By SheelaR

My blog post “Advice for Artists” received a lot of unexpected positive feedback, so I’m working on another “Advice for Artists” post. My blog is kind of hodgy podgy, but I do try and write things that seem to get a lot of reads. My advice post and a previous art-related post garnered a lot of reads, questions, and feedback from readers, so I’ll try and bring more of that type of content.

Currently, the ‘Panama Papers’ scandal is one those topics that people seem to have an acute interest in; especially as it relates to the art world…my favorite subject 🙂  I’ve read quite a bit from the art publications that I’m subscribed to, but I feel like a need to educate myself a bit more before I can bring it to you. So, be patient with me. I’ve got a lots going on, but it’s at the top of my TO DO List. Well, I’m off… I’m going to take a short nap before I have to get back up and at it.

By SheelaR

I’ve been struggling with my mood all night. When that happens I tend to eat to comfort myself. What I’m discovering is that being on hiatus from my business hasn’t removed me from the stresses of being a business owner. Today was tough.  A mistake by an employee almost cost me my shirt. Instead of taking my anger and frustration out of them, I came home to seethe in private. I managed to salvage our long-standing relationship with a very important well-connected client. In other words… I had to kiss a lot of ass. I’m not complaining…it was worth it.

I hate burdening people with my problems, so I came home and I’ve been in this cycle of eating and sleeping all evening. I just finished cinnamon waffles, canadian bacon, and coffee. Yum! I’m feeling better. That was the right combination of delights. Lol

Anyways…

I wanted to write something profound tonight, because, I’ve got a lot on my mind and it has been tingling my brain all day.  However, my hard day caused a little bit of brain fog and I’ve not quite descended from it yet. Maybe I’ll get to it tomorrow after my Simply Beautiful by Sheelagh meeting. Anyhoo… I promised myself that I would not try to tackle anything complicated before bed, so I’m leaving this space for a more relaxing one in bed with a movie.

By SheelaR

We all have our preconceived notions about others. Anything preconceived, is generally born out of ignorance. I’m guilty of this, as is most people.  However, I’m always willing to admit that I’m wrong and is open to learning. It may take me a minute to get there…but often times with guidance, I do.  I grew up in a bubble, but I’m well traveled. You will often find my ignorance to be more of a local problem than an international one. I can tell you many things about other cultures, but often struggle with the ones in my own backyard, but once again, I’m learning. I will always be a work in progress.

Which brings me to this…

As a mixed-race woman, I’m often fighting against stereotypes and generalizations. Oddly enough, they are often stereotypes/generalizations that I can’t even begin to identify with. So, when someone on social media made a blanket statement about WOC (women of color), today…I was highly offended and perplexed. As a MOC (man of color) I expected him to stay away from such ignorant and offensive behavior, but he persisted. I found myself highly disgusted. I walked away from the conversation to keep from saying something that I would regret later. With my personality, walking away is always the best option in a heated moment.

When I engage in stereotypes/generalizations and someone takes me to task about it, I treat it as a learning moment. I don’t continue wallowing in my ignorance. I’m intelligent enough to know that I don’t know everything. At some point in all of our lives we need to get that point, otherwise…we grow old with our ignorance. I find it hard to have conversation with people once I know where their head is, particularly, when I know they engage in the kind of ignorance that is hurtful to me as a woman and a WOC.

I openly embrace and love all people. I don’t care about your religion or lack thereof; I don’t care about your race; how much you weigh; nor do I don’t care about how tall or short you are. I like to think that I’ve transcended the age of being openly and happily shallow and ignorant. Should you find me there, drag me out by my hair. If I find you there, I’ll do the same. However, if you kick and scream too loud I’m going to leave you there. It’s not my job to raise you.

It’s always disappointing to see anyone draw unnecessary comparisons based on their own very narrow point of reference. Unfortunately, it’s part of the human condition. However, the great thing about life..nothing is permanent but death. Get out there and grow.

By SheelaR

I’ve been fighting sickness for nearly 24 hours now. I’ve got a raging fever and my throat feels like I swallowed a gasoline soaked lit match. Ugh! Michigan is in the midst of bipolar weather and it is wreaking havoc on my allergies and immune system. Being sick has put a damper on my progress with my beauty product line, because I’ve been resting all day and I don’t feel like engaging with my entrepreneurial spirit.

Anyways…

Lots of things happened in the world today. Villanova has won wins NCAA with a last second three pointer against North Carolina. I didn’t watch, but I hear that it was a very exciting game. Congratulations Villanova!

By SheelaR

I’ve recruited my friend to help me sell Simply Beautiful by Sheela, but that’s old news… The new and good news is, she’s found a recipe for a body butter, and I LOVE IT! I applied some after my bath tonight and it is simply amazing. One product down…four more to go. I’m super duper excited to finally have a product that I’m completely satisfied with. All that time and money spent using the services of a professional was a hard lesson to learn, but a good one nonetheless.

Originally, her role was limited to marketing and selling the product from her home base, however… After becoming overwhelmed and frustrated with the hired help, I asked her to take on more responsibilities, which she was happy to do. She jumped right in and begin to make things happen on the development end. She’s promised to have another product ready by Saturday. I’m excited by her energy and drive.

The lesson in this for me has been to let go of control and trust in other peoples abilities to get the job done. My days as a micromanager are winding down, and it feels good. It’s stressful to always need that firm control over every aspect of my life. I’ve got lots of very capable people around me. Trusting them to do their jobs is a gift that I’m giving to myself.

By SheelaR

As an art consultant, I’m often asked for advice by artists. Often times, I share just a few things that I’ve garnered from my 8 years in the business. So, I thought I’d put together a list of some of the best and basic advice for you to ponder:

1. You’ll always have critics… Grow a thick skin and move on quickly. For every rung in the ladder you climb, there will be someone trying to knock you off two of them. Simply put… Ignore your critics. Your strength is in your vision. Find it and create it.

2. Practice your craft often…  The more you create, the more creative you become. Practice makes perfect, but strive for the beauty in imperfection and uniqueness.

 3. Marketing is your friend… No one will ever sale you like you can sale yourself, unless you pay them handsomely 🙂 Promote yourself and your art often. Visibility is key.

4. Nurture yourself…”A man should hear a little music, read a little poetry, and see a fine picture every day of his life, in order that worldly cares may not obliterate the sense of the beautiful which God has implanted in the human soul.” ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe  My favorite quote ❤ and the truest words for the soul of an artist. You should also take long walks, long baths, and drink copious amounts of wine.

5. Share and teach what you know… The goal is not to give away all your secrets, but by all means, sharing is caring. Pass on along some of your unique techniques that will make you all better humans and artists. Most of the time, you’ve borrowed your techniques from someone else and you don’t even know it.

6. Define and refine your perspective… Your style is unique to you and identifies you as an artist. Too much diversity makes you one of many. You want to separate from the crowd, not blend in with it.

7. Patience is key… Don’t be discouraged by how well someone else is doing or trends. There is always a market for your work. It may not happen when you want it too, but it’ll happen. Trust me… The right person will come along and open the floodgates.

And there you have it!

Simply Beautiful by Sheela

Although I’m on a professional hiatus from my consulting business, I’ve found myself in a whirlwind of activity surrounding my new business venture.  My day was super busy and a little stressful, but I enjoyed the challenges. It low-key felt good to be making the hard decisions again 🙂 Last week, I was in Miami to test product samples and that was a bit of a disappointment. So, I’ve got to start that process over. I’ve decided that is would make more sense to find a chemist closer to home to develop the actual product, and it allows me to have a more involved role in the process. So, that’s that…

Family

My family is going to Ireland in June. My family being, my parents, grandparents, several cousins, and few aunts and uncles – my included. I’m super excited, because I’ve not been since I was a wee girl (in my granny Ó Brien’s voice). My grandparents immigrated to America as a young newly married couple and have only traveled back to the island three or four times since leaving. It will be my greatest honor to be on what they’ve said is the last pilgrimage back. I’ll be well acquainted with my new camera by then, so I hope to take the most amazing photos of an epic family vacation.

Other

I’ve been asked to consult on a number of projects and mulling through those as I write this. One of the projects that excite me the most, is the one located in Washington, D.C. It’s being sponsored by a well-appointed NYC family. I don’t how my name got thrown in the mix, but I’m really happy about it. Success in this business can be tenuous, so It’s always an honor when people know your name and request your services.  The project will take me away from home for a couple of weeks, but it’ll be worth it. These are the moments art consultants live for.

I’m exhausted, so I’m about to climb into bed and finish season three of ‘Orphan Black.’ If I’m awake long enough, maybe start season four.

By SheelaR

Came to Miami to test out some samples for my beauty product line (Simply Beautiful by Sheela) and I am seriously disappointed. I’ve been trying to contain my frustration all day, and internalizing it is causing me to break out in a rash. I gave some very specific details on how I wanted it to look and feel, and it was the complete opposite. The formulas seem cheaply made and not organic at all. I should have known that it was too soon for him to have cranked out a quality product in such a short amount of time, but I had faith that it was possible. My own naivete at work…

I feel like I’ve flushed a significant amount of time, energy, and money down the drain. I don’t want to abandon my dream, but I can’t allow it to become the one thing I’ve worked so hard to avoid these last three months…stress. This means so much to me in the light of my melanoma scare last year.

I hate starting this process over, but what other choice do I have if I want this to happen? I don’t want a significant portion of my life to be spent in hotel rooms, so finding a chemist/herbalist closer to home is my next move. I need to be more hands on with this process, because no one is going to love and have the same level of passion about it as me.

I’m not a quitter, so the idea of giving up hurts my soul. I’ve got to see this product line to fruition. It’s another thing in my life that feels like giving birth, because I’m obsessed with the idea of giving life to something…anything (laughed out loud). I love the process of creating and all that it entails. It is the thing that makes me the happiest. Maybe my expectations were to high for his skill level and the time frame we agreed upon. I need a new plan for getting this done.

I going to watch a movie and maybe possibly drift off to sleep. Given the frenetic state my mind is in, that’s highly unlikely..but I’ll try anyway.  Worse case scenario…I end up wasting a couple of hours watching a really shitty movie.

By SheelaR

I love being up late at night when the world stops moving. I usually grab my earbuds and a cup of coffee.  When those two things happen, I put on some music and my favorite PJs.  It’s when I come alive. It is when the rawness of my chaotic mind slowly seeps from my soul. I think about all the would haves, could haves, and all the missed should haves. I feel more like me at night than at any other given time

My dad would often say… “Nothing good happens at night.” You’re so wrong dad… All the beautifully amazing and creative people happen at night. That’s when our plans for making the world a beautiful place takes shape. That’s why I’m picky about the music that permeates my soul. It aids in giving birth to whatever is happening in my head. I’ve got about 3000 songs, but you’ll find me listening to the same 100 or so of them. I’m such a creature of habit when it comes to my nighttime listening. I’m more adventurous with my musical selections during the day.

Anyways…

You ever think about someone every day, all day long, and suddenly, you find yourself not thinking about them at all? I’m scared of myself when that happens. I’m the kind of person that loves hard; I love with every inch of me, so getting there feels like a departure from who I am. My family, friends, and lovers are everything to me, so I hate when without notice…they disappear from my thoughts. I often find myself trying to drag them back into my thoughts. I hate losing connections. They haunt me. I always feel that I could have done more to save it all.

It’s probably not helping that I’m listening to “For the Good Times” by Al Green. This particular song always seem to add to my pensiveness. When visiting my grandparents as a child in Connecticut, my grandmother would have this on repeat. It kidnapped my little girl heart and is still holding me hostage. So, I want you to know… That if you should ever find that you need me, I’m going to be right here…. And we’ll do it one more time, for the good times 😉

By SheelaR

I’m experiencing some serious insomnia. Nothing I’ve tried seems to work. I’ve tried wearing myself out mentally and physically and it hasn’t made even the slightest dent in this crazy awake cycle I’m experiencing. So, I thought that it would be a good idea to purge my brain of these thoughts…

Did I mention how much I hate this election year? All that is truly ugly about America is not only evident to anyone here, but the rest of the world too. People I thought I knew and respected… I’m seriously questioning their ability to be reasonable and rational. It’s sad and disturbing. In addition to that…the very idea of the Obama’s leaving the White House is just unimaginable. They’ve been the epitome of class and excellence.

Most of the country and world seem to be afraid of a Trump presidency. It really is horrifying to think of. If you’ve seen any amount of coverage from his rally’s, you should understand the weariness. It’s like watching old clips of Adolph Hitler. He’s a charlatan peddling hate and intolerance and his supporters are eating it up as if they’ve been invited to the last supper. They are hungry for a change that isn’t conducive to a healthy America.

The hate and vitriol is so palpable, that it can be tasted in one’s mouth. Most of this hate is simply driven by eight years of a Barack Obama presidency. They’ve descended into some desperate attempt to take America back from the clutches of a man they hate for unreasonable reasons. None of this is actually because he’s not done a decent job, but because he’s not ‘American’ enough. I’m hoping that I don’t need to spell out what that means…

Donald Trump’s tagline is “Make America Great Again.” I wonder which era in American history is he referring to? It’s not been great for everyone. Just ask the blacks, the Japanese, and the Irish…just to name a few. It’s no secret that Donald’s father had a history with the Klu Klux Klan, and Donald himself was hesitant to denounce the support of a white supremacist organization and former KKK Grand Dragon, David Duke. Nothing in the Drumpf family history should be discounted or whitewashed. It’s all relevant to who he currently is. The man before us should be feared, not because of his perceived power, but because he appeals to a loud raucous crowd of people who are interested in the truth.

It’s time for a serious pushback and collective rejection of this man and his antiquated ideas. There is no place in polite society for those who are unable and unwilling to embrace the world as it is…diverse. We must continue with forward movement, however, never forgetting the ugly past that we seem doomed to repeat. We must send Donald Trump and his supporters a clear message. A message that rejects the idea that America’s greatness is contingent upon the alienation of Muslims, Mexicans, and the very people who built this country, African Americans. This nation is a mixing bowl. We can’t allow him to pick out the parts he doesn’t like.

He’s opened Pandora’s Box, and it can never closed again, not in our lifetime. All we can do from this point forward is to put in place the tools of change for the next few generations. We simply can’t unsee what has already been seen. I implore you to get out and vote.  Exercise your civil responsibility. Take your children along. They must learn and respect this process early. It is upon you to create the next generation of proactive and not reactive citizens.

From the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, “Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.”