Changing & Evolving

Life doesn’t always go to plan, and that is ok because change can be good. We change and evolve as we get older. It can lead us down paths we never envisioned, unexpected opportunities, and most importantly, growth. Embracing change, learning and adapting is all part of the journey of life.

When I first started my business journey, I would never have expected that I would still be going some 7 years later. It has evolved many times, starting off with fluid art. This form of art really captivated me with the way the paint moved and formed lines and created cells. But it wasted a LOT of paint. I looked into ways to use up this dried left over paint and my earrings were born. They then evolved into my most recent type of earring, using resin and synthetic paper. I loved making these, and I even was able to give up a secure job to make a living out of them. It was amazing!

I started to dabble in painting artworks and forgot how much I had missed using a brush. I had many different styles and couldn’t settle on one. I created many commissions which was extremely moving and often resulted in tears for the purchaser – happy tears of course!  I thought my art career was heading in the right direction!

Then the world started feel the financial effects of the covid years and so my time working for myself full time had to come to an end. I went back into the mainstream workforce, and my art had to take a back seat. I wasn’t loving making earrings any more and it felt like a chore a lot of the time. This is when you know you’ve lost the spark. I worked and raised my kids and did a bit of art here and there. Then the big changes came!

My eldest applied for and got into the Air Force. My youngest applied for a sports scholarship to play footy, and was successful. Alas it was not what he expected and he wasn’t enjoying his time there at all, so he’s back home with us. He is only young and it is a massive change to go from quiet, little old Tassie to the centre of Melbourne, living on the school campus, the fast paced life and all that goes with it.

We had decided that we were going to do something we wanted to do 20 years ago, and that was to move to the mainland. With both the boys gone it was the perfect time. But life has other plans. So what had been stopping us for all these years? Why didn’t we move when we could? Fear of failure and family pressures? Creating a secure life for our family and bringing them up in a place that was good to raise kids was, and still is, at the forefront. So it looks like we’re in Tassie for a bit longer. But hey, who knows what tomorrow will bring!

However, if there is something I have learnt over the years, it’s that your life can change in a moment. Not everything maps out as you had planned, or how you wanted it to go. If we had a crystal ball that would be amazing, but on the flip side isn’t the unknown part of the journey? The learning along the way and stepping out of our comfort zone.

Another thing that has changed is my art style. I finally feel like I am in a place where I am happy and consistent with my art. It has changed a number of times over the years and if you’ve been following along this year, you will notice I have picked up the ipad again and started working on some landscapes. I am in the process of turning this one (above) of Cradle Mountain (my favourite place!) into an A1 artwork. I will also be turning these landscapes into magnets and have some on the way! Fingers crossed they look good and are strong enough – watch this space.

I have also gained a qualification as an Art Therapy Practitioner which I plan on incorporating into my business in some way. This qualification has seen me evolve. I have learnt so much about myself, the mind and how people think. I am learning to not take life so seriously (although I will always stress about bills).

The older I get the more I realise that you only have one life, and you’ve just gotta make the most of it. Change is a given and we need to embrace it and see the positives in it. When one door closes, another one opens. I'm a firm believer of everything happens for a reason. When it's your time to shine, that's your time.  

Much love

Annie xx