Each year on my birthday, I make a list of things that that I want to accomplish. It’s usually a mix of experiences that I have never tried before. I share my list publicly to put a little healthy pressure on myself to complete or at least try to complete these goals. By doing so, it usually sparks others to join in or provide advice on how to complete these goals.  Participating in an amateur roller derby with 16 of my friends (2016), writing a book “The Misadventures of the Hip and Fabulous” (2017),  and being front row at NYC Fashion Week for a runway show (2020) are a few birthday wish list examples. Over the last few years, becoming a professional abstract painter was added to the list. 

I never painted as a child and picked up my first paintbrush at 48 years old.  I was first exposed to painting at a wine and paint party.  I found it quite fun and wanted to learn more. Painting afforded me the opportunity to simultaneously listen to music while I was learning and developing my process.  The louder the better. It is not uncommon to hear a variety of music like The Rolling Stones, Andrea Bocelli, The Middle Kids, Post Malone, Tribe Called Quest, or even good old-fashioned Yacht Rock from session to session. As I listened to music and painted, my own style emerged.  I was finding a deeper intuitive connection to the music and the creative process.  Unlike many artists who start with a planned subject and chosen color palette, I start by listening first to the music and seeing where the music guides me. A combination of the music and my mood of the day inform my color choices and brush strokes. As a result, there is a good variety in my work. You will see light blues often when I listen to jazz, alternative punk music seems to produce darker monochromatic or bright red in my paintings and classic rock seems to spark more multi-colored paintings. Many of my paintings are named after song lyrics with a nod to the musical artist who helped create a spark in the studio. You can find my work at https://artgallerybyz.com.

If you say it out loud, it might just come true. As painting was becoming more of a passion. I happen to visit Paris. I was excited to stay in Montmartre, the town where Van Gogh, Matisse, and Picasso once walked the streets. I was there for a few days on a work trip and took every advantage of my off-the-clock time to see the sights. I saw the Mona Lisa at the Louvre. I found the places that many of these famous artists lived and sourced incredible inspiration. It was fun to imagine walking in their shoes. Before I left, I did a quick sketch of the church on top of Montmartre. I promised myself that I would be back as an artist. I began to ask myself questions like “What if you became really good at this? What if you could show your work professionally in a gallery? What if you could even sell your abstract art? “I was starting a new adventure and art was becoming more important to me.

Back at home, I was creating so many paintings that I was giving them away to clear space to create more. My sister suggested that I apply to a gallery show and try to do this professionally. I happened on an open call for “The Future is Female” an emerging artist exhibit in Brooklyn, NY. I was surprised when three of my five pieces submitted were accepted. From there, I had a bit more confidence and continued to develop my own style. I started to include showing my work in galleries on the annual birthday goal list.  I have now done roughly 20 shows. While I have not been able to travel due to the pandemic, my work was shown in Paris this year at the Sonia Monti Galerie in the Champs Elyse district.  

Art has brought joy in my life in unexpected ways. I had a solo exhibit at the Maryland Hall for Creative Arts. In this exhibition, 20 of my paintings and the music that inspired them were featured. This is a view into a special moment of a Mom and daughter enjoying the show as I had envisioned.  It is still a hugely favorite moment of my art career. I have also been able to use my work to help others. I donated a piece for a Silent Auction to raise money for Autism. My painting raised 10,000 for the cause. I was stunned by the generosity of the individual who bought this and the several people who offered to buy prints for the cause. I was so happy that something that I love to do could go on to fund a cause that is so worthy. None of this could I have ever imagined when I picked up a paintbrush a few years ago. 

So, what’s next? My longer-term plan one day is to be in the National Gallery of Art. My shorter-term plan is to assist more women in growing their representation in galleries. Women today make up more than 50% of the artist but only 14% of the work in museums is created by women. Both are good and challenging goals, so my work is certainly cut out for me. If Grandma Moses started to paint at age 76 and was a prolific painter until she died at 101 years of age, maybe I’m even ahead of the game.

I’m asked from time to time “How do you find time to paint when you have a full-time career at Microsoft?” I think one thing to keep in mind is we all have the same 24 hours in the day. It’s how you choose to use your time that makes a difference.

It’s important to experience more than your work life. It’s important to experience more of than your life as a parent or your life as a partner. All of us have a lot more time than we think. If you spent even an hour or two on a hobby or new skill, it’s amazing how quickly you can start to become an expert at it. Find your passion, make room for play, and imagine where it just might take you. I believe that the universe rewards those who visualize what could be possible, have just a little confidence, and take time to pursue a goal no matter how crazy it might be.