Wow.

When I first started this blog, I had hoped to start slowly investigating what it would take to break into the art world as a career, instead of a hobby.  I was going to research and take classes and learn how to “art” more professionally, and was going to chronicle building a more self-reliant, self-care-focused lifestyle that let me explore so many passions that have had to lie latent for so long.

I didn’t anticipate immediately becoming engulfed in the world of art!  I quickly found a few types of colorful art making that not only appealed to me, but also taught me some important life lessons.  And, I got pretty good at those art styles!  So much so that I quickly created enough stock to actually start vending at local craft fairs and small scale art shows – and my art actually sells.  I was astonished by my quick path to actually living as a working artist.

Then, suddenly, I discovered a magical place where my vast set of life experiences and abilities found new and fulfilling purpose: Ingenuity Cleveland.  This incredible arts and innovations collaborative felt like home in a way that no other place ever has.  Quickly I found myself becoming a prominent member of the team and assisting the Art Director for a major music and arts festival.  My role there continues to grow, while my position as a working artist continues to find other outlets such as teaching classes and hosting crafting parties.  I’m also starting to delve back into the world of performance, though both art making and dance.

Art has become a major part of my life, every single day.  It’s been exactly one year since I posted my “origin story” here and explained where Fiercely Serene started, and I’m thrilled to say that I’ve truly embraced the spirit of that phrase in my daily habits.  I’m building the future I’ve always craved, and finding success in so many (often unexpected) places!  Hopefully, I can make a concerted effort to carve out a little more time to write here and share my experiences, my art, my performance, and even my failures – since all true successes come out of the lessons we learn from those failures.

If you’ve been on this journey with me at any point over the past year, thank you.  The overwhelming support and love that has surrounded me as I’ve launched myself into this new state of being has made so many things possible.  I’m honored and humbled to be rotating around the cosmos at your side.

Let’s keep the world turning together!

HOW EXCITING IS THIS?  My experience at Polar Fest this weekend was so much fun, interacting with kids and adults alike to bring out their hidden artist – and my work was even featured on a local TV news station!  Seeing so many people walk up with a hint of apprehension and walk away beaming with pride was absolutely wonderful.  Check out the full segment on WKYC!

I learned a lot, too!  It wouldn’t surprise me to find that many artists end up with some of the same problems I do when it comes to color biases.  For me, I’m not a fan of oranges, lighter greens, and yellows.  Not sure why, I’ve just always shied away from those shades.  When I use them, it’s sparingly.  But this weekend I saw several creations featuring some of my least favorites in a major way.  Gotta say, after seeing this brilliant little girl’s work, I’m kinda falling in love with orange, aren’t you?!

Exposure to the visions of others can open our own eyes to some incredible beauty!  Especially from children, who have a different angle on the world around them.  This particular young lady was so nervous about how her piece would look.  She was stressing about her color choice, her hands were shaking as she lifted the canvas, and when she finished, all you could see was her smile.  I’m so lucky to be touching kids’ creative minds and hearts with this type of project, and hopefully I can instill some encouragement and excitement into those who seek creative outlets.  What an honor that would be!

Coming soon: I’ll be teaching various classes at the Cleveland Candle Company in Ohio City, starting with a couples’ Valentine’s Day painting session!  Keep an eye on their calendar and mine as new events are added.  Each event includes making a custom candle, as well!

Since last June, I’ve had the pleasure of working with several local singer/songwriter musicians to build an exciting DIY music venue in the heart of Cleveland’s Gordon Square Arts District.  Once each month, we host six to eight local musical acts (and occasionally a traveling act), sponsor a charity drive for a local organization, and when possible, feature a visual artist.  We’ve also welcomed an entrancing dance performance, and hope to host more dancers in the warmer months.  It’s been a constant excitement, and the community that we have the honor of welcoming into the house for each show is a shining example of why Cleveland is a city full of rising stars.

This month’s show theme is Enchantment Under the Sea Prom Night (yup, think George McFly by the Triton punchbowl) and Fiercely Serene has been called upon to provide some fluid, underwater themed decor for the party.  Since I’ve been playing with alcohol inks so much lately, it made sense to see what I could do with that medium in this kind of context.  I found some oceanic wood cutouts, and after a few coats of latex paint, I was able to apply the inks and got some really cool results.

But that wasn’t enough for me – my partner suggested we make some jellyfish to hang from the ceiling, and after a quick brainstorming session and gathering some supplies, we struck gold.  Squishy, tingly, gummy jellyfish gold.  Using inks to decorate the tops, torn plastic sheeting for the tentacles, and strings of multicolored fairy lights, we were able to put together these glowing beauties!

We’ll be sharing the jellies (and making more!) with the Hamilton Collaborative after the show for use in an installation at this year’s Brite Winter, too!

Adapting the ink art to different projects has been pretty exciting, and I have several much larger-scale projects in the works for art installations and gallery features in the coming months.  Come check out the first LIVE ink art performance tomorrow at Polar Fest (admission is free!) to see one of my newest ongoing projects, and be sure to follow my social media accounts to catch all the interesting and unique pieces I have in the works!

I’m so excited to be showing my work this weekend at Polar Fest, a wintry event at the Berea Fairgrounds bustling with entertainment and local vendors!  As always, my original paintings and creations will be for sale throughout the weekend, but this show is so much more than just a place to display art pieces.  I’ll also be operating a make-and-take booth, where I’ll not only teach you how to create your very own fluid art pieces, I’ll also provide everything you need to make an 8×10 canvas to take home with you!  Supplies and instruction are included in the $10/piece price, so if you’ve ever wanted to try your hand at an exciting and fun abstract art style, be sure to stop by!

A fluid art make-and-take workshop at 78th Street Studios.

Additionally, I’ll be debuting a new performance art project I’ve been working on for a while.  In partnership with Michael McFarland Music, I’ll be creating gorgeous abstract ink paintings by responding to live music on stage.  My work will be projected onto a large screen for the audience to experience my creative process in real time.  We have demoed this project a few times in front of friends and fellow makers; so far everyone has found the performance entrancing and, at times, surprisingly emotional.  It’s a visual-audible fusion that draws the viewer deeper into both the art and the music.  Not quite sure what this all means?  Come to Polar Fest and find out – we’ll be onstage from 10am to noon on Saturday.

Created to the song “Blue” by Eiffel 65.

New pieces are coming out of my studio almost every day, and I have so many wonderful works to share!  If you can’t make it to Polar Fest, but want to see all the magical pieces I’m creating, follow my Instagram account for daily updates and new items.

Looking forward to seeing you this weekend!