Category: #30DaysOfArtChallenge

Posted on

The WTF Moment

Kristen and I have been discussing what her own tattoo studio would look like for years.

A year ago we started looking at properties in our desired area. Prejudices met us at every phone call and email. We weren’t ready to reach out to our social circles and we felt isolated and frustrated.

We paused in our searching and concentrated on devising creative solutions. We reached out to arts groups and business-owning friends, but still there was little to encourage us.

At the beginning of this year, we both felt that we were poised for the next chapter of our lives. Co-owning a business felt so right that we decided to again dive into the world of commercial realty to see what we could discover. We found more properties, sent more emails, made more calls, filled out more web forms, and carefully pushed when we met resistance. Over and over we were turned away or ignored. It was frustrating, but signs started to appear. They were vague, but it was clear that we were meant to keep pushing. My mantra became, “This place wasn’t right for us, we were blessed to be rejected.”

Then, a few weeks ago, Reneé from Elevated Studios texted me. They were moving their school to a larger location and there was an open space adjacent to the one they were considering. She connected me directly with the landlord and the puzzle started to fall together.

The number of coincidences, synchronicities, and signs that followed is too great to list here. It has had a to-good-to-be-true feel as each new challenge is resolved with ease.

However, after a productive day of setting up hardware and software needs, an old concern from an earlier search of this same neighborhood resurfaced. There was a tattoo shop in a shopping center right around the corner that had slipped our minds. It wouldn’t stop us from our plans, but how would we be received? Should we introduce ourselves? Try to befriend them? Ignore the proximity and do our thing?

As I thought about the possible approaches, I sought out their social media feeds to get a feel for their attitude, hoping to find a mutual friend or other connection to facilitate communication.

That’s when the WTF moment hit.

The other shop moved this week. This week. Our nearest competitor just moved farther away. God is making room for us.

What The Fuck? Each confusion is followed by greater clarity and encouragement. God has had my back many times in my life. Never have I been so aware of, and affirmed by, the signs.

Tomorrow we get the keys and start moving in. We’re working hard, but the path is being laid out before us with ease. We are blessed.

Posted on

Lego Club: #30DaysOfArtChallenge

Facilitating art-making is becoming a passion. It was a joy to help our friends with their creations during our Lego Unschool Club.

After, I happily received messages from friends who wish to support our tattoo business enterprise in material ways.

I can feel the momentum building as the pieces come together.

Posted on

Art for Thee, Not for Me: #30DaysOfArtChallenge

I played with some AI creation with my sons, but most of my day was spent on the artless tasks of equipment acquisition and talking with a surprisingly delightful State employee about the hold up on our corporate formation.

Both sons spent time writing and Westen is trying to get back into the groove of studying the art of jiu-jitsu. The concepts were challenging, but his focus remains impressive.

Posted on

Day 0: #30DaysOfArtChallenge

We’ve decided on our location and now feeling the ecstatic mix of fear and hope of soon-to-be patents.

Fittingly, our children joined us for their first look at the space. There’s remarkably little we have to do to prepare it for operation. Paint the walls, install a hand sink, tidy a few things…I’m sure we will uncover more necessary tasks, but it all feels achievable within our timetable.

They have their ideas too. Mostly horrible ones and mostly from my older son. I won’t be surprised if he sets up his own business around the corner before our lease is up for renewal.

This visit was later in the day, but light pours into both rooms. Kristen is excited to tattoo in natural light and the modest square footage is amplified by sunlight.

Posted on

#30DaysOfArtChallenge Hijacked…Sort Of

We’re opening a tattoo studio. Kristen is an amazing artist and we’re driven to build a business that showcases her talent while helping people to express themselves with unique pieces of art.

A lot of the pieces are in place. Licensing and location are nearly locked down. My living room is full of supplies and our next journey is set to launch.

I’ll be sharing the adventure here. It may not all be strictly in the #30DaysOfArtChallenge category, but it will all be in the service of art.

Posted on

Community: #30DaysOfArtChallenge

I’m always up to fight for home education. While “schooling” a local on the learning lifestyle, I opened my big mouth (via keyboard) and declared that I was organizing a homeschool group to go see Medea at University of Delaware.

I didn’t want to do that. I’m swamped with tectonic changes in our life and was hoping to pass this one off. I also hate passing things off and have a habit of committing in a flash.

I’m excited to work with UD again to expose children to great drama. We saw Twelfth Night before Lockdown and I’m glad the nonsensical restrictions have lifted for visitors.