Kris, I couldn't love this more. Thank you for sharing these thoughts with us, and that cool Andy S t-shirt. Derrick is not much a leisure-reader, outside of the Bible and a few business-related books, he doesn't enjoy reading but I have Andy's books that I purchased at the Guild Conference and Derrick is smiling, laughing, pausing to reflect while reading his work, and I love it. Back to your post - I love your practice and pray, 'Lord, I pray that you bless this practice for Kris, let it be revealing and refreshing and affirming and soul-nourishing, in Jesus's name, Amen'. And WOW - creating for our pleasure...YES YES YES. I have always felt this YET feel the tension of needing to do it the other way around. Why? We need more voices like yours affirming this - sometimes people just need someone to tell them it's OK to be ourselves, crazy as that may sound, it's true. I'm on board with you. It only feels right that way. As I age, it's becoming a lot easier for me to wear the sparkly headband just cuz I like it, and create the art I want to because I want to...even if there is no demand for it. And a funny thing happened just yesterday...while at Barnes and Nobles with my boys, I fell in love with the cutest little bee stuffed animal. I said to Derrick, 'I used to love stuffed animals. I used to love buying them for my kids, even when some of them weren't stuffed animal friends, but it was mostly because I loved them. If I could, I would buy more stuffed animals.' and then I laughed it off. Well, later Derrick surprised me and bought the bee stuffed animal and he told me, 'you can....why can't you?' It almost brought me to tears. So, I'm using this little bee stuffed animal as a reminder to BEE me and 'give no more damns'. Thank you again. I love this post AND I am NOT going to apologize for this lengthy reply and worry it is too much. LOL. All my love to you.
Heck yes, to everything! I'm so excited and inspired by this. (You must be gesso-ing the cards first?) I'm looking for a deck...probably some old homeschool flashcards will work ; )
Kris, this is such a lovely practice to welcome in all the new! I’m grateful for all the ways you inspire, for reminding me that a “pivot” can be a good thing. Love you, friend.
Love this Kris. You are so well spoken, unique and creative. What a wonderful new practice for 2024. I have felt all of this. Struggling to be me in a world of conformity.
I am now 63 and I felt all of this after I went to school for photography at the age of 39, in 1999, surrounded by 18-20 year olds with a Jr. Higher, a 5th grader & one in kindergarten. Then I began working, creating, never wanting to be "like everyone else." Film was great like that. Then the digital world exploded in 2005. Suddenly, by 2008 Facebook was seemingly more important than a web portfolio, but I disagreed. "If God wants me to work or be found, that's all that matters." Just keep creating work that is "you," unique to your clients & reject fads. Then Instagram in 2010. One day in 2014 my youngest looked at my IG & told me I wasn't conforming so I'd never be popular. I told him "exactly!" (btw, none of my kids have ever cared about FB or IG) By 2019 most clients wanted to hand me a Pinterest board, as if I could have had my cat click the shutter while I setup & copied an image that did not come from my mind. At this point, I did only fly-on-the-wall editorial coverage work. It was real life the way I saw it. I could choose my light or angle as everything unfolded, practice and challenge my skills.
Now I'm trying something new here after having my entire world torn apart too. It's humbling, it's mine. It's non-conforming-imperfectly-me wrestling with me & God & it's extremely freeing. God is so good like that. (sorry, not sorry, this is long 😭).
Kris, what a beautiful testimony and expression, and I am so excited to see how God guides your creativity and art and words! Thank you for sharing your God-given gift with us! ❤️
Kris, I couldn't love this more. Thank you for sharing these thoughts with us, and that cool Andy S t-shirt. Derrick is not much a leisure-reader, outside of the Bible and a few business-related books, he doesn't enjoy reading but I have Andy's books that I purchased at the Guild Conference and Derrick is smiling, laughing, pausing to reflect while reading his work, and I love it. Back to your post - I love your practice and pray, 'Lord, I pray that you bless this practice for Kris, let it be revealing and refreshing and affirming and soul-nourishing, in Jesus's name, Amen'. And WOW - creating for our pleasure...YES YES YES. I have always felt this YET feel the tension of needing to do it the other way around. Why? We need more voices like yours affirming this - sometimes people just need someone to tell them it's OK to be ourselves, crazy as that may sound, it's true. I'm on board with you. It only feels right that way. As I age, it's becoming a lot easier for me to wear the sparkly headband just cuz I like it, and create the art I want to because I want to...even if there is no demand for it. And a funny thing happened just yesterday...while at Barnes and Nobles with my boys, I fell in love with the cutest little bee stuffed animal. I said to Derrick, 'I used to love stuffed animals. I used to love buying them for my kids, even when some of them weren't stuffed animal friends, but it was mostly because I loved them. If I could, I would buy more stuffed animals.' and then I laughed it off. Well, later Derrick surprised me and bought the bee stuffed animal and he told me, 'you can....why can't you?' It almost brought me to tears. So, I'm using this little bee stuffed animal as a reminder to BEE me and 'give no more damns'. Thank you again. I love this post AND I am NOT going to apologize for this lengthy reply and worry it is too much. LOL. All my love to you.
Heck yes, to everything! I'm so excited and inspired by this. (You must be gesso-ing the cards first?) I'm looking for a deck...probably some old homeschool flashcards will work ; )
Kris, this is such a lovely practice to welcome in all the new! I’m grateful for all the ways you inspire, for reminding me that a “pivot” can be a good thing. Love you, friend.
Love this Kris. You are so well spoken, unique and creative. What a wonderful new practice for 2024. I have felt all of this. Struggling to be me in a world of conformity.
I am now 63 and I felt all of this after I went to school for photography at the age of 39, in 1999, surrounded by 18-20 year olds with a Jr. Higher, a 5th grader & one in kindergarten. Then I began working, creating, never wanting to be "like everyone else." Film was great like that. Then the digital world exploded in 2005. Suddenly, by 2008 Facebook was seemingly more important than a web portfolio, but I disagreed. "If God wants me to work or be found, that's all that matters." Just keep creating work that is "you," unique to your clients & reject fads. Then Instagram in 2010. One day in 2014 my youngest looked at my IG & told me I wasn't conforming so I'd never be popular. I told him "exactly!" (btw, none of my kids have ever cared about FB or IG) By 2019 most clients wanted to hand me a Pinterest board, as if I could have had my cat click the shutter while I setup & copied an image that did not come from my mind. At this point, I did only fly-on-the-wall editorial coverage work. It was real life the way I saw it. I could choose my light or angle as everything unfolded, practice and challenge my skills.
Now I'm trying something new here after having my entire world torn apart too. It's humbling, it's mine. It's non-conforming-imperfectly-me wrestling with me & God & it's extremely freeing. God is so good like that. (sorry, not sorry, this is long 😭).
Thank you for the continued encouragement! ox
Kris, what a beautiful testimony and expression, and I am so excited to see how God guides your creativity and art and words! Thank you for sharing your God-given gift with us! ❤️
Excited for this new practice and this new year.