Tribe Sister Stories: Could Tribe be what you need?

Hey everybody, it's Christy with The Social Easel, and I am here with some of my Tribe sisters from my VIP membership Tribe, and we are going to share some of their stories today. So this is one of my favorite things to do when we open the doors to new members, is for you to actually hear from the Tribe sisters themselves and hear a little bit more about their journey, how they came to Tribe, and what Tribe is doing for them. So So without further ado, I will go ahead and let them introduce themselves. Brenda, I will start with you at the top.

Hi, I'm Brenda Parr. I'm from Florida.

And how long have you been in TRIBE and how did you find me?

Well, I found you, I believe it was in 19— I mean, excuse me.

I'm like, wow, we're going really far back.

2021 with the Sunshine, Jar Full of Sunshine. Sunshine or the, um, with the sunflowers and the sunflowers and all that. And it was just the happiest thing I had ever seen. And I thought, I just really need to paint. I had not been able to paint for a while or be a part of a group that I used to paint with. And so I, I decided to try it, and I never looked back. This is exactly what I need to do.

And I was actually in Florida just a couple weeks ago and got to meet Brenda in person. We went and met at Justin Gaffrey's art studio, so that was fun, um, to get to meet her in person too.

It was, it was such a blessing. It really was.

Well, I'm glad it all worked out for sure. Um, next up, Miss Helen.

Hi, I'm Helen Parker. I am from Collinsville, Illinois, and I have been a tribe sister for 9 months. So I joined in January of 2024. I was, um, I've been with Kristi for almost a year. So, um, I did, I think, the Painting of the Month Club prior to that. How I ended up in Tribe, I, I honestly don't remember. Um, but yeah, I was just doing the Painting of the Month Club and I saw all the things that you could get being a Tribe Sister. And I thought, well, you know, I just decided to go for it, and I've, I've loved it. I love it.

Awesome. Yeah, you have jumped right in and always sharing posts and paintings. It's been fun to see you and be such an active part of the group too.

Thanks.

And Brenda is here in Springfield right now. We're not in the same building, but, um, I will get to meet her tomorrow because We are doing a Tribe Sister event here at my studio, so I'll meet her in person shortly too. Cassie, you are up next.

Hi, my name is Cassie Sedgwick and I live in Western Oregon, and I think that I've been a part of Tribe for about a year and a half, but I honestly can't remember because I found Christi. I think it was on one of the algorithms on social media, on Facebook or Instagram, right in the beginning of trauma therapy. And my therapist was doing some deep dives with me, and I've been, um, an artist my whole life, but trauma has blocked a lot of that. So she suggested I start painting as a form of healing, and the very same day Christi came up on one of my social medias, and I signed up right away. Didn't even think about it.

Awesome. I didn't— I did not know that. We, we share some of those similarities and that, you know, I feel like art is definitely very healing for me too and is a huge part of medicine. Yeah, thank you for sharing that with us. And Miss Deborah, last but not least.

Hi, I'm Deborah Weese. I live in Central California by the coast and I joined TRiiBE in November I was just going through Facebook looking— no, YouTube, looking for something to paint, some kind of direction, because I've never really had formal training and just dabbled in it. But I watched all kinds of videos until March. I didn't paint a thing. And then I just said, okay, you know, you, you did the, uh, um, this— I can't remember what you called it.

Oh yeah, the water lilies.

Water lily. Um, and I thought, you know what, I'll— I can do that.

I can learn.

I want to learn how to do art, you know, without having to follow somebody. So it was really eye-opening, and, um, that was, um For me, you mentioned trauma. I, I've always been a creative person. All my life I've done sewing and event planning and decorating. And, and about 6 years ago, all that, because of family circumstances, all that went away. It just— I had no outlet for creative endeavors, and I was just dying inside, nearly depressed. Yeah. So this has really brought out— been able to enable me to be creative. It's just I have to do it.

Yeah, that's good. I'm glad you found us. Yeah, I think it— you know, I have shared, you know, my journey before, but I have also been creative my whole life and come from a family— like, I grew up, I think my mom put a paintbrush in my hand as soon as I could hold one. But then After I, um, left—

call—

I did not graduate from, um, University of Arkansas because I met Corey and he was older than me. He graduated and was moving to Texas to become a chiropractor, so I moved with him and never finished my degree. And from there went straight into retail and then had kids, and it was just— I had been an artist my whole life until I was 20. And then I didn't paint for almost, I don't know, like 7 or 8 years. And, um, and I was like a business person, you know, like, I mean, I, I worked and I— that was like the business side of me. And I was like, I felt so just almost like not myself, like depleted, like it was just missing from my life. And, and ultimately I decided to go back to school um, again. And because I was like, I, I have to do something with art in my life, or I'm just not gonna be a happy person. And, um, and lo and behold, I never knew— I thought I would have to go finish my degree in graphic design to get paid as an artist and never saw this coming, um, at all, that somehow I would actually get to just paint and teach others how to paint and share my love for art. So It's been a blessing. And I think when I hear stories like, especially from you two, and people who, you know, need art for healing, I think it's so important. And, um, you know, sometimes it's not talked about enough, um, that it's, it's okay for us to need— and this is a healthy outlet, this is a super healthy outlet, um, in order for us to work through things and, you know, have that quiet time with God or, or whatever it may be that we get from that creative outlet. Um, so, and I'm just going to kind of open this question up, uh, and then whoever wants to chime in first can. But I'm just curious to know, like, since being a part of TRIBE, like, what has changed for you, um, personally? Like, is it like, whether that be like your growth and becoming an artist or gaining confidence? And just share a little bit more about what it's um, what it's done for, for you guys in your life.

Um, I could say, you know, I had painted before I met you, and I enjoyed painting, but, um, it got to the point where I just was trying to copy things, and I didn't have the joy. And also, when you combined, um, your faith and, um, and devotions and, and help me understand that it all goes together I just got to a point where I could just paint and not have to worry about things. And I, you know, I had things that were going on in my life, but it— when I sat down, it, it didn't matter anymore. And I could just relax and, um, and enjoy the process, um, and be able to, you know, just truly, um, allow the freedom that it needed. And it gave me so much growth, um, You know, I wanted to not be stuck. I wanted to be able to see— I love all the different choices of, of, um, of mediums and things that we use and different things like that. And so it really gave me freedom to be able to continue on the path that, you know, I didn't even know I needed to go on. And, um, yeah, um, and also just the whole thing of getting to meet other creative artists and other people of like beliefs and like, um, goals. It has just been such a great sisterhood. Um, it means a lot. It really does. It has really helped me in so many ways.

I love that. And your work is amazing. I'm gonna show off some of these ladies' work here shortly. But, um, Brenda, you know, she said she had already had painting experience, but I mean, I can even see from the time you joined until now and just how much braver you— like, you are ready to just— any new thing that I throw at you guys, like, you're one of the first ones that you're like, all right, let's go, let's do this. And, uh, and trying all the different styles. So for those of you watching that aren't familiar with me or how I teach, I don't just teach one way of painting acrylics. Um, I love exploring art and continually learning new techniques, and whenever I do, I share them with the tribe. And so for me, it's just fun to keep experimenting. I don't ever want to just paint one way for the rest of my life. Um, so I teach them, you know, we do watercolor, we do acrylic, we do mixed media, which is just mixing a bunch of different elements like paper and pens into our artwork. Um, and lately I've been on a little bit of an impasto style kick, which Brenda has joined, joined me on. I think maybe because we were both inspired when we went to the same art studio in Florida, um, by Justin Gaffrey. Look him up if you don't know him, but his work is amazing and, um, and so different from what I did. And it pushed me out of my comfort zone to kind of paint like him. And, um, and so now I'm pushing the ladies to do the same too. Thank you for sharing.

Of course.

Well, for me, I think that I needed whatever you were offering at the time was so inclusive, calm, and so grounding that I feel like within the first couple months it opened up this portal to healing that allowed me to open up my own small business. Wonderful. So that, that's really— I think that I'm sorry, I'm getting emotional.

No, it is tough. Listen, I have my Kleenex ready. I was like getting ready to grab one.

I do not have Kleenex down here in this office, but, um, I think that I'm very grateful that whatever the universe was throwing out for me for healing, I landed in this group because it has been a bomb. It really has. I almost didn't survive. Oh, and with the help of just not participating, participating much in the, the lives or the Facebook chats that you guys would do together, I was just kind of on the peripheral, but it was so healing to see how Everybody was so kind, and the creativeness— it was just this— like, I cracked wide open and was able to heal in ways that I had never known how, never knew existed. And I credit this group for a lot.

That's amazing. Thank you so much for sharing that. Will you tell us a little bit more about your business? Now you've got me curious.

Well, I'm indigenous. I was born and raised on a reservation on the Oregon coast. And, um, without getting too much in detail, my mom, um, married a man who became my father. He was wonderful, but he unknowingly detribalized us. And over the years, I was, um, slowly colonized. We were not allowed to participate in, in anything. And, and I was beading my whole life until we weren't allowed to do that anymore. And through trauma recovery healing processes, I was able to start doing my art again. And I'm, I'm beading, beading and selling my jewelry. Here's one of my earrings I'm working on.

Oh, beautiful.

Yeah.

But I'm also a sketch artist, and I have been painting and drawing portraits of people's animals and selling those and making all kinds of things. So, right.

Yeah, I am so happy to hear that, and thank you for being vulnerable enough to share that with us. And I know, I really appreciate it because, you know, I know that that's hard But I will say that is one of the things I love about this group of women is that that's exactly what this is, is we are a community and a sisterhood, and it is a safe place where I hope that other people feel, you know, the same way that you do. And it feels like a safe place to be able to share and get to know some of these other women because, um, that, you know, those of you that don't know what my tribe is, um, but I'm kind of I was joking about this in my interviews yesterday, that I'm kind of like a mama bear of this group, and I'm very protective of it. And I have rules set in place to not allow any kind of negativity or drama inside of our group. And, um, I— there's enough hurt and chaos out in the world that we don't need any more of it. And so, you know, I feel like a part of one of my, um goals in life is to bring joy and spread as much joy as I can, and I want that to happen through Tribe. And so my hope is that as a Tribe sister, when you come into the group, that you find inspiration and love and peace and, you know, all of those things, um, that it be a safe haven somewhere that you can go to find a positive light, you know, in your life if, if the world is not giving it to you right now.

Yeah.

So thank you for sharing that. Go ahead, Deborah, do you have— I know, it's like, who's gonna start?

Um, for me, uh, all of my creativity in the past has always been outward driven. I've done costuming and, you know, always involved other people, and suddenly I've got all these paintings and I'm going Lord, what am I gonna do with all this stuff? And I still want to do more. Um, so when, uh, my husband is, uh, uh, well, he's just retired from being an anesthesiologist, but he's all— his passion has always been writing music, and he's part of a group that co-writes in Nashville. And, and one of the groups that he writes weekly with, um There's two ladies that he's been with, with, for two years, writing every week. And so we went and met them in Nashville a few weeks ago, and I, I painted two tote bags, um, with their— like, one of their video— one of them had a video, and it was her album cover, and I painted it on a tote bag. And, and the other one is a pianist, and I painted a little funky piano thingy on it. Anyway, when I got there, I'm meeting with the other individuals. One of them said, would you be interested in painting my album cover for my next release?

And I went, oh my gosh, I have chills too. Really neat.

Lord, I don't want to— I want something— this to be for something, you know?

Yeah, that is amazing.

Collecting paintings, so It's very exciting for me.

Oh my gosh, that's so exciting.

Incredible.

So that used to— I have to tell you a little secret now. Like, that was my dream, okay? So I grew up in the '80s and '90s. I was in high school in the '90s, and when I graduated, all I wanted to do— which you guys will find this funny now because I'm like such a family person and the opposite of whoever this girl was at 18— But when I was 18, what I thought I wanted to do was move to California, live on my own. I was gonna have this big, beautiful penthouse, you know, and all I wanted to do was meet artists and design their album covers. This was back in the '90s when everyone had cool album covers and CDs and albums for everything. And I was like, that was my dream job was to someday, maybe I could meet Dave Matthews and he would wanna hire me to do an album cover for him. Yeah, so that is so awesome and so exciting. And when all of that comes together, I definitely want you to share about it.

Okay, I'll do that.

Yeah, that's so cool. How about you, Helen?

Well, um, like the rest, I have always been a very creative person. My mom is— was— sorry, I mean, I still have my mother, but she no longer paints. She was an amazing oil painter. And I mean, she, she has the ability to, to, to draw and these beautiful things and then oil paint them. And, um, so I got my creativity from her and my dad. My dad was a work— work— woodworker and an amazing woodworker. So I got a little bit of that from both of my parents. And so I've done everything, you know. My big thing was scrapbooking. I did the traditional scrapbooking and I did the digital scrapbooking. And then I tried oil painting. I bought the Bob Ross kit. I quickly became very, very frustrated with it because, you know, I'm sorry, he makes it look so easy and it was not easy at all. And so I, I pushed it aside and I just gave up the idea of ever being a painter. Not that I ever thought I would be as amazing as my mom, but I just gave up the idea. And then I, like somebody said, I think on Facebook, you know, when you watch one video about painting, then suddenly you get all the videos about painting and So I thought, you know, maybe I will try the acrylic. And that has been— that was a life changer, was going to acrylic. The frustration— yeah, there's still frustration, but, um, Christy makes it so easy with her tutorials, and I've learned so much, and I'm getting more confident. I, I'm trying to learn not to put a painting in the group and say, okay, I don't like this, but, um, I, I, you know, there— we all have things that we don't like about our paintings, but, um, I'm trying to, to see the positives in them, which I have learned from Christy and being in this group and just amazing ladies that give wonderful critique. You know, when you ask for honest critique or when they just compliment you on them, it just, it builds your confidence. So, um, so I am becoming a painter and, and I love it.

I love that. I love that. You know, I used to, I painted oils when I was in college and then, um, I painted 2 more after I took that long break and like that was what was most familiar to me. It was to pick up oils again and do it. And then somewhere along the way, when I started coming up with the idea for the Social Easel, I was like, that will never work with oils. It will have to be acrylic. So I had to start making myself comfortable with acrylics again. And then it's, it's weird when you transition from one medium to the other because they act so differently. But with oils, for those of you who don't know, they, they take days to dry. And so it is just a completely different thing, whereas acrylics take minutes to dry. Um, but then I also fell in love with it because anytime you don't like something, you just let it dry and you can paint right over top of it. And I felt like there was so much freedom in that. I didn't have to wait a week to make a decision to change something in your painting. And, um, so yeah, acrylics are just a lot of fun to play with. So, um, I'm glad that that you didn't give up on painting altogether. We just needed to change the medium for you. Right, right.

Yeah.

Um, let's see. I think I am going to pull up— if you guys don't care, I kind of want to show off a little bit of your artwork. Um, so I'm gonna pull up the screen here. And Helen, I'm going to start with you. You're the first. I pulled open these tabs, um, before I got started here. So this is— we just did, um, in the group. This was my first porch leaner that I have ever taught the group, and it's different than what I normally do. Normally we paint on canvas, or I mean, this is wood, but you know what I mean, not a porch leaner. And I wanted one for my own front yard, and so I was like, do you guys like this idea? And this has probably been one of our most popular paintings this last month, is everyone in the group doing these porch leaners. This one is gorgeous. Are you so happy with it?

I, I loved— I loved every step of the process of doing this. Um, I love my sunflowers, and I haven't loved one sunflower that I've painted yet.

Oh wow, yeah, they're gorgeous. I love, like, you guys, I don't know if you can see this, but you see these little gold flecks she did? That's gold, isn't it?

No, um, I bought some gold leafing, but I wasn't quite sure how to do it, so I just used my gold, uh, gold glitter acrylic glitter paint.

Nice, it looks really good.

I love the vivid bright color. Yeah, thank you, very nice.

So here's her kind of process of that, and this is also kind of giving, um, those of you watching kind of a behind the scenes. So these are These are what she has shared in the group. So this is kind of what it looks like inside of our group, is just a bunch of women sharing their progress, what they're working on. Um, no one is ever necessarily working on the same thing, so I think that's fun too. And you'll notice that when I start going through the different ladies here, everyone's working on something different, and it— so it makes it really fun to just kind of browse the group and see what everyone's working on. And, um, cheer each other on. Um, so it was just really fun to see this. And then here's your imposter one that you were not— you were struggling with this one a little bit, but that's okay. It looks good. Oh, look at this! This is really good.

I did that on my last Airbnb trip that I took.

Yeah. This one's really pretty too. I love coming in here. Um, everyone's different. So I pulled you guys up, but I didn't have time to like scroll all the way through everything. And then, um, so you guys may have noticed Deborah mentioned this too, that she painted on a tote. So one of our tribe sisters, Vicki, did this initially, like probably what, like a year and a half ago or so. And I asked her to be a guest artist in our group and teach the other women how to do it. So Um, this is one of the paintings that I taught them, but instead of doing it on canvas, she did it on a tote bag, and it has been so popular in the group, and women are giving these as gifts to people and selling them, and it's just been really, really cool. Did you like, uh, painting on a tote bag?

I did. It took a little bit of getting used to, um, but I painted— I'd like, like 4 or 5 of them, and like you said, I've given them as gifts. And that one's so pretty.

Look at these! Oh, I love it. Yeah, those are so awesome. All right, let me see if it will let me switch screens here. Awesome job, Helen. Thank you for sharing in the group. Miss Deborah, we're gonna pull you up here. So this one is from August. Um, so is this, um, art journaling? Is that what you were saying?

I got an idea from one of the Tribe Sisters to— I have two journals for each one, for each of my grandchildren, and I'm painting in their journal and then sending it to them. And they've been taking art— they're 7 and 9, but they've been taking art for years. And they'll— the idea is for them to paint something and send it back to me so we can have— they can have a journal.

That's great.

With your Nana, you know, for—

that is so awesome.

Great idea.

Love that idea. And then let me pull this one up. Uh, you want to share a little bit about the challenge?

The challenge was, uh, what, 8 weeks?

8 weeks?

Yeah.

8 weeks and 11 paintings and one, uh, tutorial. Anyway, um, so it was lots of fun. It was, it was definitely a challenge, especially, um, uh, so I guess the, the top one was the mash, um, mashing two fall tutorials together and, um Then the Something by the Sea. Anyway, these all were from one category or another.

I love this. And your one right below the, um, Sunset Over the Lake, that, that vertical one under the one with the truck, is that done in this photo? It looks like it's really like impressionistic. Is that like little—

I, I did, um, I did a molding paste underneath first. For the, the tree and the hills, and then used a palette knife to do all the rest of it.

It's so pretty. I love this. So to share with you guys a little bit about what this is, so inside A Tribe, we also do contests a few times a year, and this is something that I created because I love to push people out of their comfort zone and to maybe make you do paintings that are not necessarily like ones that you would be like, that's my favorite, but I like people to try things that are different from what they would normally do. So that is why it's called a challenge, and because you really have to commit time to it. But what I love the most about it is the growth that people see on the other, other end of the challenge, because you've done so much, um, work and taken so many different tutorials and tried different techniques that you really start finding your own style. These are really pretty, Deborah.

The, the, the one with the— what was the one that does not have the, the Amalfi blue pattern behind it? Is that— oh yeah, frustrated and just covered it all over with a palette knife painting, but it worked. Yeah, okay, I hate this background, so—

oh yeah, oh my gosh. This is so pretty.

That is my favorite. Oh my gosh, that is beautiful.

Thank you.

Awesome, awesome.

I've discovered I really like palette knife. I did.

I know, isn't that like— I, you know, I love it, but like, it's one of those things when we talk about pushing people past their comfort zone. I don't think there are many people who are just naturally comfortable with a palette knife. It's definitely something you have to kind of learn. But once you get the hang of it, man, it is so fun and so freeing because it forces you to— like, when that perfectionism tries to creep in, it's hard to be a perfectionist when you're pulling a palette knife, right? So it kind of forces you to not, not do that. Um, next up we have Cassie's, and this is the first one that popped up, and I just love this painting so much.

That thing is huge. It was so random. It was an old thing. I found an old frame that I found, um, some manufactured piece of art. It was like from Hobby Lobby, probably, but it was old, so it was in Goodwill. And I cleaned up the frame, taped it off, and just went to town. I have never painted something big. It's half my height.

It's so— wow.

Oh, I want to see. You need to take a picture of you next. Do you still have it?

I do. It's hanging on my wall. I was hanging upstairs.

Next to it, that would be really cool.

It's beautiful.

Gorgeous. I love all—

there was some mixed media.

Oh, it looks like texture.

There's dirt in there, you guys. I put dirt from the garden out there. I did everything you could possibly imagine that I had learned in the last year and a half, 2 years for mixed media. You know, it went in that painting.

Wow.

But man, you pulled it together like perfectly. So I don't know if you guys can tell, but it's kind of roughly similar to the one behind me, isn't it? Is that what that was taken from, or did you just— it feels like it's—

no, that was one— that was from one of your tutorials, this one, right? Um, yes, that one.

Yeah, with the—

okay, yeah. Then I turned it into a mixed media. That's— yes.

So I love this. As, as your teacher and instructor, I love it when ladies take— and this is why people will say, well, what if I already have painting experience? Why would I want to join Tribe? Like, there, no matter what level you are, we have complete beginners, and then we have women like in this group who have been creative and maybe painted before. But what I love is like when you're already creative and you already have that, you know, that side of you is hers doesn't look exactly like mine. It's completely different. It's completely her own, but it was inspired by my original design. And I love seeing people, um, take my ideas and making them completely their own. Absolutely.

That's because we are always learning. There's never— there's no such thing as an expert. It's Constant learning and growing, and that's one of the benefits of joining Tribe is that there's always— no matter who you are, there's always going to be some sort of growth when you are part of this Tribe. Beautiful.

I love this. Yeah, it's so fun to look at everyone's artwork. Oh, that's so cute. Sunshine is my favorite color. I love that. Awesome.

Oh, that was— wow, that was hard. That was when I was first starting and what the heck is this?

I love it though. It looks good.

They look like they're saying yay.

Yeah, you know, in Oregon we don't get to see the sun that much.

Oh, that's true. Okay, where are you, Brenda?

There you are.

So, um, Brenda, when I pulled yours up, I was so— like I was saying how Brenda literally just will jump right in. This is like— I just taught this a few days ago, didn't I? Didn't I teach this on Tuesday?

Yeah.

And, um, I can't wait to do that one. It's been such a fun— like, so many women have already, um, painted it, and it's been so fun to see the different scarecrows. And so, so when I taught my original to the group, I used scrapbook paper as his body, like to give him his plaid. Did you hand do this?

So I did have scrapbook paper, but it was kind of like, um, just black and white, and it was more of the, of the pattern that's there. So I took Poscas and, and played with the colors, so I got more fall colors instead of the black and white. So cute! Kind of a crisscross checkered or whatever. So I made my own plants.

I love it, he's adorable.

Oh, thank you.

Oh, and I love— okay, so Brenda took— I forgot about this— Brenda took the fall porch leaner idea that I had and then combined it with the, um, Go to the Pumpkin Patch, which is a workshop I'm teaching, um, and she combined the two together. So you can see like the Starry Night kind of sky in the background at the top of her porch leaner, and then stack of pumpkins below it is so pretty. That's beautiful.

Beautiful.

Very skinny and very tall, and I needed some things in there, so— and I could not get that Van Gogh sky out of my head once you showed it.

It's so fun to paint. It really is.

I have done it.

I actually— I made some Van Gogh earrings because of the Van Gogh paintings that we've been doing in the tribe. It's very inspiring.

I definitely want to see those. And then I loved, um, this is our— what did I call this one? Impasto Fall Birch Trees.

It's beautiful.

Yes. And this was such a fun painting. And I, I think probably— I don't know, I'll let you guys answer that for those of you that have done it— but it's probably the most impasto that we've done in one painting, like the thickest paint and We kind of drug our palette knives through our thick wet paint to make those birch trees. And, you know, obviously it's a lot of combination of colors, but they are turning out so cool. And I have to say, I think they look even cooler in person because as many times as I photographed mine to share with you guys, I love it even more in person than any photograph that I've taken of it. So they just look so amazing hanging on the wall. That one's so pretty.

That's on my long list of things.

Oh my gosh, oh, beautiful. So tell us about this. You did some impasto on here too, didn't you?

I did, um, and I've even done a little bit more. Uh, I added more paint on it. Um, so I had— I, um, I wanted— I was asked to actually paint for a friend. She wanted a hummingbird picture for someone that, uh, really loved hummingbirds. So I did the lesson pretty much as you had done it earlier, and, um, except for I added some more of the flowers and everything. And so then I thought, I really want to do it for myself. So, um, I had some of the textured paint and some things here at home, and I decided to play with it. And I really wanted to focus on the texture of the bird, and then somehow those flowers just popped right off. Um, and, um, I needed another little bird too to be his friend, so I, I was just playing. Um, I'm watching them flit all over my yard now, so it was a lot of fun.

I love it, and I love your— the color. So the original that I taught had kind of like a pink-orange background, but I love the colors that she has in this. Is that— yeah, here, let me make you bigger. Hang on.

Okay, well, I played with it a little more, of course.

Is that, is that on a canvas?

It's actually on the, um, on a board.

Um, oh, okay.

It's beautiful.

Yeah, I love the size of it.

I don't know if you can see the texture.

I didn't expect it to be that big. It's beautiful.

It's an 11 by 14 or 12 by 14, like that.

So that's beautiful. I love the texture.

Thank you. It's just fun to play with, you know. You just start playing with different things you can do, you know. I, I think I like— I think he does all this, the big stuff, really fast, but I like to take my time and kind of just play with it a little bit and get the shapes that I want. And, uh, so Christie's helped me because I, I kind of want to do both, you know.

Yeah, but it's fun to even see them next to each other. So this is the Oh, I was trying to make you—

that's what I sold.

Yeah, it's so pretty.

Thank you.

So, um, how many of you that are on here right now, how many of you are selling your artwork? Oops, I didn't mean to do that. Um, or maybe doing paint parties? I know we have a lot of, um, women watching who are curious, like maybe if they're struggling with coming up with the financial part of it. Um, I want, you know, those of you that are able to sell your work and make money off of it— I know for a lot of the people in the group, that's been able to pay their, um, their membership fee every single month.

So, Brenda, I, I guess I have done it, uh, just more of someone sees it and people know that I paint and they say, can you do this? I've got, I've got every gamut. Um, I taught before this, and I could very well, if I was a little younger, I think, uh, do the paint parties. But I, I think if I did it, I prefer just like a little quaint group in a smaller setting. But, um, but as far as, you know, if you, if you just paint something and you show it, a lot of people, you know, are, are— would want something, and they ask you to do things. So just here in my neighborhood, I, I mean, this one lady that had me do that. I think I painted 4 or 5 paintings for her.

Oh wow.

And, uh, I have another huge one that I get to do for a friend. And, uh, so, you know, it's just, uh, it's kind of fun to be able to do that. It's not my— I think I'd just rather paint and not have to.

Yeah, you just want to do it for yourself.

It's hard because my daughter says, Ma, you know, you sell this stuff, you know, you need to do this. And I have a neighbor that is— wants me to put stuff in shows with her, so I've done a little bit, but, um, yeah, a lot. So I, I could.

Yeah, but you never know where it's going to take you. And I think that's what's fun is to see, you know, different people in the group, and things sometimes just happen and fall into place. Or like you said, I know a lot of the ladies will share on their Facebook page, um, and then their friends and they're like, can I buy that? Or can you, you know, paint me a copy of it? So it's fun to get to see that too.

I've been putting my paintings on stickers. Sorry, I've been putting my paintings on stickers and putting, um, mental health quotes on top of the paintings. Let it hurt, let it go, those kind of, you know, short little sayings. And the stickers are about 4 inches. So kind of for water bottles or whatever, but people love those. Those are— and those are easy to carry around.

And where do you sell them?

Um, I, I'm a vendor. I sell my jewelry at shows. So, um, yeah, I've been giving them away when people buy my jewelry too.

Yeah, very cool. Cool. Awesome, awesome. All right, well, we are going to start wrapping up here. Um, But I wanted to ask one last question, and I know we've talked about several different aspects of TRIBE, but my last question for you is— and I'll start at the top, Brenda, so we'll just go in order— what your favorite part of being a TRIBE sister is, and like one piece of advice you might give someone who's watching this and is on the fence and they're thinking about joining, but they, they're just not sure.

So, um, those are your questions.

Okay, see if I can remember them. Um, the— I think I did say it's just the, the sisterhood is something that's really important to me. Um, I think as an artist, you know, people get you but they don't get you, you know. Um, yeah, you know, oh, that's the lady that paints. Oh, you can do anything. Oh, you're so talented. Oh, you're so creative. And it— and I don't take those things slightly, but, you know, I just want them to get me, you know, a little bit. And so a lot of these people, a lot of you guys do, and it's really important to be able to just say, hey, what do you think about this? Or, you know, or just talk, you know, encourage each other. Or, you know, for so long I really didn't think, you know, I— it didn't matter whether things looked good to other people. It was just more of what I was doing because it's kind of like something you got to get out, you know.

Oh yeah, absolutely.

And, um, you know, so I'm going on a tangent here, so bringing it back. Um, so that is really a lot of it is just that and being able to share your faith and be able to just, you know, say I have a prayer request, or, you know, and the things that you're going through are very often the things that I'm going through or others are going through, maybe in a different form. But, um, it's just amazing how God works in that way. And I think I love seeing people, uh, just come into their own and realize, you know what, when you realize that you can do something that's worth, you know, uh, standing up for and that you feel good about, it's good to share with others. And, uh, the other thought I've had too is the comments to be able to— sometimes it's just not— I'd rather say hi, or that's great, or thank you. But to actually go and say, you know, you really took a lot of time in that painting, and you really expressed, uh, the colors that I see, you know, to be able to tell someone what's important and what they did, and to see that not only helps them but it's helping you because you're getting out of your bubble, you're getting out of your your box of, oh, you know, I just really didn't do that very good, or I just wish— all the things, or whatever's going on with you that day. It helps you to get out of yourself. When you get out of your own self and encourage others, God can use you so much. And so, and I see that also with your vulnerability, vulnerability, uh, Christy, when you share your hard days. When you share the things that are going on, you know, all those things are so important for people to hear. Um, one more thing that's one of my favorites that you do is how to fix a painting when you goof it up, which is really nice.

So I can continue to show that.

I think it's so important because, you know, I had a friend that painted with me and she said, oh, I don't like it, I'm just gonna throw it in the And I thought, okay, for one, it's acrylic, just paint over it. But it's not that bad, you know. I'll just set it in the closet if you have to, you know, and come back to it another day. But that is so amazing to see you just be able to, to create something, or you'll start with one idea and suddenly it's a totally different one, which is great because that's what creativity is and that's what, you know, working through it is.

Yeah, I have to show you guys this. So, um, I think you'll get a kick out of it. I'm going to try to hold my phone up enough for you guys to see, um, the photo. But so when I started the— um, it's the background behind all of our videos on here right now— but when I started the Go to the Pumpkin Patch, um, painting. I had the whole idea sketched out like a pattern, but then I was like, no, I'm just gonna freehand it. I changed my mind on the sky like 5 times, so I'm trying to find one of my very— okay, this is— can you see this? That's what that started out like. Okay, it's all purple and crazy. And then there's like, you know, there you are moving. Okay, so I went back over this painting probably 4 or 5 times. Like, I spent like a whole day in the studio just doing it. And then, um, for those that— well, that's not even finished yet. This is, this is what it, you know, the final painting turned out like. So the reason I'm show that and talk about that is because, one, I think people have a preconceived notion that if you are creative, everything you touch turns to gold and it's all just like magic and flows out of you. And it— I mean, sometimes it does, and that's great, and super exciting days when that happens and you're like, thank you God, that all went the way I wanted it to. But a lot of the times it's learning to get through that messy middle, that ugly part of your painting, and not throw it away and not get frustrated with it, but understand that's part of the process. That's how you learn. And I feel like the skills I'm teaching you, and by showing you my mistakes and how I overcome them, then that's going to help you in your journey overcome them too, instead of you just getting frustrated and tossing it to the side. Like, let's slow down, take a step back. Sometimes you have to take a day away from it, you know, whatever that may be. But to like learn how to problem solve in your own paintings. And I think that's a very important part of being an artist, is to learn how to problem solve, because it doesn't always just create— Siri wanted to tell me what an artist was. Um, she didn't know. She's still talking to me. Oh my goodness. Okay, so what would you say, Brenda, to someone who's on the fence and they're not sure if they want to be be a tribe sister or not?

I would say for them to think of what attracted them to, to art, or, or what attracted them to you, or to, to the spot that they are viewing this, and what things are the most important within themselves that they need, um, whether it's fellowship, whether it's to learn more about painting, um, whether it's to be able to create something, be able to be in a business, whether— but, um, just really to have that place that you can always go to. I think it is just a safe place, and it's a place— I mean, where are you going to find this anywhere else? I mean, you can't walk into a store and have all that. You might have a few people that are friends and things like that, or a place to paint in some of the places, but Um, so, and this, the amount of people and the, um, am I answering it correctly?

Yeah, I just wanted you to share. You're, you're doing awesome.

Just really, it's all of the above. I guess I've just been so, you know, overwhelmed with how many times I've come into this and somebody's having, uh, you know, struggle with this or struggle with that, and we just all to know what to do to help each other. And so that's what we're here for.

Yes, I love that. It definitely is a community. And I think, you know, people will say all the time, well, why would I want to join that when I can just— I can do it for free on YouTube, I can do it, you know, from watching Facebook Lives. You can, absolutely. And I have plenty of free tutorials you can follow on both of those places, but it is not the same as painting with a group of women. And there is something to be said about community. I mean, we are better together. That's one of my, you know, mottos for the group. Because when you're going at this alone, it can feel frustrating and, um, you know, dissatisfying instead of building you up. Because you're struggling and then you have no one to go to, you have no one to ask your questions to. Or, you know, you can't— you might be able to leave a comment under a YouTube video, but that— is that person going to be able to get back to you? Like, it's not the same as having a teacher. It's not It's the same as having a community to be able to work through your problems or to celebrate your wins, either one of them. So I just think community is a huge part of this group and the sisterhood that we have. So thank you for sharing that from your perspective too. Helen, what is your favorite thing about TRIBE?

Oh, there's so many. It's so hard to choose just one. Um, I think what I love about it is there's the vault and how you— oh my goodness, I remember when I first joined and I went into that vault and I really became overwhelmed, uh, because I wanted to do them all. And so it's just an amazing resource to hop in there, and whether you're looking for inspiration or whatever, I mean, you have just about everything in there that you could possibly think to paint. And so I love that, you know, the tutorials are there. Um, I love your, I love your lives that you do. Um, I'm often not able to attend the lives for whatever reason. And so I love having them to go back to and watch and I've just learned so much from, from that aspect. I just love having the teacher aspect. Like you said, it's, it can become very frustrating even watching a tutorial, but being a part of the group in Tribe, when you have a question or you're stuck on something, you can post it and it may not always be you, but somebody like Brenda, or, you know, everybody is willing to, to help and lend a hand and encourage you. So as far as to somebody who's on the fence, I guess it just depends on why they're on the fence, whether it be financially. Um, you know, I, I'm not going to sit here and tell somebody what to do with their money, but if it is something that, you know, you really want to do and you want to get better at and you want to be a part of a community, um, it's definitely worth the money. I, you know, for me, I just found some things to cut out, like maybe I didn't do a Starbucks every week or something like that, but I just found a way to, to make it work in my budget. So, um, but yeah, for for other aspects, if you're on the fence, like, kind of like what Brenda said, you know, you gotta look inside yourself and decide what's, what's really important. And you are important. We're all important. And we deserve to take this time for ourselves and to be creative and find that outlet. So, um, yeah, just, just do it. Just hop over that fence and do it.

Yeah. That's awesome. Thank you for sharing that. Cassie, your turn.

Well, everybody's different. I think that for me personally, I think you need to question what your mental health is worth because being creative is— it just feeds your soul. And everyone who finds you, Christy, and the tribe is a creative person, or they want to become more creative. And people spend money on frivolous things all the time, all year long. And it comes down to, is this important enough? Is this growth that I want to experience important enough? Skill that I want to cultivate important enough. So for me, it was very personal though. It was, I'm— I, I really want to anchor my soul in, in art, and this is what, you know, I'm born to do. So this is— was an easy decision for me to join the Tribe. And I think you named it the Tribe for a reason. This is definitely, um, a benefit that you get when you join that I don't think you can find anywhere else. I'm 48. I've been doing art my whole life, and I've yet to find something like this that's so inclusive and so centered around growth as a person and as a group together. That's very unique.

Thank you. Sorry, I'm getting a little teary-eyed.

I don't want to do that again.

But I love that, and I mean, you're right, and I think that's why I'm so protective of it and want to— You're right to be.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

So thank you so much for sharing that. And Deborah, what about you?

Well, I— everything everybody said, and ditto. Yeah, I did. I think what drew me was the vault and just having all the, you know, that information and the teaching and everything. But then once I got actually active in the tribe, it was like, you know, I can— it's like sitting down and having coffee with your friend, but you don't, you know, you can do it anytime because I'm on a different time zone than a lot of people.

Yeah, yeah.

Um, but you can do it anytime and you will get a response, you know, to, to your sharing. And, um, it's just very encouraging. And I, I appreciate, um, your devotionals too. And, um, just the— yeah, it's being a part of something bigger than yourself, you know. Um, yeah, because even if you are in another group that you physically go to, you don't have access to that group 24/7, you know, whereas I could be up at 1 o'clock in the morning and I can post something or, you know, and, and, and know that somebody is going to read it and, um, respond, and, and it's just really encouraging.

Yeah, I love that. So for those of you watching, and you're probably wondering like, what is the vault that they're talking about? Like, this sounds like some secretive thing. Um, it is because it's only for Tribe Sisters, and the only way you get access to it is by being a Tribe Sister. Um, but it is— I created Tribe 6 years ago, so, right? Or yes, 6 years ago, so in 2018. So There are over 6 years worth of paintings in the vault, and Megan at— Megan is my community manager, and she added it up last week, and she's like, just so everyone knows, we are now up to 195. So there are 195+ tutorials inside the vault, in addition to technique videos and all the extra stuff. That's just straight tutorials, like, here's the painting. Here's how you do it. Um, but in addition to that, we just did a huge makeover. Um, did you guys all see the makeover?

Wonderful.

Yeah.

So exciting.

Um, so it is literally— I call it this all the time, but now it looks like it too. It looks like Netflix for painting.

Yes, it does.

You can just scroll through and just pick which painting you want to do, and then all the materials Resources are there for you in addition to the step-by-step tutorial. So that was something Megan and I have wanted to redo for probably over a year now. And I did a team retreat with my team this summer and we were like, all right, we're going to do it. We're going to do it before we open doors again. We're going to redo the entire vault. And Megan did it all. I get to take zero claim or responsibility for that. She did all the hard work, but it is absolutely beautiful. Um, and I hope for you guys makes it even more user-friendly, um, and even accessible for you to do whenever you want to.

Definitely.

So exciting. Well, thank you guys so much. I know we went over in time. I apologize for those. We just kind of got to talking, and sometimes that just happens, and that's okay. But thank you guys so much for taking the time to be here with me today and to share your stories because I know that they are going to help other women who may be in similar situations as us here today. So I think we heal by sharing our story with others. So thank you guys for sharing yours today, and we will talk to you guys soon. Thank you.