15KK5YO  including fashion and beauty products and tips for finding inner peace. I particularly like the traditional recipes which focus on healthier ways of fixing them with more wholesome ingredients, which support active lifestyles.

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Image above: Artist Unknown

Do return tomorrow to All Things Fulfilling, the space where independent thoughts, words and views are all part of the business. This blog brought to you by www.CornerstoneFulfillmentService.com .