A New Studio And Blessing

Do you remember the first time you picked up a paint brush or pencil and felt the joy of slinging paint but at the end of the day had to clean up and put it all away because....well... stuff? Do you remember creating in a small space, like from your car or on the kitchen table and secretly dreamed of having your very.....own....studio? Do you remember selling your first pieces of artwork and realizing....oh, if only I had a studio I could ...... yep...do this and that and EVERYTHING?

What Was Once My Kitchen Table lol!

 For 14 years I have engaged my creativity and faith as a way to heal, a way to express myself, and as a way to connect with other beautiful humans. I have also used it to build a beautiful career and platform to teach artists and the creative young. Every long hour I spent during this time was laced with the hopes of one day having my own studio. There were moments I was exhausted and felt it would never come. There were moments of elation and I new it would come. And then there were most days where I simply put one foot in front of the other building the opportunity for it to come....and it has. 

This room used to be BROWN!

A few weeks ago an opportunity at the Central Presbyterian Church came available and I have acquired a new studio space in the building that used to be their educational wing.The space could not have been more perfect but that wasn't what sold me at first. The people I met and the service to community that takes place there filled my heart with hope. A building can house a studio quite easily, but a connection to people, to service, and to the betterment of others is part of what makes an incredible studio possible. This brings me great joy. 

For the past three weeks my family and I, and with the help of old friends and new ones, the studio has gone from empty spaces to rooms filled with color and light and life. It has been long, exhausting work, but every moment filled with a flood of connection to the thousands of moments that led up to this. Colors were chosen, I pinched pennies in as many ways as I could to be creative in my organization, and from the effort, a studio was born. 

The Brown Wall Is No More!

My Wall of Fame from artist and students I adore!

Abstracts and Reading

What Will Be My Main Painting Wall

A Welcoming Hangout

My Office and Dry Room

Beautiful Display Space Throughout

Although there is still much to do, I wanted to give you all a special invite for February 18th from 9 am to 5 pm which I will host an Open House at 1260 Dauphin St. . Having friends and family celebrate with me throughout the day is the very best way I can think of to start this amazing experience off in grand. Come view the works, talk with me about process and why there is so much color and oddness in my style, and share with me what you love about this beautiful way of life we live.  In the weeks and months to come, there will be art class for study and some just for fun. There will be opportunities for working artists to come together, to share thoughts and ideas of how to build community around our craft. There will also be opportunities for special events and celebrations to wrapped around creative endeavors in many ways. 

A Yummy Palette!

And Glorious Light!

As a working artist I am thrilled to be part of the Mobile community and look so forward to expanding my efforts in sharing creativity and a love for the arts. It has been an incredible 14 years of growth and practice, and I deeply look forward to many more. 

For those of you who wish to attend but are not local, I have requested that a studio blessing in the form of a prayer, a quote, a well wish, or a token be made or sent. Having the energy of others who have supported and encouraged me along the way is so very important to me because I know so well, I could not have done this alone. I will gather these and display them as well as use them in a special art project! You may email me at ardithgoodwin@gmail.com or mail it to Ardithian Arts Studio 1260 Dauphin St. Mobile, Al. 36604


(Stairs are part of the building where my studio is located. There are accommodations for the those who are physically challenged though. If you would like to come, please message me at ardithgoodwin@gmail.com so that we can be expecting you.)

Me and Julie Kogan, one of my first visitors!

In the coming weeks I will be sharing pics from Open House and well as several videos about setting up a studio, tips, and how the space finishes up. Stay tuned!

You can view some new pics of the studio here on my FB page!

Expandorendative Solo Show of Ardith Goodwin

12 years ago, as an elementary school teacher at the top of my career, I was facing some major medical hurdles that I would have to jump whether I wanted to or not. I left the profession that I adored and was passionate about with great discouragement, to face a life on full disability and multiple surgeries. It was as if life had once again snatched the rug out from under my feet. One morning I lay in bed, watching the sunlight flow across the pane of the window and asked myself, "What on earth would I do now? Is this all that there would be in life?" 

Now if you know me, you know I have always had the outlook of extreme optimism, sometimes to a fault, so I tapped into that innate gift and gathered about 10 books on watercolor painting from the library. To set the record, I wasn't a painter. I didn't take art lessons, but when I was in elementary and high school I loved art and knew that I loved to doodle, and that was the extent of my creative talents at the time.

 It didn't matter to me that I didn't know how to paint, I just gave myself permission to try, to explore, to play with watercolor pigment and quickly found that I had three things going for me: I had the gift of visual transfer, I had a knack for color, and creativity came naturally to me.

Fast forward to this past weekend and I am coming off the most incredible experience of having my first major solo show with 35 paintings showcased at The Eastern Shore Art Center in Fairhope, Al. So what happened in the span of 12 years with a body that was lacking and a skill set that was brand new?

Taking in the moment before the crowd.

What I can share with you in this short space is a combination of several things: I turned to art for part of my healing process, I never had the voice in my head telling me I was doing it wrong, I practiced as much as I could to work hard and thrive, and I had the aid of the Big Guy Upstairs as part of the healing that would take part in my body. Looking back on it now, it has been a remarkable journey filled with struggles and pain and hurdles and moments of extreme joy. In essence, I have journeyed through a miracle to find that the gifts of creativity and communication I was born with, would be what would help save me. 

Over the course of the next few weeks I will be sharing part of my story here on my blog because as proud as I am about the impact and body of work I have created for this show, I am equally proud of the journey I took to get to where I am today. Very few people find a way to come off disability and reenter the work force with a brand new set of skills that are connected to divine purpose and heart, but I did. I heard a voice inside myself that whispered, "You are meant for greater things," and even though there were very dark moments, I never, ever let that whisper be silenced. Today I am beyond grateful for the gift of fortitude. 

www.ardithgoodwin.com

Expandorendative - A Peek Inside the Land of Ardithian is a solo show built around the framework of fracturedness, dynamic movement, pieces and parts, energy fields, transparent layers, and story. It showcases figurative works which are elements of the children's book I am writing and abstracts which carry the same framework. 

Over the last 12 months I have worked passionately and exhaustingly to master the craft that I needed to paint in a way that evokes this framework. I pulled the business elements together that I needed and I applied 12 years of study into a year of unexpected growth and discovery. Expandorendative is what I am deeply proud of. 

This show will hang until Jan. 5th and is free to the public for viewing. On Nov. 21 I have the pleasure of hosting a gallery talk to share with the audience my inspiration, my journey, and the framework that my creative heart worked within to dream and bring to fruition these conceptual pieces. 

There will be many moments for me of looking back at all of this, to see the lessons, to share the wisdom of it all, but for today, my heart is full and seeking a bit of rest to let it all sink in. If you are interested in following my story as I write, sign up for my newsletter or follow me on FB! I share quite a lot there. 

Many thanks to the staff at ESAC and to all of the friends, family, and supporters that attending the opening. It was an amazing evening that exceeded all of my expectations! 

Friends sent me flowers and flats!!!!