Baby Steps

So yesterday I took a baby step without even realizing it until later in the day… Let me go back so that I hope I can tell this so it will make sense. I have blogged before about always making some sort of excuse for my art. I have blogged about not being able to call my doll room a studio, because studios were for professional artists and I’m just a hobbyist. And most of the time when people find out about my doll sculpting I always preface it with “It’s just a hobby” or “I just do it for fun” Both are true statements, but they also seemed to undermine my talent. It’s true that I’m not comfortable thinking I have talent, or to say out loud that I’m artistic. I don’t know why, maybe it sounds pompous to me, but I’m just not comfortable getting compliments or making statements about myself.

Another side not to the story (boy I hope this all makes sense when I’m done) a year or so ago I helped out on a team building activity at work. One of the things we had to do was draw on an apron, things that were important to us personally. Across the bottom I drew my family… then on the top mountains, I really love the mountains here in Utah. In the middle I drew three things… me running… a bike… and an artist’s pallet. I don’t paint, but a lump of clay would have looked weird.

So, back to my original point, I had to wear that apron at work yesterday to help serve up root beer floats for a fund raiser. When I was back to my desk a co-worker asked about my apron, I told him they were drawings of things that were about me. He pointed to the artist’s pallet and asked if I was an artist. I said yes but I’m a sculptor, and explained that I didn’t want to draw a lump of clay my apron. And there you have it!! I said “I’m a sculptor” no excuses or explanations. I was able to just let it be and be happy with the statement. Who knows maybe soon I will be able to say “I’m an artist”! Or “I’m talented” Whoa… hold on there… just baby steps.

She Finally Has Wings!

Here are some updates of the fairy... she finally has her wings! For the most part I like the way they turned out.

Her sexy rear view :) The wings cover a bit, but that is OK... you don't really want it all hanging out.

The sun was coming through the window a bit, even though the picture looks a bit too yellow I liked the way it made her wings look.

Birthday Run with Sue

Yesterday was mine and Sue's annual birthday run. We both have July birthdays and we started this tradition about 7 years ago when we met and became running friends. Last year Sue had running injuries and so we were not able to do it. It made this year all the sweeter! This top picture is of us at The Oaks restaurant in the Ogden canyon, it's part of our tradition to have breakfast here after our run. You can just see a tiny bit of the river behind us. It's a fun place to eat.

This is a picture of The Oaks restaurant, where we have breakfast. It's lovely to sit outside by the river enjoying breakfast with a wonderful friend.

Look how dirty our legs were after we ran!! 11.43 miles round trip! We ran from the top of wheeler canyon to Ogden outlook. I wish I could run with the camera so I could have a picture of the view from the outlook.

Here we are after our run... sweaty and smiling that we have accomplished this run again!! It was so fantastic!

The view from the parking lot/dirt lot at the top of wheeler canyon, looking off to the west, this was the direction we ran. I think the far peeks are where we ran to.