So I haven't written on this blog for far too long. Since my last blog I have received my Realtors license and have moved my studio, Painted Pearls,  to a new larger location (5943 E Main St. 43213) on Columbus' east side. I was at the old studio for 3.5 years and it served me well but I felt in my heart a stirring of discomfort. It was time to move,  after all, “Forward Movement" is one of my mantras; it's all about the personal growth. I found this great quote about "growth" being messy and uncomfortable and it certainly applies to me. As I was studying to get my realtor license, I also adopted a puppy, “Bella”. I cannot believe me and the puppy survived. Talk about "uncomfortable." Trying to study real estate law while also house training my very stubborn little fur baby, was “trying” to say the least. Any way I did pass the exam and Bella also passed the house training. We got through it. Also moving my studio earlier this year was also a test of faith. It was hard to believe how much stuff accumulated over the three years I was at the north side studio. Luckily I was blessed with wonderful family and friends that helped me pack and move. Even with their support there were still many lonely (exhausting) nights making trip after trip between the two studios, questioning if it was the right decision. This too was very uncomfortable, but I made it through that too, walking by faith- not by sight.  

Sometimes we get so caught up in our quest for forward movement, we forget to stop and acknowledge our accomplishments. When I stepped back and really thought about God’s grace and getting me through those rough times. I am so grateful to every angel God has sent in my direction, and for being blessed with unwavering persistence.  I recently passed a mirror and stopped, saying to my myself, “I am one baaad woman, by grace, I made it happen.”  I had a dream for a wine and paint studio and I relentlessly pursued it. I was blessed with the unmitigated gall to believe that I could have my own studio and help people discover their inner creativity however, I was blessed with so much more. The new Painted Pearls also offers a lovely area for me to show my fine art as well. Also the guests that come though Painted Pearls are beautiful and phenomenal and I am privileged to serve them. Teaching brings me a great level of fulfillment while also helping me in my quest for my own personal growth.  Painted Pearls also brought me two wonderful “helper ladies” (as I used to call them), Donna and Denise, that I now include in my life and call my friends.  Life has a way of bringing you experiences and people just when you least expect that you need them; by grace, in addition to “growth” sometimes being uncomfortable and messy, it is also beautiful, fulfilling and yes, quite necessary too. 

Going Off Script

Going Off Script By Lisa M. Cliff

As many of you already know, my name is Lisa M. Cliff, artist, truth seeker and proud owner of my own paint party business, The Painted Pearl.  We offer fun art instruction in a fun social setting.  The art instruction is what I use to fuel my real passion, my fine art which is called "Blind Faith Fine Art," for we walk by faith not by sight.  

I am so inspired by women and women's issues and the Woman's Fund of Central OH featured a really wonderful blog by writer, Amy Taylor about "Going Off Script" after I read her article, I then started thinking about my own journey and when I decided to "Go Off Script." This is my story too, you see "going off script," "taking a leap of faith," " following my heart,  these are all familiar affirmations for me, not just empty slogans. For me these are well thought out humble beginnings of strategic action plans  that have changed the trajectory of my life.

This is how I have officially gone of script. Up until 4 years ago, I was a VP of sales for a Columbus, based company Glory Foods. For all intents and purposes, I was successful and respected in my field and in the prime of my career.  I had the big house, the big title and the big car and traveled all over the country, however, I did I not feel happy  or fulfilled. In fact, at times I felt like an impostor. After 20 years of helping to grow the company from a small fledgling to a full blown flourishing company in the grocery industry , I no longer felt an attachment to it. Having worked side by side the late visionary, Bill Williams  who founded the company, and who also became my mentor, I could no longer see the vision. I had successfully helped to birth the baby but as the company  grew so did my vision for my own life. I had a deep feeling that the purpose for my life was bigger and that I was meant to do something more. Even as VP I still continued to paint quietly behind the scenes; however, there was something gnawing at the core my very creative soul. After a great deal of self reflection,  I determined that I was an artist simply dressed up in VP of sales clothing and for me, the dress no longer fit. I longed to be the artist dressed up in "Leap of Faith clothing, or  the artist dressed in the "I'm gonna bust the notion of starving artist" clothing. I was going to have to make some drastic changes to life as I knew it in order to get there. I knew that it would not be easy and that I would have to release past beliefs tied to what I perceived to be symbols of success.

My going off script began with small steps, in fact the good book says "never despise the day of small beginnings, " so I began by simply introducing myself in social settings as, "My name is Lisa Cliff, I am an artist but currently I work for Glory Foods as a VP of Sales." I wanted to have the feeling of saying it out loud and actually owning it; even deeper I felt that I had to proclaim it.  "I am artist, hear me roar!" I must say that people's reactions were not what I had expected. I thought  they would be so happy for me that I would follow my dream but most were more impressed with the idea of "VP of Sales" which probably kept me lingering in the corporate position even longer. Yes, I admit it. I cared about what people thought; from strangers to my own father, who warned me "don't you leave that good job, that's a good job. "  I can hear him imploringly say. He meant well, as did almost everyone else in my life. They wanted me to stay on script -inside the box, coloring only between the lines. For me "Staying on script"  would have meant to stay with Glory Foods even after the company was sold; it meant relocating to SC where the new company is based; it meant getting a promotion and collecting my paycheck and bonuses;  it meant security and going to work every day until I retire; however,It also meant a miserable existence;  living an inauthentic life and not following my own heart.  Staying on script meant Not walking by faith and only depending on sight. This was not the life this artist and dreamer had for herself. I wanted the fabulous artist life; to paint and create fearlessly and make a good living at it. I wanted to stand in my courageous and creative truth, blowing the notion of a starving artist out the water. I wanted to create my own version of success. After all, I did it for Glory Foods and I believed I could do it for myself. 

One of my favorite book is "The Alchemist" and my favorite line from the book by Paul Coelho is "When you want something, all the universe will conspire to help you achieve it," This was my truth, so I began planning my escape from "Staying on Script" and my journey toward "Going Off Script." A year after I did not accept the promotion with the new company, I was laid off, yep let go, terminated or however you choose to see it, it was wonderfully glorious and terrifying at the same time. This truly was the universe conspiring to help me achieve my dreams. When others would have panicked and jumped back into corporate, I chose the road less traveled; I chose to follow my heart and pursue a life in art.

Going off script for me has meant some sacrifice, and has not been easy; no more great travel, no more great paycheck, in fact I am now in process of downsizing my beautiful great (big) house, however, what I have gained is so much more; I now have a profound self determination  and a deeper level of spiritual growth; I am stronger than I ever imagined. which brings me to my second favorite line from "The Alchemist"  which has also held true for me,  "tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself. And no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams." Any suffering or loss has been a privilege and I count as lessons learned. I look in the mirror and I know that I have taken my destiny into my own hands, based on my decisions and actions no one else's. Today I do proudly proclaim, yes, I am artist hear me roar!

My dream is now in progress; I paint and create and now, I teach others to paint and create in my own studio, "The Painted Pearl."  Going off script for me has also meant discovering so many wonderful things about myself including the realization that my true purpose was not only creating, it has expanded to include the important work of uplifting and empowering women.  As I teach in my fun art classes, I also get to speak truth into the lives of women from all backgrounds. The truth that many women forget, we are beautiful and powerful beyond measure. I am so very fortunate that I get to remind women to tap into their inner creativity and while we are painting; we are sharing positive affirmations that encourage and uplift each other. We are sharing precious pearls of wisdom, hence the name, "Painted Pearls."  We have only been open for a few short months and have parties every weekend. My brand is slowly but surely growing  and gaining momentum but best of all I am now fully dressed in my proper attire, I am a wonderful artist wearing the clothing of this courageously determined and happy creative soul. And that is what I call "Going Off Script, Fabulously." 

Yes, I Did Wake Up Like This!

This painting was inspired partly from Beyonce' but more from a Face Book post that I read. A young lady had posted her own glamour selfie, with the caption, "I woke up like this". I then scrolled down to read a few negative mean spirited responses from others, both men and women about her appearance. I am not sure what bothered them most, her appearance or her confidence. I thought to myself, who are they to question her beauty or anyone else's. Beauty is skin deep and by God's grace we are all perfectly imperfect. This young lady refused to believe the lie of some one else's definition of beauty, and proclaimed her own truth and I personally applaud her and praise God. This is the inspiration for "Yes, I Did Wake Up like This" pictured above.  It serves to be a visual reminder and positive affirmation of our own strength and inner beauty. 

We will be painting this picture at several of my upcoming "Paint, Sip and Soul with Lisa" fun art instruction classes. 
https://squareup.com/market/blind-faith-fine-art

My absolute favorite poem is called "Our Deepest Fear" by Marianne Williamson. I have the poem hung in my bathroom, office and studio. I wanted to share it again and say to my sisters, You Are Beautiful and You Did wake up like this. Step into your light ladies and simply bask!  

"Our Deepest Fear"

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. 

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

 It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, 

gorgeous, talented, fabulous?

 Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God.

Your playing small does not serve the world. 

There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that 

other people won't feel insecure around you. 

We are all meant to shine, as children do. 

We were born to make manifest the 

glory of God that is within us. 

It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously

 give other people permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear, 

our presence automatically liberates others.”

By Marianne Williamson

From her book "A Return to Love, Reflections from the Principles of the Course in Miracles" 

Creating by Faith Not By Sight!

It has been a while since I have written, I have been busy launching me new company, "Paint, Sip and Soul with Lisa and Friends," a fun art instruction company. Who knew that life would take me down this path? I have always believed that creativity is good for the soul. When I am not creating I feel my energy level waning, it feels like my heart is wilting. Last year was a year of transition. It started heavy and I knew I had to make serious changes and that could mean…dunt, dunt, dunt,  dauh going back to corporate. (My desire for my life is to be self employed) In addition to experiencing transitions it also meant that I had to let go of beliefs, things and people whose purpose had been fulfilled in my life.  Like I said it was a heavy time of transition and letting go but my faith kept me strong and I was determined to create myself back whole. I knew that God had a plan for me and that He would soon reveal that plan.

 It was a year ago or so that the universe began whispering this concept of teaching art to me. I did a trade show and a lady that I have never even met suggested that I look into teaching art at local bars like the one she had recently been to. I was still unsure of what she was talking about; then an old sister friend, Lady T. called out of the blue and told me she had been to a class and thought I should look into. She was adamant that I could do it and that I should try it. I started seeing Groupons on line for wine and painting and I began researching…and researching. Could this really be a viable business? The research suggested that it could but I was still unsure. About a month later one afternoon I was on-line doing more research and the news came on featuring a local company doing exactly what I was researching. Then the phone rang, sure enough it was  T. again, “girl are you watching this, this is you! I said, "I know I’ll call you back". And that is how it all started. I went to my first paint and wine event and thought to myself, yes I can do this. I thought long and hard about a name for my company and decided to keep it simple but I knew it needed to reflect "me" and the word "soul" kept coming back. I decided it would be "Paint, Sip and Soul with Lisa & Friends" and I scheduled my first paint party and 20 people showed up. We painted and had fun and I was hooked and 6 months later I am still at it and I love it. I have a booking almost every weekend and I am meeting many new people, who are now becoming my regular customers. I am blessed and still walking by faith not by sight and I am in the process of looking for my own paint studio.  Another major leap of faith but I feel that in order to grow, I have to once again trust my intuition by putting my money where my mouth is.  I tell many of my “students” (for lack of a better word) that they need to trust their own instincts and I remind them that they are the apple of God’s eye and that He has a divine plan for their lives. I am a real representation of God’s grace.  He always provides exactly what I need and if I am to continue to profess this truth, I need to act accordingly. I need to walk by faith, not by sight and for me that is getting my own space.

I have had two friends bestow two really solid pearls of profound wisdom upon me this year. One friend has terminal cancer, she is courageous and beautiful.  She told me to remember that no matter what, “Faith Abounds” and to trust & surrender to it. Another friend told me that my purpose would be found through “channeling” my art and color. I had never thought about creativity as channeling.  Dictionary.com defines channeling as “the practice of professedly entering a meditative or trance like state in order to convey messages from spirit. ” For me the essence of creativity is about communication. Yes I will accept and own this description, that is the way it feels, that I am communing with spirit. I have always said that creativity for me is like prayer and was a delivery system for me to speak and allow my voice to be heard and now by God’s grace I am teaching others to also “speak” their own truths too. And what can be better than that?  

The attached pictures are from recent “Paint, Sip and Soul with Lisa and friends”; for some they are pictures of people painting but for me they are pictures of beautiful, open-hearted, unique souls sharing in a  wonderful colorful prayer.

Thanks for now and peace be with you along your journey, seek your creative bliss and I will see ya along the path.

Lisa M. Cliff  

For upcoming Paint, Sip and Soul with Lisa dates go to-  https://squareup.com/market/blind-faith-fine-art

"Celebrate This Life"

This painting is one that I painted for my December "Paint, Sip and Soul with Lisa', my fun art instruction paint parties.  I wanted to do something special for what will probably be the last or one of my last paint parties for 2014. I really want to do more than just teach people to paint. I want to make them Feel; I want to make them Think; I want to engage them not only in the process of painting but also provide them with a healing gift of creativity. To help them look outside the box, seeing through the grey area into the colorful kaleidoscope of their hearts.    

  

This painting with its profound message is a great one to end the year on; it was inspired by the bible scripture, "My cup overflows with blessings" (runneth over) Psalm 23:5. The painting is colorful, vibrant and fun shows the sparkling wine spraying (bursting) out the bottle, it is a metaphor in celebration of abundance and endless possibility. Even the wine glasses can't be still in excited anticipation of receiving the bounty and are also over flowing with God's grace. The wine bottle title says it all, "Celebrate This Life" I toyed with the idea of naming it simply "Celebrate Life"  but I wanted to say so much more than that. No, Celebrate This Life, the one you are living right now. It is a call to action for us to be appreciative of what we have and who we are and the wonderful people and teachers that have aided in shaping our individual journeys. Each of us is perfectly imperfect, and thank God for those  who love and accept us anyway. We are the sum total of our experiences, good and bad. We must understand that we are spiritual beings trying to have a physical experience, not physical beings trying to have spiritual experiences. As our ancestors before us, we are simply life's students sent to this world to love and learn.

As we say goodbye to 2014 let's be thankful for this life even for the doors that have closed and those that have swung open wide to even greater opportunities. Be happy for the people we've loved and lost; grateful for the smiles and laughter that have added love and richness to our lives as well as being grateful for any shed tears that may have led to our transformation, greater clarity and personal growth. Remember to count it all Joy! ("Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance,"- James 1:2-3)

Life is dynamic and can change in an instant. Strive to have a heart of gratitude and live in the truth of this promise, that one touch of God's favor can change the trajectory of one's life, leading you to that dream job,  that wonderful soul mate, that bestselling novel, the inspiration for the next world renowned art masterpiece or simply may lead to finally achieving true peace of mind.

Whatever it is you are hoping and praying for, let's pause for a minute today to be still and Celebrate this Wonderful Life and its magical mystical endless possibility.

May all your dreams come true in 2015!

Peace & Blessing

Lisa

Paint, Sip and Soul with Lisa

 (painting "Celebrate This Life")

 Dec. 17 at Zanzibar Brews, 740 E Long St. 

from 6:30 to 9:30 pm. Register for the painting party at:

 https://squareup.com/market/blind-faith-fine-art

We would love to see you there!

Kreativity is Good for the Soul!

Paint, Sip ans Soul with Lisa & Friends

I haven't written in a while, Been keeping busy with Fall shows and my newest venture, Paint, Sip and Soul with Lisa,  fun art instruction. I am jumping on the band wagon of the hot new trend of social painting with cocktails. As you know my intention is to live a creative life of art and as I have pondered what this looks like,, my heart has been open to many possibilities. I began hearing about the whole paint and sip party trend  about 2 years or so. Many of my friends and family have attended paint parties locally and said that it was fun, and I thought I would check it out, (sooner or later) but God has a sense of humor and the chatter or inner urgings became louder; friends started texting me, emailing me, strangers began speaking to me at events, asking when I would start doing my own paint instruction parties. Finally one Sunday night a good friend and ex colleague sent me a text at 1:00 am in the morning about a paint and sip franchise that he thought I should check out. Then exactly one hour later my sister sent me a text at 2:00 am about a paint sip party scheduled for that week. After I read and processed each of the texts, I sad Ok Lord, I hear you! Texts for me in the middle of the night Do Not happen. So in the morning I started doing research on the concept. I began pulling up facts, figures and stats and was watching the local noon news, when low and behold, they do a story of an artist, that also offers fun painting classes at her gallery.  Now if this was not bizarre enough, then the phone rings, "Are you watching channel 4 news right now?, Lisa this is for YOU!!" from another old friend that I hadn't spoken to in months. I took these messages as a full on "God Wink" and I got busy planning my first paint and sip,

I know from my corporate back ground that it wouldn't be enough to simply do what the other guys are doing, I wanted to do mine better. I was determined to put the "soul" in my paint and sip party, adding my poetry and my passion for inspiring others to seek their creativity, Thus "Paint, Sip and Soul with Lisa" was born. So far each lesson has been allot of fun and I have some larger parties already on the schedule. I really love it.and also want to add a corporate component with a team building element. In my past life as a VP of sales, I used to make a point of encouraging strong teamwork among my team members with team building activities: we went bowling. took cooking classes, did comedy shows and even went shooting together. All in an effort to build a strong team and inspire loyalty in the company's mission. It was team building that led my team to consistently meet and exceed sales goals. My desire is to utilize Paint, Sip and Soul with Lisa,  to help other business' flourish and also build strong teams.

So far I have been holding these parties at Zanzibar Brews on Long St. every other Wednesday however, I would eventually want to have a retail store front presence. Last month on a weekend vacation down South, I happened upon a paint and sip store on a Friday night, the owner informed us that they were completely sold out (of what looked like 50 seats) for Friday and Saturday and  if I registered right then, I may be able to attend the Sunday afternoon class. I know with my business experience, passion for serving others and love for art, this could be a successful business model. I too could have sold out classes while having fun inspiring others to reach for their latent creativity and living the life of art that I dream of.

As I continue to walk by faith- not by sight, I am ever prayerful that if it is God's plan for me to bring my vision into fruition that it will be so. In the mean time I am asking for your prayer's and support of this venture. I cannot do this without you: friends and family with big open hearts; interested in not only supporting my business but also interested in having fun exploring their own creativity (and spreding the news then telling folks . I truly do believe that creativity is good for the soul. Led by the right and left brains, creativity can open portals to endless possibility. Paint, Sip and Soul with Lisa is a party with a purpose, you are exercising the underused part of your heart that is youthful and imaginative. I believe that in using the gift of creativity, not only do we nurture our souls, we also  making God smile,

So come on, join me. 

Let's Get Our Paint On!!!

Paint, Sip and Soul with Lisa & Friends

Check out my Facebook page at:

 www.facebook.com/pages/Paint-Sip-and-Soul-with-Lisa 

For times and locations of the next sip. 

If you are interested in registering for a Paint, Sip and Soul Party  or 

buying a gift certificate for a future  Paint, Sip and Soul party, please go to: 

http://mkt.com/blind-faith-fine-art

Hope to See You Soon!

Grace

It has been a while since I have written. There have been many changes and activity- some good some not so good. I have been blessed with a strong and courageous heart but I am not claiming to be without fear. I have a poem "Creating Art is not for the Faint of Heart" which is so profoundly true. There is great joy in creating art but sharing art with the public is also being vulnerable and exposing your heart. Again, not always for the faint of heart. I have been successful at conveying warmth and  positivity through my work. For every smile at the gaze of my work, I wish I could get a dollar. I wish I could make a living off "smiles" for then I would be rich. I had many hopes tied to the last few months, although I am blessed, many of these hopes did not come into fruition but I did not and will not give up. I am blessed with a wonderful talent and I vow to simply modify and enhance my program.

 My heart is open for new beginnings and the promise of God's grace, It has been His grace that has brought me thus far and I know He will never leave me. I am so thankful that He has sent me many earth angels to surround and support me. I also have a nice network of loyal art collectors, that consistently buy my work. Although I may have had a few setbacks, I am positive I will be back in full effect in no time. Energized and ready to hit the canvas.

Friends and family it is in the midst of the storm that we must remember to reach for God's umbrella of protection. When things seem not to go as you planned, "it could actually be grace," (Mastin Kip). Choose faith over fear. As for me and my house, I know I will serve the Lord and I know that He has bigger and better plans for me. I just need to hold on get "unstuck." So as of 4:00pm today, I am claiming that I am officially  emotionally and creatively FREE and on the move. I am releasing these wonderful masterpieces and books of poetry that have been laying latent only in my mind, Free. I will move about this world with a fresh perspective, allowing my work to proudly show it and it will be magnificent.

There is an abundance of creativity in these hands, brilliance in this heart and I am GRACE anointed.    

Ashe Ashe, and be blessed. As I follow my bliss, please follow yours!