Where to Begin...

HI Everyone welcome to Michele Dobbs Creations! I am an artist in the Orlando area. I currently have my facebook page http://www.facebook.com/micheledobbscreations to see all my work together! I also have a page for coloring book pages I create called Mad Coloring SKills! Creativity has been the running theme through my life. I find when I get to far left of creating that I , as a person, disconnect from life.

The first of my creative nature came out in first grade. I entered an art contest called “Be Kind to Animals”. I was very proud to win 1st place! From that moment I was hooked to Art. As I grew up I wanted to design album covers. Music and art have always been major running themes in my life. I would take album covers and recreate them. I even got a few signed by the bands themselves. I always had big plans as a kid to make an impact in the art world and in music.

When I was a senior in High school I was accepted into an art school . I was not allowed to go which really kind of broke me. Its what I wanted to do but personal things changed that outcome. We all have this hope for our future and what we want to be. This doesn’t go as planned. Many things in my life brought me to where I am today. I have been through some major struggles. I have been to the bottom. No home. No car. No money. I realize that I was meant to have a bigger lesson.

The one thing about my life has been that I have never let those things stop me from going for things! As I was learning my lessons and I had gotten away from my art Roots. I went into Retail Management and really had some great successes from that. I learned a part of me and a major strong suit I possess. But it still was not art related. I became so focused on just having a job to take are of my daughter that I forgot about me. It took care of bills but never made me happy . I was always on the search for what made me happy. Whether it was in a person or buying things when the money was good. It was avoidance.

Through these lessons I started building my photography business and it was going really well. I started as a hobby really and it turned into a great experience and portfolio. In the time I was trying to build this , I learned most people dont want to pay people for their talents. Its all about willing a dealing a good price for them. Ultimately I had to stop photography because it was not providing enough money because no one wanted to pay. Its funny to me how people value themselves but not others. I went back into retail management It was one of the worst experiences I have had in my life.

I worked with a man that would call me idiot and stupid on an hourly basis . No matter how I spoke up it would not change. At this point I was needing to get on my feet. I was always searching for something else. I was also trying to transfer out as well. During this time I decided to start painting again everyday. No matter how tired I was. So this job I had I was working 55 to 60 hours a week. Cleaning a house one of my off days. After each work day I would come home and take care of my daughter getting her ready for the next day and in bed. I would paint for 4 hours no matter after I got her into bed.

I decided that if I gave the excuse of being too tired I would never reach my goal. So I never let a day pass no matter the exhaustion . I did not really know what exactly what the outcome of painting everyday would bring but I was preparing. I had a conversation with my then best friend of how my instinct kept saying I needed to give a 100% to my art. You can’t expect 100% if you aren’t willing to give it. That is the mindset that kept repeating itself. So after about 6 months of straight work and pushing it came to a head. I walked into work and my boss was back in the store after a vacation. This manager was all about pushing the numbers around to look a certain way. And we as a team busted ass the week he was gone to catch up and make the books honest. Made us as a team look bad but it was necessary. I was in the office with him and he was bad mouthing the delivery guys who worked hard. I stood up for them and said “this is why we can’t work well together..you appreciate no one” He said to me ” If it is so bad Michele why are you still here? ” At that moment I realized this was my message. Everyone was telling me to line up another job before I left this one but I knew in my gut that I needed to do my art 100%. So at the moment he said that I got up and went and got my keys and handed him the keys to the store. I said “You are right , soo here are my keys” It truly was the best day. I wasn’t scared about having no “Job”

As I painted even more a opportunity presented itself. Artegon. I was able to open a shop with all my art! A work space. I was so excited! I was selling art and never happier! Not external happiness but inside. I was calm. I was sure. I was open to what truly is for me.

As a edited story I have told there have been many struggles. But what I know is that we all have the strength to push through. Some have a different life that seems to be easier but we never know. Always know there is instinct within us and when we ignore it , that is when we lose our ways. Each choice we make does not have to make everyone happy. It has been a big lesson for me. Finally I am living my life taking the steps that make me happy inside. I am not rich or secure in my life. But I am the happiest I have been. So what is it that you want to do in your life you are afraid too? Listen to your instinct!

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