…or, in my case, a lot.  Looking at it now, I see how it all perfectly unfolded.  Even the not-so-fun parts - the discouragement and self-doubt, the zig-zaggy route, the years spent pursuing other interests, the settling for, the having to make do - have all added to the happy whole that I am now.

Patrice Federspiel and me with my first sale.

At this moment of declaring myself an artist, I still second guess myself.  Could I have become a successful Walt Disney cartoonist?  (My childhood fantasy).  Could I have become one of the greats?  

More to the point, would I really be better off had I been able to pursue art as a career?

The fact is, I am a very happy person now, more content than I’ve ever been.  I think that all the off-the-art-path things I’ve experienced have contributed to that happiness.

One of my first efforts.

My girlhood dream of becoming an artist (whatever that meant to a 5 year old entranced by the magic of The Wonderful World of Disney TV show) is now fully realized, but not by following a predictable path: No formal art training other than high school and college; no hours spent studying the old masters or learning art history.  Nope.  My journey consists of a series of pinball-like events — meeting the right creative people, and being loved and supported by friends and, especially, my sister Jean.  

Is it luck, or destiny, or just good fortune that landed me here in Hawaii, on Oahu, in Honolulu, where I met my close friend and creatively talented mentor, Patrice Federspiel?  She has taken my raw gift and nudged it forward, encouraging me to explore and to grow.  You can see her beautiful art work on her Website: patricefederspiel@artofaloha.com.  

There is so much truth behind “It takes a village…”.  My village consists of many.  Among them, my sister Jean, who has lovingly talked me through all the dark moments when I froze, filled with doubt and self-criticism; the times when I questioned the value of my painting.

Truth is, our gifts are the most important things we can share.  And so I decided to get this Website up and running.  My biography states my desire to uplift, to make someone smile, to share my love for the magic in life with others.  If I can bring a moment of joy to someone else by fulfilling my life-long dream, great.

There are many means to reach an end.  One pivotal moment now makes me laugh, and I see how important and perfectly timed it was.  My love Forrest has been with me from the beginning and I so (now-ha!) appreciate his honesty.  I showed him my very first painting I’d spent months on and he commented, “Well, you’ll never be a great painter, but you’ll have fun.”  Oh, my…did that raise some “Oh yeah?  I’ll show you” hairs on the back of my head.  

So, you see what I mean by zig-zaggy?  Landing in Honolulu; meeting Patrice; connecting with my wonderful man Forrest; being blessed by my sister Jean; first doing what others thought was right and then pursuing what makes me happy - that’s how I did it.  

And Forrest’s comment?  That really was what spurred me to be courageous, to make messes, to push myself beyond my comfort level, to start asking, “What if…?”  So, thanks to all of you and stay tuned!

Aloha,
Judy

(P.S. Forrest has since revised his opinion upwards.)