Declaration of Independence!!

Two weeks ago, Monday, March 24, I told my boss at the frame shop that i worked at for 3 years that "my time there had expired" and that I was ready to move on. to her surprise, and mine, she was already setting up to let me go that Wednesday. Really it was a comical but also freeing experience. I worked till that Thursday and I was home free. 

The reason I quit was because 1, I had felt in my gut since last November that my time there was coming to an end. Really I was just stalling, procrastinating on leaving. However the week I had prior stirred my Spirit, which moved me to end it that week. I was fully ready to work an extra two weeks but God had other plans. A few things had panned out around that exact time in order to give me the push I needed:

I had an Artist Talk at my Burnout and Black Artist exhibit and one of the attendees, now a commissioned client, (cant wait to share those images) paid the highest I've ever received for any art i have created and sold so far! 

then my sample watches came in as well. Interesting full circle moment, I only got the job at the Frame Shop in order to fund my watch business, but along the way I was dragged by the day to day need for a consistent paycheck, prolonging my stay there. 

I was having too many conversations with God, self and friends about wanting to leave and not leaving. I have learned and gained so much from the Art and Frame Shop. I do have it in the works to create illustrations for everyone that worked there. but since working there I have had 3 high placement exhibitions and one being a solo exhibition! truthfully without the materials and discounts I got from there I dont know how I wouldve really done those exhibitions. What's funny is my mother, when i first started working there, kept trying to convince me to not work there, but again my Spirit knew that there is where I was supposed to be. I knew I was to supposed to gain something from that experience and I did, more than I expected and for that I am extremely grateful.

But now it being 4/7/25 I am almost half way done with that big commission and I am currently working on a mural!!! This is a great start that I will soak in as much as possible. being an artist is tough, being an artist and entrepreneur is probably way more tough. So i expect challenges, I welcome them, I will overcome them. I have a lot more free time and still a good amount of sources of income. I am using this time to pour into those different sources and creating a schedule that works similar to a 9-5 structure where i focus on all the different aspects of being an artist and a functional business. 

I will add that I still work part time at the YMCA's Black Box theatre, part time teaching artist with Art Prevail Project and still do writing workshops at the Ali Cultural center. Multiple streams of income people! But I am a full time artist! 

This post alone is apart of my hefty to do list of Admin things, along with a few updates on this site. 

I am excited for this new chapter in my life, It's been baking in the background for a while and now is the time to be proactive in the cooking and the eating. 

There so much in store for us! But i'll continue with the food analogy to end this post:

Eat slowly, so you dont choke or upset your stomach. if you have a full plate, share a meal or save the rest for when you can eat. consume things that will boost your body mind and soul!