Who am I?

"People think a soul mate is your perfect fit, and that's what everyone wants. But a true soul mate is a mirror. The person who shows you everything that is holding you back. The person who brings you to your own attention so you can change your life."

~Elizabeth Gilbert

Above my desk at work I have this little cartoon of a dog tied to a tree with a paint brush in his paw...when he tries to reach the easel, the leash stops him just shy of getting his brush on the canvas. I've had it there for years...

I look at that cartoon each day.

It is very symbolic of the struggle I have internally: Wanting to 'break free' and just paint, and write, and take photographs, and go to art classes...yet, bound to the tree: the real world of a 30 year career in real estate which has fed me well....in which I do very well...for which i have so much for which to be grateful for. Therein lies the rub.

I love the creative side that being Chip's partner has allowed me to pursue these past few years. The social networking...designing brochures, advertising campaigns....postcards, websites, blogging...Seldom does a real estate agent "slash" artist get to express herself, as I have been able to do these past 3 decades, in so many ways. I consider myself very fortunate. Yet, it's that canvas that I can't reach that I keep tugging towards. Here's an example: Just this week, my wonderful husband thought he would surprise me by having a sign made for the red pick up truck with my name & number, blog address and logo. He was so excited to surprise me. It was such a thoughtful gesture...the only problem is, I freaked out...completely went to pieces...I wasn't angry...in fact i don't think I have loved my husband more than at that very moment...and it made me sadder than I can even describe to disappoint him. I wasn't ready to announce that to the whole wide world. Oh, I thought I was ready...I thought I had "jumped" off the cliff---obviously I hadn't. Instead I have thought of every conceivable reason why I cannot possibly drive around town 'exposing my true identity'...I wanted a nice little magnetic sign...you know, something I could put on and take off until I was ready for something more permanent. Instead of it freeing me to be who I am, it just felt like it added more pressure for me to become The Red Pick Up ARTIST before I was really ready. I know it is fear-based. I am just plain scared. It's what I want, but I have been struggling to touch that canvas for so long, that being given permission to actually do it makes me wonder what will happen if I don't have the tree anymore...

I am blessed that Chip is my soul mate...I think I'll go paint now.

Martini Glass Auction

"Painting is so poetic, while sculpture is more logical and scientific...makes you worry about gravity." ~Damien Hirst



...even the artist wore red....
















...this is the glass I bid on and won!














...I love red walls.

There was a lot of excitement in the shoe department at Saks last night...

The Martini Glass Auction, held last night raised a lot of money for The Naples International Film Festival...the beautiful glasses were on display, the artists were there greeting the bidders...everyone looked so good, smelled so good...and the shoes! oh, the shoes were amazing!

laughter & energy filled the room...I was very proud of my dear friend Gina.

Gina painted 13 of the 30+ glasses being auctioned. I was thrilled to bid on and win the very first martini glass auctioned off: painted by Gina, and signed by Candace Bushnell, the creator of

Sex and the City! ~Of course, need you ask, it has shoes painted on it!

Guess Who?

Guess Who?

Any idea who this future artist might be? Well, if you guessed that it's me, you are correct! This painting was done by an artist in New York City in 1959. His name is Francesco Bologna. It is signed by him on the back, which i found very interesting. I was told that his brother is Joseph, who is a movie actor---you may have heard of him. I tried to "Google" him, but couldn't find anything. We actually have two paintings done by him. The other one is of a clown, which now is hanging in my son Rocky's house. [I need to take a photo of it the next time I'm there]. My father did not like this painting at all. Like most daddies, he thought I was prettier than this interpretation. My Uncle Art however, loved this painting, and so my parents gave it to him. My uncle returned this picture to me during his very last visit to see me here in Naples. He told me that over the years, everytime he moved into a new home, this was the very first thing he ever hung on a wall. Uncle Art died last year...Now everytime I look at this painting I think of him...I love the fact that Francesco "put" me in a smock. My mother tells me that when I posed for this picture I was in a dress with a white collar. I think this is much more "Rembrandtesque", and makes me look like the little artist that I was back then....you know, before someone told me that tree barks couldn't be purple... 

What Is Your Color Personality?

Red symbolizes passion, love, action, courage, vitality...life.

Did you know? It is the 'warmest' color?

Did you know wearing a red accessory can boost your confidence? 

Decorating a room in neutrals, then adding a red pillow, draws the attention to the pillow immediately!

It is said that the color red has more personal associations than any other color...

Some people believe that red is the first color a baby sees.

Red is the color associated with the 'root chakra'...the root chakra deals with life at the level of practicality.

Red red red red red red.......

So, we know red is high-energy, blue is calming, yellow projects warmth and happiness...but, do you think your attraction to a color means you have the same qualities? After the litany of adjectives above, I'd like to think so...

There are many color quizzes; all a lot of fun to take...I personally like the ones on Squidoo! Log onto http://www.squidoo.com/colorquiz  !! Let me know what your results are. I'll post my results as well!

Thanks, and have a great day!

The Red Pick-Up Artist

Geronimo!

Ok, I'm doing it....wait a minute....here i go...I am leaping...right on the edge now....one more step...deep breath..."Geronimo!"

"I am an artist."
...and, I love the color red!

I don't have a favorite color...I love all colors! However, when I think of what color moves me---truly moves me...what color I gravitate towards...it is red. 

Silence is holy. divine messages can be heard in the silence. sweet spiritual connections. creative ideas. ssshhhhhhhhhhh...

~Recently, during a Silent Saturday at Unity, I began journaling about what it means to keep a true lent...one thought led to another, which led to another...words came to me faster than i could write--but, when i was done...it was very clear to me: I had to tell people my secret. I am an artist.
Oh, I know what you're thinking..."Michele has always loved to paint...take art classes, write poetry, take photos, make presents, decorate boxes, arrange flowers..." 
But, this isn't what I'm taking about--I'm talking about having the courage to actually affirm, with absolute truth, that in addition to being a wife, daughter, mother, mimi, friend, volunteer, real estate agent---that maybe even above all else...I am an artist!
~this is my way of saying thank you to God...and--This blog is being created to affirm that statement: "I AM an Artist"!.

Of course, I will write about art...
I will write about art shows. art walks. art galleries. art openings. art auctions.
art in Naples. art in New York. art in Paris. art in wherever-art-is.
I will write about other artists. other artists' work. other artists' blogs.

The red-thing just happened during that same silent meditation...spirit spoke to me...said, hey Michele, you love the color red...you are drawn to it. it makes you happy. it is a strong, passionate color. it motivates you. [I added that]

--Then I had this funny vision of myself cruising around town in Chip's bright red pick-up truck with these massive paint brushes hanging off the back...next thing you know I'm jotting down all the things in the world that i love that are red...I'm beginning to 'see red' everywhere I look...I mean, the world is mostly blue and green...and when you 'see red' it really gets your attention: tail lights, stop signs, no u-turns, exit signs, the flag on a mail-box...I sketched the Red Pick-Up Artist logo in minutes...zooooommm! I was off!

So, the whole thing makes perfect sense to me. I am a creative being.
I want to share and express my art...my love of art...and other artists love of art...amen.

I hope you will come along for the ride!