How This Mother of Nine Made her Dreams a Reality - and So Can You.
Christmas Cards designed by Charlotte Hunter. Photography by David Kilpatrick, Icon Publications.
Do you have a business idea, or a long-held dream and would be kicking-keen to get going if only you had the time to implement it?
Developing anything meaningful takes time. You know this. But you don’t have time! You have your family, job and many other responsibilities and your life is busy. Dreams are for other people.
This is bull-plop. I know, because I observed first hand how following a very simple strategy can help even the most time-strapped among you get results.
My mother raised nine children, so you can imagine she did not have a great deal of ‘me’ time. For as long as I can remember, every morning she would get up really early, before anyone else was awake, to paint. She always made time to work on her dream of being an artist.
I remember wandering through, rubbing the sleep from my eyes, and she’d be leaning over her work, absorbed in her painting, with a pot of tea by her side. On a piece of paint-dabbed newspaper, the ultra fine brushes - essential for the detailed work - were lined-up beside the well-used paint tray, studded with dried crusts of bright coloured gouache and splodges of fresh paint. She would look up to say “good morning,” paint brush hovering, but I knew this was her time. She was working against the clock. Maybe I would draw something too, or otherwise entertain myself until breakfast time.
Not your usual kitchen table scene, but it was just normal for me. I didn’t realise I was witnessing a great example of persistence.
She depicted scenes from real life: the everyday infused with character, warmth and life. Subjects included her childhood, our family and the community we grew up in. Many local people recognize themselves in her paintings of sites around Ancrum including the church, the shop, the village green and the school.
As we grew up, she continued to paint and started to feature her Christian faith as her subject. Over the years she has amassed a huge ‘back catalogue.’
The combination of a daily practice, desire to create and love for her subject has helped her to fulfill her dream of being an artist in addition to creating a treasure trove of artwork.
Her work has evolved over the years through the simple act of doing something she loves again and again, every day.
Now she has printed a series of greetings cards for people to enjoy. Her Christmas cards are bright and charming while the message is an authentic, meaningful representation of the Christmas story (photo above by the wonderful David Kilpatrick, Icon Publications). She specializes in charming, lively depictions of everyday life belying an authentic, deeper meaning and spiritual connection.
So, if you love what you do and apply your efforts consistently, you will create something of value and meaning that people will want to be a part of too.
I am not saying that you have to wait forty years to see the fruits of your labour (most people reading this won’t be raising nine kids!) but we all know that “tempus fugit.” The days fly by anyway (can you believe it’s nearly the end of 2020?). Until you can get that fabled stretch of time to devote to your dream, even that daily practice 20 mins a day over time will reap rewards.
And this is how to write content. Everyday. Any content you need to do for your business - photographs, blog posts, videos - you name it - just do a wee bit every day. Then before you know it you will have heaps of marketing material. And the bonus is that you will be improving all the time too with practice.
None of this is new, I suppose. But I just wanted to share my Mum’s story because I am proud of her hard work over the years. And now she wants to share her treasures online through her Etsy shop. Coming soon! I will keep you updated, in the meantime check out her Facebook page. www.facebook.com/charlottehunterartist
That’s enough of my musings - next week we will move on to some writing tips.
In the meantime if you need help with your content, get in touch. rachel@rachelhunterwriting.co.uk