Y’all I’m so excited! Today I’m interviewing with the host of the Yes Effects Podcast, Shelly Varela. We talked all about using art to heal, give you hope and plan your future. Fun fact: Shelli is also a Story Alchemist so she was able to unravel some of the gems that are sitting right under the surface in my story.
So many of you are new to Texas Art & Soul and are just now learning how painting can heal and give you hope. So we just wanted to give you all a little background on how all of this got started. If you are thinking maybe you’re a really great crafter or painter then you will be able to see how this can go from just this idea to it changing your life in every way possible.
Using Art to Heal and Finding Hope
I was an Art teach for 10 years and I remember making $22,000 a year and I had a new baby and thinking at that time how we need more income. I went to a painting party called How Great Thou Art. There I was painting along and the teacher would come by and say how good I was doing. I remember her saying like, man you’re really good and we’re looking for artists instructors, I can pay you $50 for two hours. With tears coming down my face I was like, I can make an extra $50 in just two hours? So, I taught my first paint party class.
Eventually she either left or closed the business. She had a private party that she said I could teach if I wanted. So, I took a day off of teaching to teach the private party and made like $350 in just a couple of hours. I thought, I don’t make near that as a teacher and I decided to continue with the paint parties and then the Surfboard business came along. That business really changed my perspective on everything!
Hope for the Future
I’ve had so many lightbulb moments through the years. The main one is when I had to file bankruptcy and we lost everything. I was just devastated and used art to heal and it also gave me hope. I was teaching at the time and would bring these wood decorative surfboards with me to class to work on during lunch. The kids would just go crazy and always wanted me to paint them a surfboard. So, after about 150 kids said “can you paint me one?” I thought, this may be a way I can get my family out of this situation.
So, we set up a place in Pier Park that was a rented concrete space. We go all set up and nobody came to it. I was freaking out so my mother-in-law and I walked over to Buffalo Wild Wings and got a drink at the bar and then another. Then Bobby called me and that’s when everything changed. He was like, you have to get over here, you have orders! So, I tipsily walk across the street and he hands me all these paper tickets.
That moment has defined everything for me. In that moment, God scooped me up and not only said it was going to be okay, but that I was going to be able to do what I loved forever. So, I happily painted the surfboards that whole night. We ended up selling $20,000 worth of surfboards in less than 2 months. Then it went to paint party after paint party. All of the sudden people wanted to know how I did it and that’s how we got here to Paint Party Headquarters.
Fear in Motion
Y’all, I had no idea that when I first did that $50 paint party for two hours and started selling those surfboards that my life could be totally encompassed with art in every moment. I wanted that but had no idea it was possible.
If you’re waiting for the moment to be afraid, it’s not coming. When you look at those people that are in a position that you aspire to, understand that the courage is fear in motion, they started before they were ready. A lack of nervousness might not be coming. But greatness is coming. And joy is coming. And freedom is coming if you answer the tap, because courage is just fear, emotion.
There is a whole world of opportunity out there if you start looking for it. Are you ready to grow your creative business online? Take this free training to learn how to teach painting online! Get the FREE training here.
Watch Shelly and me talk about using art to heal and find hope here:
More posts to read:
It’s True, The Introvert Influences 10,000 People in Their Lifetime
How Teaching Paint Parties Can Change Your Life For The Better
Trying: Must-Hear Business Inspiration from a Children’s Book
