Beauty From Within

A few weeks ago I got an invitation to The Heart of Billerica Awards: "A hero is defined simply as one who sees what needs to be done and just does it... "
Much to my surprise one of the mom’s of a student at my art center, Jen Croce, had nominated me for this award. Last night as I sat with my friends listening to the amazing stories of the nine other recipients for this award, I felt so honored to be amongst the beautiful people of this town. The disabled man who picks up trash on the sides of Boston Road everyday so others will not get hurt riding their bikes as he did. The wheelchair dancers who do not let a silly thing like a wheelchair stop them from dancing and then turn around and give funds they raise to others in need. The mom with an autistic child, who in fighting for her child’s better tomorrow, creates a better tomorrow for others like her own beautiful son. The couple who give their time coaching baseball for special needs children. These are just a few of the stories of the everyday heroes I heard last night.

Here is an excerpt from Jen‘s speech: “I am truly grateful to Colleen for all her help and support with the home schooling movement. Colleen has not only helped me and my cause. She also helps this town by sharing her time and talent. Her gallery is a safe haven to learn the joy of creating art. Her paintings are scattered throughout town at places like the library, here at town hall and on Enterprise Bank. Her art has brought happiness to cancer patients at Mass General Hospital and helps people relax at Logan airport. I find myself feeling inspired each time I look upon something she has created and I am sure I’m not the only person that feels this way. Thank you Colleen for all you have done for me, the home schooling community and this town.”

I listened as my eyes and filled with tears and my heart with the joy of knowing my life is making a difference in the lives of others. This has been my dream for as long as I can remember. Thirty-six years ago, at the age of seventeen I was voted the prettiest girl for the class of 75. I was told by the yearbook staff before it was made public. I remember feeling sad about it, wishing I had gotten friendliest or something to that nature, something that had to do with what came from my heart and not how I looked. I believed that true beauty came from the inside-out. So I spoke with the teacher who headed up our yearbook and told him to please give the prettiest award to the next girl with the most votes. From that day forward I set my heart toward loving others and being beautiful from the inside-out. Sitting there last night, listening to Jen, receiving citations from both the state and the town along with The Billerica Green “Heart of Billerica” award, I realized I am creating just what I set out to do. My sweetheart calls me “The Queen of Love” and this beautiful award was one I humbly accepted with joy.

A special thank you to my dear friend Liana, who created this amazing evening of love. You, my friend are a shining example of “The Heart of Billerica” and I love you.

Committed to Creativity

While sitting in the waiting room of my dentist office this week, the cover of Newsweek caught my eye: “Creativity in America“. Inside I found an article entitled, The Creativity Crisis - For the first time, research shows that American creativity is declining. What went wrong and how can we fix it?
They definitely had my attention now. My concerns over the decline of the arts in our schools were confirmed when I read the following statement, “Kyung Hee Kim at the College of William & Mary discovered this in May, after analyzing almost 300,000 Torrance scores of children and adults. Kim found creativity scores had been steadily raising, just like IQ scores, until 1990. Since then, creativity scores have consistently inched downward. “It’s very clear, and the decrease is very significant,” Kim says. It is the scores of younger children in America—from kindergarten through sixth grade—for whom the decline is “most serious.”

If you follow my columns you all know I am all about “Loving What Is”. So, if creativity is on the decline in America, or bringing it closer to home here in Middlesex County, what do we have right here in River City (Billerica) that is already in place that encourages creativity?

If you are looking to give voice to the visual arts in the form of painting, drawing, cartooning, animation (new class this fall) and mixed medias, we have amazing teachers here at Colleen Sgroi Gallery & Art Classes. We have classes for adults, teens, children of all ages and I even offer a senior citizen class at a great discount. If you are home schooling and want to bring your children to do art with other kids we even have an art home schooling program.
Now, if you or your kids are musically inclined, there is BTL Music School two doors away from me my art center on Andover Road. Parents have been coordinating their kid’s classes with art and music around the schedules of classes we both offer.
Another creative avenue is acting and drama found at Atlantis Playmakers, which is located at 380 Cambridge Street in Burlington. They offer acting classes for adults and children.
Then, thanks to shows like “So You Think You Can Dance” the creative flow of dance has made a huge come back into our culture. I love that show. Just in Billerica alone there is Sally Gould Dance Center on Boston Road, Gotta Dance on Chelmsford Road and Ellen’s School of Dance on Boston Road.

The value of expression through the arts is one that is hard to measure. So let me just share what I see. I see kids with learning disabilities gain self confidence as they tap into their god given creativity. I see teens who are struggling for identity find peace through the sometimes dark tunnel of the teen years. I see adults who have lost loved ones find solace in painting in a group of like minded people and create friendships to last a lifetime. I see adults, who always wondered if they could paint, find joy in the creative process. I see lives enriched everyday. I see!

If you would like to “see” too, make a commitment toward creativity this year and email me to tell me so at: Colleen@colleensgroi.com. Together we can bring a heightened awareness to the power of creativity to ourselves, our children, our community, our country and our world. For it is in this very way, we are like our creator.

Colleen is a teaching artist at Colleen Sgroi Gallery & Art Classes, 12 Andover Road, Billerica, MA 978-667-1009 www.colleensgroi.com Email: Colleen@colleensgroi.com

What's Your Sign?

Being an artist, I am definitely a visual person. There are two things that make me stop and pay attention to the moment, rainbows and butterflies. God said, “I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.”. He goes on to say in the book of Genesis, that when He sees it, He will remember. I believe I am made in His image and if God needs signs to remind
Him, then maybe I do too.

When my marriage of thirty years was ending, I found myself going through one of the most painful times of my life. Summer had come, my house was on the market and I would escape on the weekends to my sister’s place on Lake Winnisquam, my place of refuge. One of my side effects was terrible stomach aches. One morning while in pain, as I sat alone on the patio overlooking the lake, I prayed that my stomach would stop hurting. I felt something flutter by my face. Opening my eyes, I saw about ten butterflies flying around me. A peace came over me as I watched these gentle creatures. I put out my hand and one landed on my finger as if to say, “All is well“. It was then that I realized my pain had disappeared. I thought of the card my sister had recently sent me with these words by David Thoreau, “Happiness is like a butterfly: the more you chase it, the more it will elude you, but if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit softly on your shoulder.” How true those words have become for me. Now, every time I see a butterfly, I smile and remember happiness comes softly and when I am not even looking, there it is.

I was reminded of this again in the past week. It was the middle of the night as I lay in bed praying about something I was giving over to God and deciding not to worry about. No sooner had I prayed that I could hear my cell phone out in the other room sounding off that I had just received a text message. Curious, I jumped out of bed to see what was on my cell phone screen. I opened it to see a picture from my sweetheart, who was across the country on Lopez Island, WA - a quadruple rainbow! Not one, not two, not even three, but four rainbows in the clouds. I looked up to God and smiled and said “OK, I’ll let these worries go too!”

I love that God is so personal. He knows what speaks to me. I understand that my experiences might or might not speak to you and what speaks to you, your sign, might mean nothing to me or may be a healing gift.. That is exactly how I view art. Art is personal to the viewer. What you love in a piece of art is unique to you and your taste. I create from this same place, knowing that what I create will speak to those who have the eyes to see what connects me to them in my painting.

God is personal with signs. Art is a personal sign. Life gives us personal signs. What is your sign?

You can write to Colleen and share your stories about your signs: Colleen@colleensgroi.com
or stop by the gallery to chat. Great experiences and gifts for kids and adults. Visit Colleen Sgroi Gallery & Art Classes 12 Andover Road, Billerica, MA; 978-667-1009

Inspire Forward

Who are the people in your life who have inspired you?
My parents bought me my first charcoal art kit when I was in the fifth grade. I followed the instructions and drew the covered bridge. My mom framed it and hung it on the wall and the message I received was inspiring and clear: "My daughter is an artist." At least that's the message I got. Thanks Mom for believing in me. When my oldest son, Joe, was in the second grade, a special teacher wrote on one of his stories, "Remember me when you are a famous writer". Joe went on to be an English Major at Suffolk University and is today, an amazing writer.
Now I want to tell you what, the mom of one of my students told me, what I would like to call, an "Inspire Forward" story. This mom works in a hospice home and takes cares of and has become very fond of a 102 year old woman named Bessie. Bessie is an artist, so she showed her one of her daughter, Ali's, drawings. Bessie looked it over and very quietly she began to critique Ali's drawing in a very constructive way. All through the summer, drawings went back and forth from Bessie to Ali through the mom. Ali loved getting instruction and would make the changes before sending it back to see what Bessie thought. Then one day, Bessie had a special gift for Ali - a box with all her own personal art supplies that she no longer was using. Ali was thrilled to receive such a wonderful gift but Ali's mom told me that the true gift was the passing on of Bessie's belief in Ali that said, "You are an artist."
Ali is now one of my students and I get to take over where Bessie left off. To be the inspiration in the life of another is truly a gift and I am thankful every day for this privilege.
So how do we Inspire Forward?
It starts with you. Think about the people who have inspired you and, from that place of gratitude, take actions that inspire forward a similar feeling. It takes being present - really be "in the now", noticing others and listening with an open heart. I know that when I listen to that still small voice inside that comes from a place I call "other than me", I will hear what the person in front of me in the moment needs. Sometimes it is just to listen. Other times it's a kind word or a card or an email. Sometimes I offer to barter when I know the person can't afford classes just to say, "Hey I think you have talent." I offer discount classes for seniors to say, "Come try painting, if you always wondered if you could paint, it's never too late." I inspire forward.
I would love hear about how you have "Inspired Forward". Send me your stories. I will pick one and write about it in one of my upcoming columns.
Email me at Colleen@ColleenSgroi.com. If you are interested in discount Senior painting classes, come to one or more Thursday classes, 1:30 to 3:30 PM, Colleen Sgroi Gallery & Art Classes, 12 Andover Road, Billerica, MA. Visit www.colleensgroi.com. Call 978-667-1009 for more information about "Voice of the Artist", creating happiness and success with art and" Inspire Forward".

You are the boss of your own painting!

December is the month I begin to look at the goals and affirmations I made back in January to see what the year has brought; what I have accomplished and what I want to create for myself in the coming year. It’s the time of year I also look at my business and write my new year’s business plan. Now, if you own your own business, you can understand how this can sometimes be an overwhelming task. In fact, if you are a creative soul, like myself, it tends to be one to be avoided at all costs. We like to make it up as we go, be a free spirit! However, this I believe, is the kind of thinking that has tagged artists with the saying, “The Starving Artist”. I for one, do not subscribe to the starving artist way of being and am here to say, “You are the creator of your own life.” When my art students begin to show signs of intimidation in their own ability to be creative, I am known to say, “You are the boss of your own painting!” They then look at me and smile and sit up with a renewed confidence that they are indeed a creator.

So just how does the artist or creative person write a business plan or set goals? Just like everyone else - one dream at a time. The first thing I do is forget about my business and just focus on what I want in my life. My business is a means to support the life I want to create for myself. Last year I discovered the E-Myth Business Coach website and delved into some very helpful questions listed there. By answering these questions I was able to see with more clarity into the purpose of my life. It made writing my business plan so much easier. Whether you are a business owner, a student or just simply trying to set goals for your life, I think the following questions are ones that will help you be “the creator of your own life”.

What do I want in my life? What don’t I want in my life?
How do I want my life to be on a day-to-day basis?
What would I like to be doing two years from now? Ten years from now? Twenty years from now?
Of all the things on my life, what has given me the most satisfaction or pleasure?
What if I had everything I ever wanted; what would get me out of bed in the morning?

Ready? Go forth into the New Year creating the life YOU want and remember, “You are the boss of your own painting!”

Colleen Sgroi is a teaching artist and owner of Colleen Sgroi Gallery & Art Classes, 12 Andover Road, Billerica, MA You can call her at 978-667-1009 or email her at colleen@colleensgroi.com or visit her website at www.colleensgroi.com

Do you think of yourself as creative?

“To be human is to be creative. You don’t have to go outside yourself to find creativity – you already have it. It lives in your heart and mind every moment of every day.” – Sandra Magsamen

Of all the holidays, Thanksgiving is my favorite. It’s a day we come together with those we love and express our gratitude, reflecting on the abundance we are blessed with. I believe that when we are in a place of thankfulness we are closest to our creative source.

How can thinking of ourselves as creative, enhance this holiday season for ourselves and everyone around us? I love asking, What are your favorite holiday traditions? I enjoy hearing how people create new traditions while still celebrating old ones. Here is one of my favorites at Thanksgiving. As soon as the dinner table is cleared and clean, we spread a light-colored “thankful dessert table cloth” and offer any and all takers colorful Sharpie markers. This light colored cloth is the canvas for all our guests to write or illustrate their grateful thoughts along with their names and the date. Each year the same thankful table cloth comes out of storage with these memories of gratitude from the heart, funny family jokes and cranberry pooping turkeys creatively written and drawn by family members and old friends. Naturally as time goes by in life, some contributors have grown up and moved away and others that have passed on. Joy fills my heart as I travel around the table each year reading what was, what is and what will forever be my table of abundance.

My current inspirational book that I draw from in my morning meditation time is called“Living Artfully” by Sandra Magsamen. Ms. Magsamen asks us to think of ourselves as creative.
“I heard a great story of Edward Adamson, an English art therapist who asked a group of high school–aged children to look at a brick and write down as many things they could imagine the brick being used for. Some children had no problem, jotting, with ease, a hundred ideas. Other children struggled, so he asked those children to close their eyes and imagine they were eccentric artists known for their creative flair. Once they had an image of themselves as innovative, artsy people, he asked them to open their eyes and again look at the brick and write down all the things that the brick could become. This time, the children overflowed with ideas. The difference was they now saw themselves as "artists." If you think of yourself as a creative person, you will begin to act in creative ways. Use this new perspective of yourself and act as if your work, chores, commute and duties are outlets for your creativity—and they will be!”


Care to join the fun? Email me at Colleen@colleensgroi.com and tell me your past creative holiday traditions. Colleen, teaching artist, owns Colleen Sgroi Gallery & Art Classes at 12 Andover Road in Billerica Center. Web site: www.ColleenSgroi.com

Giving is the Gift

At the tender age of three I moved from the city of Medford to, what my grandma Nora use to call the sticks, Billerica. Sixteen years later I married and was off to explore new lands, returning only to visit my parents. Another sixteen years pass and as fate would have it I found myself back in Billerica. Already an established artist working from my home studio, sending my art out to galleries, collecting royalties through my New York art publisher and enjoying doing what I love, creating art.

Shortly after moving back home I saw a notice in the local paper offering grants from the Billerica Arts Council. Having never written a grant before, I decided to jump in and explore. My efforts paid off and I received my first funding to create what was to be the first of many Billerica paintings and limited edition lithographs. Billerica being more of a sports town rather than a cultural town, I had many naysayers who thought signed and numbered prints would not be a big seller. I, however, believed our town pride would say differently. I set up a booth at Yankee Doodle Homecoming. The day before the weekend a photo of my new lithograph depicting our town center graced the cover of our local paper. The next morning, when the parade was over, the town pride I believed in, descended on my booth and there I sold half the edition for a total day sale of one hundred prints. The remainder of the edition sold out in less than a year. Repeatedly people approached me, “Colleen what are you going to paint next?” I began to see how my art could make a difference in our town. Each year following I created a new painting along with limited editions that would benefit a different organization in town.

The truth that “in giving we receive” became so clear as I began to share my vision of a gallery and art center with my community friends. Sandy Wilson from the Enterprise Bank said, “Colleen, I want to make this happen for you”, and I got a loan to open Colleen Sgroi Gallery & Art Classes at Faulkner Mills. Then again, two years later, when I was going through some personal hard times, Fred Ciampa, CPA offered me space in his building for a third of what I was paying at the Mills, which enabled me to stay open and continue to offer art and classes to the families in our community.

I receive such joy knowing that adults and children are discovering their own creative expressions through the teaching artists at my art center. I am honored to have my art displayed in so many businesses and homes in our town. Most of all I am thankful for a hometown that has embraced my art, and me, the artist, helping me to see that “giving is the gift”. To quote Vincent Van Gogh, “The more I think, the more I feel that there is nothing more truly artistic than to love people.”

Colleen is the owner of Colleen Sgroi Gallery & Art Classes at 12 Andover Road in Billerica Center. You can see more about Colleen’s gallery and classes at www.ColleenSgroi.com.