Have you ever had a moment when you realized that what you were after was there from the very beginning?
Feels particularly momentous to share here, as this blog is literally where the podcast began in 2006. And when the podcast began so did the blog "technically" because I was encouraged to post on the blog to announce each episode.
A decade later. Completely full circle moment. I’m about to do the same thing.
I’ve been quiet on the blog this year, mostly because of other priorities around what I want to create and and where I choose to share right now. Most of my writing goes into my email list these days with quick posts to Instagram, Facebook and even twitter from time to time.
I wish I could be everywhere, do everything, really I do. But it’s going to take more of me and I’m working on that too :)
When I come back here it feels so familiar and like a time past. The responsibilities of business owners, especially for small business owners and solo-preneurs have multiplied to ridiculous levels. It is simply no longer possible to do what we used to do back in the early blogging and social media days as a team of one - while still having time to actually make the "product" you are selling to support your business in the first place.
Grappling with that as someone who held out until the last possible moment before hiring help has been challenging. I’ve been re-evalulating a lot this year including where to take this blog?
What this time has done, is give me clarity on where I want to share again and ironically, it’s podcasting. I do miss the community and the dialogue I once had here very much. I know many of you are still with me on the journey, I just don’t know where to go to find all of you together and I know that this probably isn’t even possible any more. So I’ll find you where I can find you, but I have decided to make a new consistent home within the podcast so you know where to find me!
Expressing verbally still comes easiest to me and having the opportunity and place to share conversations with those I admire, am inspired by and I know will keep it real. There’s nothing better. Maybe it just took me a decade to be ready for that...more thoughts on that topic later and most probably in the podcast. Especially the first episode where I touch upon this topic briefly.
The good thing about the podcast is that does encourage me to post written notes and or links related to each episode back to a post. And while I am considering moving all of this to my main site, for now those episode posts will be shared here. And this also means that many of those broken links from early episodes will eventually be getting fixed. Some that are still relevant may get posted to the new podcast home.
I had hoped to get the first 3 episode show notes up for you today but if you read above, you now know why that didn’t happen ;) BUT! the good news is! the podcast launched as promised and I’m planning to post a new episode every Thursday {forever - for now ;)} We may take a short holiday break over Christmas and New Year’s or we may not, as it may be the perfect time for you to tune into some inspiring conversations in your down time, while you’re creating, cooking, cleaning, driving in traffic, or simply need stolen moment and break from Holiday family time.
Looking forward to picking up the dialogue again, so if you feel inspired to share, please send me your questions, thoughts, topic and guest requests. Together we’ll take this new chapter of the podcast where it is meant to go.
Season 2 of the new series is happening also in early 2018! I just wanted to get the podcast up and going first to get some momentum going into the next Season launch.
For now, Happy Creative Thursday friends! You can listen to the first 3 episodes here
Listen to the podcast bit.ly/creativethursdaypodcast
Oh and! 7 days of giveaways. If you love what you hear, please tell everyone you know :) and if you feel inspired to leave a review, please do! (especially over the next 7 days) Because when you do, if you take a screenshot before you submit the review {because iTunes takes a bit to post the reviews) , email it to marisa{@}creativethursday.com and you will be entered in the giveaway that day to win an 8.5" x 11" art print of your choice!
Enjoy! and thanks for your support so far!
Currently Reinventing, digital filing {SO fun! and SO long overdue} while painting a Summer Floral Collection releasing to the brand new website August 24. A revisit to this blog and decisions about where it will be in the Creative Thursday world are coming next.
Late yesterday our second Kickstarter Campaign went LIVE! Thank you for all your support with Season 1! For sharing your stories and backing our first campaign to make this interview series a reality.
We’d love your support to help make Season 2 happen! Planning for a launch this Fall 2017
Can’t wait to bring you the stories of 6 more inspiring creatives ❤️Marisa
p.s. I will be a mermaid in this season 😉
Wishing you a beautiful weekend and this is me SIGNING OFF for the first time in YEARS!!!
If you know me, then you know I have mixed feelings about social media. {maybe I’m not alone?}
A career that started when the internet began {at least the version we publicly started using, not the one Al Gore invented} and a business that has been dedicated to sharing my work, thoughts, person, online consistently for over a decade. I think I could use a little break, don’t you? And maybe you could use a break from me? While I’m not a compulsive poster and I’ve still never fully warmed to FB, it’s fair to say I haven’t taken a break longer than a few days in years, not even when I’ve gone on “vacation” which I haven’t taken a lot of those either.
To be honest I have no idea if I actually can take a solid break, which scares me just a little. I don’t know anymore what life feels like when I’m not posting or “liking” something somewhere on social media. I often complain that I just don’t have time for it all, which I don’t. {which is I’m making another change and hiring someone to help!} I also struggle with the fact that creating art and sharing the process as it’s happening just aren’t always in the same brain hemisphere. But like many of us, I’m adjusting to this new world that I helped to create, that will forever more change daily.
What I want to know with a week away {starting small} is A) can I truly stay away? I might have to sneak posts or stories or likes in there… B) Will I feel like I have more brain power, creative inspiration and energy and focus C) Will I miss seeing what you all are up to {yes probably} D) will it help me stop what feels like the never-ending cycle of comparison - where nothing ever feels enough anymore or E) will I finally feel like I can be fully, consistently engaged in my life F) Will I realize that I blame a lot on social media that really has to do with my own inner compass. Maybe? but I won’t know until I step away, for the first time ever.
The other truth is I’m thankful to be connected with you in this space, and there’s a lot I’d love to do and share on social media and even here again on this blog. I just haven’t found my way to doing it yet. again with the time…maybe the refresh will be just the thing I need to invite a new perspective and inspire what’s next.
2 years ago April 3rd, escrow closed and we officially became Los Angeles homeowners.
A day we will never forget, one that took a village - literally - combined with piecing together of every bit of our financial story to make it happen. (Lenders do not make it easy for the self-employed)
I’m posting this to celebrate, to mark a turning point and to remind you (and me) that life always has a way of working out. I hesitate to share how “hard" it was to get here, because I’m done perpetuating “the struggle". But sometimes the life and specific direction I’ve chosen has felt like an uphill battle. But that’s why I’m an artist and an entrepreneur - I don’t follow the herd, and I don’t share the same point of view as the masses. I’m the one who thinks outside of the box, asks questions and moves things forward sometimes to places even I wasn’t sure were possible. This isn’t easy and those of you who are also taking this path know what I’m talking about. I’ve learned and am relearning that it always comes down to how I choose to perceive my circumstances that makes all the difference in how “hard” life is going to sometimes feel.
Home ownership was not new to me and when I gave up my first home in L.A., the proceeds of the sale became the investment I needed to build Creative Thursday. To find my way back to home ownership again after selling that house to build this same business was a big accomplishment and a dream fulfilled. However, investing in a house at the very moment my business was going through some scary financial shifts, on the heels of failed and expensive fertility treatments, was beyond uncomfortable and stressful. But when the house we fell in love, that we happened to already be renting, was going on the market? we had to try.
Buying this house took a big leap of faith, plus persistence in the face of many “no’s”. With a fierce determination, a knowing that there’s always a way and the support of many, Sean and I made it happen and are still making it happen. Two bumpy years in, it feels like we’re gradually finding our footing again. And every day we wake up we could not be more thankful that the perfect timing led us here. We LOVE this house, our neighborhood and our neighbors so, so much, and not to mention the tiny critters (pepita, mae mae and anderson cooper) who unexpectedly found homes with us here. The support, connections and friendships we have on our block are unlike any other neighborhood I’ve ever lived in.
We now know that landing here came at the exact perfect timing. We couldn’t always see it...especially that day when our former next door neighbors unexpectedly bought the last house we were renting and we had to move suddenly and the only way to break the news to Sean was a shot of tequila after crying the news to my friend over dinner...If we only knew it was all just leading us here, it might have eliminated the fear accompanied by so much anguish. And now we have this beautiful house as a daily reminder to fear less, trust more - to let go of the struggle and enjoy the process.
Thank you to everyone who came out for our opening on Saturday!
In between shows, I forget just how much effort goes into an opening night. From painting to curating to hanging to marketing {& more marketing} to creating a warm environment where everyone feels inspired and welcome. A joyful and uncomfortable process all rolled into one. All with no guarantees of number in attendance or art sales.
No matter how many times you share your work and ~ stretch ~ as an artist, you never get used to it. This is why support in all forms is always so appreciated, especially in person.
Think about someone who could use your support right now and pass it on. You can never underestimate how much it means when you show up for someone else.
The painting featured: "What did the Dinosaur say to Everyone?" also titled "all of me" as this is one of my largest pieces to date.
L.A. friends! We invite you to join us at our 3rd art opening! "Fool’s Gold" featuring new paintings by Outi Harma and Marisa Cummings @ the pArty! 5522 W. Pico Blvd today {no prank, no joke!} April Fool’s Day, April 1 from 6 - 10 pm.
Look forward to seeing you Saturday!
Couldn’t choose just 1 so I went with both! the Unicorn and the Narwhal are here! Thank you again for all your voting help :)
Because of YOU, today’s a BIG DAY!
10 years ago exactly I listed my first collection of prints in my Etsy shop. Thanks to Holly’s support + blog mention and those amazing early days of Etsy when you could find new artists in a minute - I had my first 8 orders in 24 hours. After 2 years of inconsistent sales and growing debt, March 7, 2007 was a turning point, the day I started to make a living as an an artist ~ a day I’ll never forget.
For someone creative, who chose not to go to art school because I didn’t think it was possible for me to make a full time living with my art - this isn’t a life I thought could be mine and yet it is. cliche or not - it’s a dream come true. Always has been and still is.
I sometimes wonder how it all happened? {although I know how much work went into the past decade} holding my breath as I try to evolve and take risks as a business owner and artist. Will my collectors and supporters, continue to love what I create, from art to sculptures, ceramics, a book, podcast, video series, courses and fabric. One day at a time, one month at a time, I’m still here, 10 years later {technically 13} and more excited than ever to keep creating and sharing it with you.
While hearts, followers, likes and comments are much appreciated, there’s nothing like the moment a collector purchases your art and becomes a loyal customer. Creative Thursday exists because of our beautiful customers. For those of you who have been with me since the beginning, endless thanks.
And to those of you who are new to Creative Thursday, Welcome! I’m excited to have you all along for the ride. Always, big plans, BIG plans for sharing more joy, inspiration and empowerment with you through thoughtful art, conversation and education. And always cheering you on as you find more fulfillment in your daily life, especially with creativity.
BIG THANKS, BIG LOVE!
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And if you want to do some Holiday shopping. There’s still time to get your gifts!
