All through my childhood I dreamt of becoming a doctor. (My grandmother clung on to that as a stubborn toddler and expressed deep concerns as I came home with my art school degree) I was absolutely fixated on it, scavenged the library for books about it - until I ended up in highschool realizing I’d have to get top grades in math, chemistry and all the other classes I loathed. I succumbed to fact that arts came easy to me and come to think of it - probably would be more interesting to work with anyways. In fact, blood freaked me out, the thought of learning everything there is to know about cells made me fall asleep instantly, and did I really want to spend my days in a hospital - the least creative place I could ever think up? Nope.

So what was the allure?

Was it about helping people? Learning about the human body? Or was it just the stereotype of doctors being highly regarded (or in my grandmother’s case - worshipped) and overall just superior humans? I still don’t know, and to be fair, I still secretly binge medical dramas. Give me an emergency and I’ll tell you what needs to be done in a flash - We need a chest tube! Ultrasound, stat! So there’s clearly still something there.

My daughter is a tiny copy of me in that regard. Proudly proclaims she wants to be a Pediatrician and I secretly wonder if she’ll actually fulfill that dream or if she’ll end up with brushes in hand just like her mama, wondering what the heck happened.

Nobody I knew dreamt of becoming an artist, I certainly didn’t. Yet here I am, and I can’t think of a better way to spend my days. Would it sound better to say that I’m a doctor when strangers ask what I do? Very likely. I still find myself stumbling around the words when asked what I do. I suppose I believe people think artists just tinkers around in incense filled studios with large hats and long dresses waiting for inspiration to strike. But that might just all be in my own head.

I've been working hard on the gallery space I'm about to move in to. I just got a quote on lighting fixtures and nearly fainted but will find a way to keep the momentum up. Hopeful to move some paintings in there in the next two weeks so pictures coming soon! Simultaneously working on finishing enough work to fill the walls with, there is SO much I haven't shown you yet! Eek!