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Backlit Sunflower Canvas Print, Exceptional Detailed, Ready to Hang, Wall Art Photo Print Home Office Decor
Backlit Sunflower Canvas Print, Exceptional Detailed, Ready to Hang, Wall Art Photo Print Home Office Decor
I've always been a bit of a Jill-of-all-trades. I could draw with nearly photographic accuracy from an early age. In high school, I worked many nights as a nurse's aide. I earned my journeyman’s badge as a USAF aircraft mechanic. I even navigated the bustling corridors of hospitals as an EMT. After the Air Force, I earned two degrees in graphic design and web development. Commercial art was a way to still be an artist without the starving artist part. Through it all, my most cherished title? Single mom. Balancing work, life, and crayon drawings stuck on the fridge, all while dreaming of a world captured through a lens.
Ah, the siren song of fine art photography. Every frame, every play of light and shadow, beckoned me. But alas, dreams don't always pay the bills or buy that gourmet mac 'n' cheese my kiddos adore.
So, I did the practical thing. Art, with its unpredictable nature, took a back seat, and I stuck with the trusty steady paycheck. After all, my trio of hurdles – time, money, and that pesky monster called fear – seemed insurmountable. Oh, that fear was sneaky, whispering tales of a starving artist with every risk I contemplated.
Then, a glimmer of hope! A mentorship program filled with amazing souls emerged on my horizon. "Borrow money for it?" I mused, “Okay, camera, it's just you, me, and a slightly thinner wallet." That decision, made a year ago, brought hope back into my grayscale world.
Just when I thought things were clicking (pun intended), my trusty camera betrayed me. Missed shots, fleeting moments gone, and the cherry on this sundae of disaster? A mentor's feedback that I might not be up for the challenge. Ouch.
Everyone has their strengths, and I had my unique quiver of arrows: unyielding patience, a steadfast belief in myself, and the unrelenting nature of... well, being unrelenting. My core screamed diligence, and it was time to listen.
Equipped with grit and a "watch me" attitude, I delved deeper. The world said I didn’t have what it takes. I said I had the right spirit. Through trials, errors, and a few choice words at malfunctioning equipment, I soldiered on.
And then, the universe started to compose a symphony of "I told you so's" – awards, accolades, and nods from the very mentors who once doubted. Validation never felt so sweet.
I made eleven sales on Etsy, mostly to friends and family. It’s a modest start, but it filled my heart with joy and rekindled my determination. My photos reflect the love and passion I pour into my art. It was in those moments that I realized why people embarked on this journey.
Setbacks, critiques, and gear malfunctions are just plot twists in my ever-evolving storyline.
Today, I stand not just as a multi-talented maven but as a beacon of hope for every dreamer who's ever faced a hurdle. Through my lens, I've learned that with persistence, heart, and maybe a few borrowed bucks, dreams can, and do, come into focus.
I've always had a knack for picking up skills, from lifelike drawing to tinkering with aircraft as a USAF mechanic. Above all, I've cherished my role as a single mother, balancing the demands of life and work with the dreams I've pinned up alongside my children's crayon masterpieces on the refrigerator door.
My practical side led me to graphic design and web development—safe harbors from the tempest of trying to make it as an artist. Yet, the allure of fine art photography whispered to me, a siren call I couldn't ignore. Dreams, however, don't always align with the need to provide, making the pragmatic choice necessary.
When a mentorship program appeared, it was like a ray of light in my monochrome routine. Investing in it meant a slimmer wallet, but it was a chance to infuse color back into my world. That leap of faith was tested when my camera started missing shots, and a mentor doubted my ability. That hurt.
But I had my own set of tools: patience, belief in myself, and a relentless spirit. I decided to dig in my heels and show the world what I'm made of. Despite the challenges, the universe began to acknowledge my efforts with awards and recognition, turning doubt into validation.
Setbacks and critiques became mere twists in my story. Now, I'm not just skilled in varied domains; I am a symbol of hope for every dreamer facing obstacles. My photography has taught me that with persistence, love, and perhaps a few borrowed dollars, dreams can indeed become a vivid reality.