Amazing Gifts...

Today is the last day for Painting and Drawing Classes at Creative Genius. 

I did not realize this but the students in Adult Painting and Drawing secretly, along with their instructor, Diane Wallace, have been working on mini-paintings that they all presented me with today at the end of class. What an amazing gift to receive!

Everyone has been so appreciative for what they have gotten out of being at Creative Genius that it makes me smile. I am truly blessed to have been a small part of inspiring so many people with my humble little business. Thank you so much to all of our students over the years as well as our instructors who have helped inspire so many students in the ten years that the studio has been offering classes. 

For the beautiful paintings and cards, thank you Barbara, Carla, Diane, Fran, Janet, Joan and Marilyn. Thank you for sharing a little bit of yourselves with me. You ladies are awesome and I am glad you are in good hands. Don't forget to always try something new, even when you think you "can't". You would be amazed at how many times you actually CAN. 

 I also received a commissioned painting today from Diane Wallace that I was very excited about. It is beautiful and it really makes me smile every time I look at it. You are amazingly talented, Diane. I am so glad that you get to pursue your creative endeavors all the time and that you are so good at sharing your talents with others. You were so incredibly great to work with and get to know better. THANK YOU! I am looking forward to creating with you some time soon (or at least having dinner and some drinks!)
This creation will have a place of honor in my home. 

The greatest gift is giving a portion of thyself.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Its A Wonderful Life...

Coming Soon Sign Preparing for Opening Day-2003

I am a very very lucky person.

I am not someone who always wins nor have I always had things turn out well for me easily. On the contrary I am not afraid of hard work and think nothing of going where others are just a little too timid or tentative to go. I am one part saavy business person and one part crazy lunatic, I guess. Tell me I can't and I will work very hard to show you I can and I will. Walt Disney's quote comes to mind--"It’s kind of fun to do the impossible.” For me, that has been a big chunk of my working life, for good or for bad.

Ten years ago, I had the guts to follow a dream and open a business selling hand-crafted American works of art and offering art classes. With a ton of hard work, dedication, and with every bit of knowledge from prior careers (and then some!), I turned that dream into a reasonably successful business that has survived and thrived in a small suburban town for ten years.

Creative Genius, Opening Day-2003

While running that business, I made a contact three years ago which turned into me partnering up with that contact to form a photography business. Photography has been a passion of mine since I was very young and I was doing portrait work on my own, as was my now business partner before we teamed up to form True Story Photography. Call it luck, kismet, whatever, but the business partnership has been a successful one and has worked well for the both of us for the past three years.

It is really hard to be tied to a retail business and run a service-based business but I did so for three years before I decided it was time to make a decision. It felt like choosing a favorite child. I eventually made the decision to leave my first dream of running my own gallery and studio to focus full time on my photography in the past 2 months. It was a very difficult decision to make and took a lot of mulling over before I actually decided that I had made my final decision.

First holiday season-Dec, 2003

As excited as I am to be able to work full time on True Story Photography, there are always risks involved when you take a leap. Even when the leap is based on your own strengths and abilities, it is still an interesting thing to take the plunge and do something that offers you no guarantees. I have been there before and though it turned out well, it was not an overnight success nor a seamless journey. The best things we do in life really never are, are they? The thought of NOT moving forward and regretting it later is what moves me to always try. I have few regrets but for those I do have, I always wish I could go back and JUST DO IT. These are the things that go through my mind while other people look at spreadsheets and numbers and marketing plans. I know, from running a business these past ten years (and helping run other people's businesses for `5 years before that), that the best laid plans often fail us. I know that you can try to plan and map out every eventuality only to realize when the real deal is operating in front of you that things are not an exact science. I have learned that you may think you know everything you need to about what you want to do but that there are always kinks to work out. It isn't real until the first time there are struggles and there always will be at one point or another. And still, I continue on to the next risky journey. What can I say? Some of us just have to.

Creative Genius-2008

When I made the announcement about the upcoming store closing, I figured some people would have questions and things would move forward from there. I had no idea that so many people would come out of the woodwork to stop in to tell me how sad they were but to wish me luck on my next adventure. I never expected the outpouring of supportive comments on facebook within moments of posting the announcement. I didn't think that so many people would have so many kind things to say about what was basically something I always wanted to do. I created something from nothing (with lots of help from some key people in my life) and it touched lots of people in some way. To be able to touch people with something that meant so much to me is pretty incredible. I shared the outpouring of support and comments with my family and my sister made an interesting comment. She said it reminded her of the movie It's A Wonderful Life. When I thought about it, I remembered that key scene at the end of the movie where George Bailey finally gets to see, in real life, all the people who were on his side and who were there to stand behind him when he needed it. What an amazing feeling to realize that you aren't invisible and that people really see you and appreciate what you've created.

Creative Genius-2009 After Expansion

New Studio Addition-2009

I received multiple cards and messages from artists who thanked me for helping them get motivated to fully launch their art careers. It really amazed me that people took the time to write a comment online or send me a card just to say thank you for helping them move forward. It was truly overwhelming but in the best of ways. Sometimes you are so busy with your nose to the grindstone that you forget that good people are always pulling for you and you don't always get to say thank you because you are so busy. Well, I have picked my head up for the first time in a long time and I would like to say THANK YOU. Thank you to the people who have supported my venture for the past ten years, who talked about it, learned something from it, and made it a regular part of their lives. Thank you to the people who contributed in some way, however small, to making this dream a reality for me for a long time. I hope when you look at the gifts you have received from my humble little dream project that you remember how cool of a place that "project" was and that it's owner appreciated you and your support.

Creative Genius-December, 2012

Now, moving forward, I am excited to see what the future holds.

Like I said, I am a very very lucky person and a very very grateful one too. And it really is a wonderful life....

More Color Please!

What's your cure for the winter blues? Mine is COLOR!
I love how being around bright colors makes me feel good. If I had my way, every space I occupied would be decorated with primary colors and more. If you aren't feeling the need to repaint your house like a rainbow and you don't have bright colors in your work space, how can you get some bright color in your life without spending loads of money? Here are some terrific ideas-all are hand-crafted by American artists and available to check out at Creative Genius Art Gallery and Studio:

PERK UP YOUR MORNING
Brightly colored and wonderfully scented hand-crafted soaps are a great way to create some vibrant color energy each morning in the shower.

 THINK SPRING! 
Start thinking about beautiful additions to your porch, patio and garden. You can never plan too early!

WEAR IT!
Add some brightly colored wearables to your next ensemble. Perfect pick me up on a gloomy day!

DRESS UP YOUR WORKPLACE
Add some bright colors to the space where you work by hanging some bright little pieces of art wherever you look. And if you have a window in your workspace, dress it up with some sun--a recycled glass sun!

NIGHTLY COLOR SPLASH
A beautiful and colorful nightlight is just the thing to keep in your bedroom or bathroom for a tiny dash of color when you need it.

Art on Demand

I was speaking with an artist/friend of mine recently and we got on the subject of artist commissions. For those who may not be familiar with the concept, a commission is a specific request that a customer makes of an artist. The artist is tasked to create a customized piece of art work for a client which they are paid for. 
Commission work may be more expensive than the artist's regular creations. If you want something special, often you recognize that you will be paying a premium. 

We were chatting about how many people make special requests of artists and how often people just don't understand that, what seems like a simple request to them, may not be simple for an artist to create. It got me thinking about what this concept is really like. If you are willing to pay a premium for your special request then most working artists will happily work with you on whatever it is you envision. But for those who like to make "helpful suggestions", the concept falls apart. 

I think it is important to remember that artists, the ones who actually create art to make a living or work towards making a living, deserve the same respect as anyone else who performs a job or service. An artist is skilled and educated, be it college or specialized classes, to learn and fine tune their craft. They have spent hours and hours learning new techniques, making the process of creating what they do a more efficient one, and producing work that they hope is pleasing to others. Although artists generally create for themselves first, they do hope that someone else (or many others) identify with what they create enough to want to buy it. Art is a business to a working artist. Most are open to a suggestion or two but the ones I know best like to create from their own place and not from what others come up with. They are not a circus act or a trained dog that does tricks when called upon to perform. Asking them to do so can be trying and sometimes, it can be perceived as even rude. 

If you were working with an artist on a commission you are not who I am referring to. But for anyone who isn't a commission client--I know you didn't mean to be rude when asking if an artist could produce/adjust or change something about their work. Let's say you are an accomplished cook who loves the art of preparing a good meal for your family, for guests, etc. Think about how you would feel if every time you cooked something in your home, someone was there with a critique for you.  That someone was not a good cook--in fact, they couldn't really cook well at all. Their critique is intended to be helpful. The critique would be more of a curious one. Could you make this with a different flour? How about with this type of vegetable instead of the one you used? Or another kind of meat? Or could you move the meat over on the plate a little? What if someone were in your kitchen right as you cooked dinner each night offering this "helpful advice"? After a while, might it grate on your nerves? Might it make you want to focus on your own view of how the meal should look. Might you want to say to the person "go cook your own meal, the way you want it?"

I think most artists are way too interested in fostering their creativity to focus on things like this. But I know from speaking to many of them over the past ten years that they feel this way, even if they are too polite to say it out loud. 

The lesson in all of this is to respect those who do what you cannot do. And if you CAN do what someone else does, I would think it would foster even greater respect between you and that other person. I feel fortunate to have plenty of artists and people in general in my work life who I respect but also who respect me and what I do as I run my art gallery. These are people who work with me to create a positive working relationship and to promote my business as much as I promote theirs. The artists that I have a positive working relationship with don't do tricks for others-they simply do what they do and they do it well while operating from a place of honesty and integrity. I think of them as partnering with me and looking out for my business. 

They deserve every award and reward they receive because they know not only how to create their art but also how to create working relationships that move them forward and allow them to help move others forward. Win-win!

Sometimes the small things mean the most...

One of the quotes from my interview with Abbie that she really liked

I was contacted a few weeks ago by a young girl named Abbie Johnson who is 12 years old and a girl scout locally in Burlington County. She had been in my gallery previously with her mom and aunt and now she was working on a project and needed my help. The project was for her to choose a woman who had a job she admired and was interested in learning about. Once she chose the person, she had to interview them and then put together a presentation about the person's job, based on the information gathered during the interview process.

She made an appointment to talk to me and came in to Creative Genius and sat with me for about an hour during which I answered numerous questions about running an art gallery and being a woman in business. Not only is Abbie a very nice girl, she is also polite, well-spoken, and comes across as very mature for her age. She was fun to chat with and I looked forward to hearing about her presentation. 

At the end of the interview she handed me a hand-made invitation to a Sisterhood Tea that her troop was hosting for all their guests of honor. I thought that was really nice and made it a point to be available to go. Normally it would be no problem to be available but in the midst of the holiday season and having a nasty cold to boot, I was definitely pushing myself  to be alert and awake by the evening of the tea. Once I got there, I was happy I was able to be there.
The tea was really lovely and the girls and their leaders and guests were all really fun to chat with. We drank tea, snacked on cookies, cakes and tea sandwiches and shared information. Then each girl in the troop did their presentation. I have received awards in my past career but being chosen as having a job that a 12 year old girl thinks is interesting was just as special as any award I have received. It is a job I created and was one of the biggest compliments I have received. Abbie was a gracious host and I got to chat with her mom a bit too which was nice. It was obvious to me that all of these girls were definitely unique. All of them were very intelligent and very poised, even when speaking in front of a group of people. And all the presentations were interesting. In addition to an art gallery owner/photographer, presentations were made about a construction company owner, an architect, a naturalist and others. The diversity was interesting. 

Posing after the interview

The whole experience was a very important reminder for me about why I actually do what I do. Yes, I know, everyone gets caught up in the nuts and bolts of their job. It is an easy thing to have happen, especially when you are as busy as I am on a daily basis. Seeing my job and experiences through Abbie's eyes was a reminder that I really do this because I love art and want to connect people with it in a positive way. I didn't leave my corporate career to just work another job. I left it to follow a dream and I have successfully followed that dream for a really decent chunk of time. Her perspective actually made me feel proud of what I have accomplished in the past nine plus years with the gallery, from community outreach to connecting people to each other to helping people grow and pursue their own dreams. I think it takes someone special to make you slow down and actually pay attention. That is exactly what Abbie did for me. 

Presentation Board!

I have to say I really liked Abbie's presentation (of course, I AM a little biased-haha!). She loves art and hopes to pursue an arts related job some day so her presentation was colorful and attention-getting. I thought she did a great job and she even presented me with her presentation board before I left along with a candle holder that each of the girls made for their guests. The presentation board is on display at Creative Genius and I really hope people ask me about it. I will look forward to telling them all about Abbie and how special she made me feel.

Anniversary Tale...

A month or so ago, I received an email from Tim, who was in the military in Afghanistan and was scheduled to be home in the beginning of November. He was going to be missing his wedding anniversary and he wanted to do something special for his wife when he arrived home. He inquired about renting the gallery at Creative Genius to set up an intimate dinner in an unexpected but unique location for his wife.

The two arrived on Sunday, after getting prepared dinners from a local restaurant. I had recommended Braddocks to Tim earlier in the week and they decided to go with my local recommendation, which was nice. Tim proceeded to set up the whole table, complete with customized table cloth, candles and lots of other special touches. It really was lovely. Then he brought his wife, Kristen in.

The couple enjoyed a lovely dinner and seemed to really enjoy themselves. Kristen definitely appreciates surprises and her husband, Tim, obviously has no trouble thinking outside of the box when it comes to making his wife feel special.
 
I was honored to meet this terrific couple and provide the location for them to celebrate their anniversary. It isn't often that you get to help something special like this dinner happen and I definitely appreciated the gallery being a part of their anniversary.

Great meeting you and happy anniversary, Tim and Kristen!

Gearing Up for the Holiday Season!

We are working hard and hopefully smart as we gear up for the holiday season here at Creative Genius. 


New hand-crafted creations are arriving daily and we are showcasing a fun and unusual assortment of unique gifts in all kinds of price ranges for the holidays this year.






We are also offering our regular class schedule throughout the season with a few key additions. We've added Sculpture for Beginners to our class schedule. This is a class we have never offered before and we couldn't be more excited about it! Instructor Lynne Ghenov bring a great amount of talent and experience to the table and we are happy to have her working with us here at Creative Genius.


Don't forget about our other great offerings including Painting & Drawing for Adults, Painting & Drawing for Teens, Painting & Drawing for Kids, Pottery, Digital Photography and more.

After the holidays in January, we've added another Mosaic Workshop with Diane Emerson. If you missed the first one and you were kicking yourself, you won't want to miss this one. In fact, it was so good that two of the students from the first one have already signed up to take it again because they loved it so much. Can't beat THAT for a testimonial! 

And of course, the holiday season wouldn't be complete without one of our fun open house events in the gallery, complete with refreshments, artist trunk shows, a visit from NJBalance Wellness and more. This year's open house will be held on Thursday, November 29th from 6-9pm. Hope to see you there!

So many blogs, so little time....

Yes, the blog has not been updated recently. You are justified in thinking I might be slacking off. However, it is important to note, that I actually write three different blogs and those have not been as bad. Yes, I am a slacker but not THAT bad!

We have had some great new goodies arriving in the gallery as we gear up for the holidays. I know it is early but the holidays really are right around the corner. 

Creative Genius did something we have never done before in September--we hosted a great art festival in our parking lot and around our building last weekend. With help from Abbie Galie of Original Abbie Designs, we were able to gather up 20 artists and drew a bit of a crowd throughout the day. It was a lot of fun and the artists seemed to have a decent show, especially considering we had never done something like this before. 

The other event we hosted in September was a fantastic mosaic workshop with Diane Emerson. That got rave reviews and we are hoping to hold another one in January with Diane. She did a fantastic job and everyone loved it. Many of them want to take it again...a true testament to the fact that they really enjoyed themselves. 

September was a busy and exciting month here at Creative Genius!
And of course, October marks out NINTH Anniversary here in Medford. We truly are blessed to have the support of so many great people!

 Here are some scenes from September...

Mosaic Workshop with Diane Emerson:

 From Creative Genius Art Fest, September 30th:

Last, but certainly not least is a peek at some of the new arrivals--there are plenty more great gift creations on the way so don't forget to visit us soon!