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A few of you have reached out because of the long, uninterrupted silence on my weekly blog lately. I'm so hopeful you are doing well and life is keeping you in pursuit of the things you love, despite these strangest of times. The reason you haven't heard much from Joyful Brush Studio recently is...we have some big news! This is something we never would have believed would happen even a few months ago, but now it is absolutely undeniable.
Scroll down for the details, a few of which affirm and confirm the fact that the life of a full-time artist, the spinning cogs and wheels of a busy art business, and the doors that open beautifully and unexpectedly, are always on the horizon if your heart is open to the light.
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Scroll down for the details!
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| | | | | Vintage Sunflowers, oil, a Joyful Brush Lesson, information |
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| | | Monthly classes are blooming |
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Are ready for a beautiful painting adventure but want to stay home and stay safe on a budget? Joyful Brush is celebrating its fourth year and is home away from home to hundreds of artists from around the world. A monthly online class and a respite for the creative soul,Joyful is affordable, inspirational, and a great place to reawaken your love of color.
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There are dozens of new lessons blooming and weekly live events in your Joyful Facebook groups. If you're looking for an uplifting, encouraging and positive group of artists to thrive and grow with creatively, there is an easel reserved with your name on it in Joyful Brush! Cultivate your creativity brilliantly all year long, through every season of your art journey, from the comfort of your home studio.
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The older I get, the more I believe there are no accidents in life. Too many gorgeous threads have been woven into my path, securing my connection to this art journey, to attribute circumstance to chance. The moment we arrived here at our new home in Colorado Springs, fabulous local artists including Laura Reilly and Pam Holnback (and others!) reached out with open arms and hearts, and welcomed us. The cool summer has fueled my creativity, and painting outdoors has been a dream come true.
But something just hasn't felt right. During one of our morning walks, I mentioned to Carlos that my basement studio is not making me happy. Feeling disconnected from the rest of our home life, feeling I'm being banished downstairs each time I want to be creative, has been erasing my motivation. I missed seeing trees out the window, and having natural light coming in when I'm working. What I really wanted was views of aspens and mountains. I knew these were crazy, unreasonable dreams, because we had just moved, after all, and could never afford a McMansion on Pike's Peak. However, my hubby took these musings quite seriously. By the end of the day, he was looking for a new home.
We reached out to the realtor who helped move us here from Texas and gave him our insane, unreasonable, and unattainable wish list for a house that was affordable, with all the bells and whistles an artist would want. For weeks we looked at new builds, we looked at older homes, and we were just about ready to accept the fact that there was no way we could find what we wanted in the hottest real estate market in the US - Colorado Springs. We had seen four houses and driven by two without stopping in one day, and went home dejected and ready to begin searching our second choice location, the State of Washington. But then, we looked again at one of listing we had skipped, and decided to give it a chance.
When we arrived, we climbed the steps to a wraparound deck and found ourselves inside a home filled with light. Surrounded by aspens and blue spruce, with soaring ceilings, an open floor plan with hardwood floors and stone fireplaces on two levels. As we stood in our stocking feet feeling a bit stunned, two elk walked up just outside the window and began munching on the neighbor's bushes. One lay down under a pine tree and took a nap.
The home, we learned, was custom built by a husband and wife who were artists. They wanted natural light, high ceilings, and an unobstructed view of Pike's Peak. Included was an art studio with north facing windows and skylights, waiting for a new occupant to bring her brushes in and stay awhile. We made an offer the same day, and the sellers stopped all scheduled showings for the rest of the afternoon. They accepted our offer. Located just five miles from our current home, we're hoping for an easy move at the end of October, and are so glad to stay in Colorado Springs, the biggest small town we've ever known. I've fallen in love with the shops and galleries in Old Colorado City, the historical downtown museums and hotels, Garden of the Gods, Manitou Springs, and all the amazing things that make this town unique. Was it luck that we found an artist's home, right here where we wanted to be all along? I don't think so. I think it was something much bigger. Life takes, life hurts, life is hard sometimes, but it also gives and lifts up.
We've already made such good friends here, and I'm so very thankful we will not be leaving them behind and starting over. I'm also thankful to my students and collectors, who have made this journey possible. Art built this home. To each of you who is an artist, who is striving to build a career as a creative, don't stop pushing forward. The best and most incredible gifts are just ahead, if you have the courage to dream them.
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| I'll be sharing pictures of our new home coming up in the next newsletter. It's a perfect time to move, because we are opening a new online class, Return to Monet's Garden, in just a few weeks!
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| | Our new neighbors have pets!
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| | | | | | | | | | | A studio full of peonies ~ priceless!
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| | | | | | | | Peonies touring the Tulip Gardens of Paris!
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"I have been following my bliss with Nancy and the flower family for four years now. Nancy, you are an awesome teacher and an inspiring person, so much that I feel I know you personally. You and Carlos have done a great job of offering professional videos that allow your personal style of teaching to shine." ~ Leigh Howard
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"I highly recommend taking all of Nancy Medina's online courses. She is a wonderful teacher and artist. She holds nothing back and the videos are shot high quality. She has lots of extras where you can ask questions and the paintings are full of colour and beauty. The screen shows the setup and Nancy's painting. Her palette is on one screen, which is very helpful. A perfect companion to assist you in finding your own style. I've taken other online courses and these are the most professionally shot and organized." ~ Elizabeth Mitchell
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"I first saw Nancy's paintings on Pinterest and immediately fell in love with them. That's when my search for this phenomenal artist began! I am in most of her online classes and love them all." ~ Cousin Val B'dreaux
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"Well, I want to recommend Nancy's workshops to my friends, but I am afraid I will have to warn them it may change their lives! Going to France and watching Nancy paint was one of the best experiences of my life. The conversations I had with everyone prompted me to do some serious soul searching. While we were at the Abbey, I got a text asking me if I would be interested in a job. It would be working for a small county and would be a salary cut. Normally, I would have said no, but I realized on this trip that I wanted to paint more and my present job was too emotionally draining. So I accepted the job and this morning I felt energized enough to paint before work. You have really changed my life for the better!" ~ Cindy Zuniga ~ France 2019 Alumni
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"In August, I was thrilled to take a painting class from Nancy Medina. It was wonderful watching the master paint and being able to ask questions. If you get the opportunity to enroll in a class, jump on it!" ~ Dian Renfro
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"It was pure pleasure spending the last few days painting with you in Flower Mound Studio. Such a welcoming home with amazing Southern hospitality. I felt energized and yet reflective and calm at the same time. You have revived my passion and curiosity for my own journey. Thank you for encouraging all of us to feel special and worthy. I enjoyed every single minute of getting to know you and the other girls. I will likely be a repeat offender - LOL!" ~ Wendy Angel, Canada
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"I appreciate all the work you put into your paintings and classes. This is very much needed for all of us who need to work from home and yet be a part of an energetic group of artists! Your paintings are awesome and I can feel the joy you offer. I'm so glad I decided to paint with you." ~ Penny Fox
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"Every single lesson of The Joyful Brush presents a masterpiece! I am always so impatent to get my new monthly classes." ~ Christiane Kingsley
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"I can't tell you how much I've learned from our workshop in Flower Mound Studio. Nancy is so giving with her gift. And Carlos gets the best husband award. Having a blast with this group of people and pugs!" ~ Diana McClarnon
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"I attended Nancy's workshop for the last three days. Nancy always exceeds my expectations. I absolutely love every minute of her two-hour demos. She doesn't sent you off to your easel to face a blank canvas alone. She's right there for support and a step by step process. If you haven't stepped out of your comfort zone to take Nancy's workshop, you have no idea what you are missing. Start your journey either in person or online. You won't regret it!" ~ Deb Stone
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| | | | | A precious moment with my honey in Paris!
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| Here's my message for you:
Living, painting, & moving
toward your joy!
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Seven years ago, I quit my corporate job as the director of a national magazine to become a full time artist and art teacher. One morning I had an epiphany: Life is too short not to follow your bliss. I never dreamed that painting would someday allow me to travel around the world.
In the past year, I've worked with Disney and painted on national TV! Every day I wake up and my heart surges with happiness. Yes I am an artist. Yes, this is what I do for a living. Yes, I am a lucky girl. Thank you to each of you who have walked with me on this path. Whatever your tomorrow brings, may it be filled with color!
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