For my second blog post I thought I would tell you about my journey as an artist, and the events that lead me to where I am today.
I grew up on a southern Wisconsin dairy farm, where I learned to work hard, and to appreciate the fertile and picturesque landscape that surrounded me. For as long as I can remember artistic endeavors were what I excelled at, so there was no question as to what I would study after high school. I enjoyed my five years at college, and worked hard at it. The only problem was knowing what I would do with an art degree. My professors were rather silent on that subject and I had no clear goal in mind. I simply didn’t know what my options were. I just figured something would fall into my lap, and for awhile, fortunately, things kind of did.
Catalina
After earning a bachelor of fine arts degree in 1998 my first job was working as the summer art instructor at the Catalina Island Marine Institute (CIMI). It was awesome! I spent every day outside under a grove of huge eucalyptus trees with a view of the ocean leading 9-18 year olds in various arts and crafts projects. Southern California life (island style) was an entirely new adventure for me. I’d never even been in the ocean before so getting to experience things like sea kayaking, snorkeling, sailing on a tall ship, chumming for eels and Mola Molas was all an incredible new adventure.
I had no previous teaching experience nor an intention of going in that direction but one thing led to another…..
Astrocamp
The next fall I found myself working as a physical science/outdoor ed. instructor at CIMI’s sister facility, Astrocamp, located in the pine forests of southern California’s San Jacinto Mountains. It was another gorgeous location, and a wonderful time meeting new friends and learning things I’d never dreamed I would be teaching to others (an artist teaching astronomy!!) I had to learn fast.
In between these seasonal jobs I went back home and did a lot of substitute teaching. I was getting used to this classroom business.
Cruise Ships
My next adventure was working as a youth activities director aboard several different Holland America cruise ships, sailing in both the Caribbean and Southeast Alaska. I’d never been on a cruise before so, again, this was a whole new world to me. It was a lot of fun, and getting paid to travel while working was a great way to see the world.
Reality Sets In
Eventually I came to the point where I had outgrown this seasonal job lifestyle and felt that I needed to move on, but found myself back in that post-college-no-direction limbo. I decided to move with my sister (fresh out of the Peace Corp) to Minneapolis, hoping undiscovered opportunities awaited me there. No such luck. I ended up working three part-time jobs, earning just enough to pay the rent, but not enough money or time to explore what the city might have to offer. It didn’t take long to discover that city life was not at all to my liking. I had to get out of there! This feeling of desperation propelled me into serious thought about my next move.
After much contemplation I made the decision to return to school to get my teaching certification in K-12 art. That fall I was back in Wisconsin attending UW-River Falls. A little over a year later I was finished with my courses and student teaching requirement. In November of 2005, at age 30, I started my first “real job” at an elementary school in Racine, Wisconsin within view of Lake Michigan. It wan’t exactly the age group or location I was hoping for, but it provided stability. I was finally going to stay in one place for awhile, allowing me the time and space to make art. After awhile my portfolio started to grow enough for me to begin doing art fairs. I started by selling hand made note cards with images of my watercolors, which are still my biggest seller, and eventually added original paintings and art prints.
New Scenery
After teaching for ten years I was ready for a change. When the opportunity came along I jumped at the chance to leave my job and move to the other side of the state to the hills of the Driftless Region in western Wisconsin. I’m so happy to be back living in the country where I have room to plant my own garden, keep some animals, and live a more self-sufficient lifestyle. I’m also excited to have so much more time to dedicate to being a working artist. I feel a bit slow in coming to use the internet to share my art, but better late than never. I will try my best to make it a success, and I thank you for taking the time to follow along in my new life as a farmer artist.
