We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Helen Dannelly. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Helen below.
Helen, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
Since kindergarten when I first stuck my hands in finger paint, I knew I was meant to be an artist. A chill went up my spine and I thought to myself “This is the best thing I have ever done.” It felt like a memory, but I had never painted before. It was then that I believed in reincarnation (!) and knew I was meant to be an artist. I’ve been painting ever since.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I teach painting and sculpture and exhibit nationally and internationally. I taught in France, Hawaii and New Orleans last year and this year I’m leading workshops in Monterey, California, in Italy south of Milan and in Normandy, France. My specialties include both color theory and mixed media sculpture using encaustic (beeswax and resin.) It’s a joy to share what I know and watch students’ creative minds and ideas expand! All my workshops and retreats are listed on my website: www.HelenDannellyArt.com
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
For a woman raised in a society where we are taught to pay attention to what others think and feel, the most important thing that I have learned over the years is to listen to that still small voice within and trust myself and follow my heart and passions. I never married the wrong guy which really could have put me off course; I never had children so I’ve had the time to explore different media along my creative journey – pastel, printmaking, paint, bronze casting, encaustic; and I continue to listen to myself above other voices. I think that’s been the most impactful thing a young woman can do for herself: don’t get thrown off course by other people’s voices. Take time to check in with yourself, journal, write down your hopes and dreams, revisit those regularly, set up self-imposed deadlines for things you want to accomplish, and keep a gratitude journal to remember all that is good in your life.
We’ve all got limited resources, time, energy, focus etc – so if you had to choose between going all in on your strengths or working on areas where you aren’t as strong, what would you choose?
Despite the fact that I teach painting and sculpture, I still take classes from those I consider the best at their craft. It’s called “artistic practice” for a reason: we are practicing at getting better all the time. It’s a focus on continuous improvement. We can all learn something, no matter how accomplished we are.
As far as my weaknesses are concerned, I finally hired people to help me with marketing and social media and with bookkeeping. It has taken so much stress off my plate and provided me with more time to teach and create art! And it has paid off. My classes and retreats fill and my art sales have increased! I highly recommend hiring help!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.HelenDannellyArt.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/HelenDannellyArt
- Facebook: HelenDannellyArt
Image Credits
Helen Dannelly
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