hey guys so as we just learned I’m a person who does a lot of stuff paint
person who does a lot of stuff paint
person who does a lot of stuff paint things I organize things I get myself
things I organize things I get myself
things I organize things I get myself into weird situations it’s a thing I’ve
into weird situations it’s a thing I’ve
into weird situations it’s a thing I’ve never really been like this like for
never really been like this like for
never really been like this like for real
real
real everything I’ve ever done I’ve been
everything I’ve ever done I’ve been
everything I’ve ever done I’ve been super afraid of
super afraid of
super afraid of so I spent 25 years doing nothing I was
so I spent 25 years doing nothing I was
so I spent 25 years doing nothing I was afraid to join groups at school I was
afraid to join groups at school I was
afraid to join groups at school I was afraid to learn an instrument I was
afraid to learn an instrument I was
afraid to learn an instrument I was afraid to apply for scholarships I was
afraid to apply for scholarships I was
afraid to apply for scholarships I was afraid to go to college I was afraid of
afraid to go to college I was afraid of
afraid to go to college I was afraid of everything so I didn’t do anything a few
everything so I didn’t do anything a few
everything so I didn’t do anything a few years ago had a baby she was my second
years ago had a baby she was my second
years ago had a baby she was my second baby I had her when I was 25 and I don’t
baby I had her when I was 25 and I don’t
baby I had her when I was 25 and I don’t know if I was sleep deprived or crazy
know if I was sleep deprived or crazy
know if I was sleep deprived or crazy but I decided that I needed to do
but I decided that I needed to do
but I decided that I needed to do something so I started looking for what
something so I started looking for what
something so I started looking for what that was I knew that I liked to make
that was I knew that I liked to make
that was I knew that I liked to make things and I was a second-generation
things and I was a second-generation
things and I was a second-generation sign painter eventually so one day I
sign painter eventually so one day I
sign painter eventually so one day I went shopping for my stepdad looking for
went shopping for my stepdad looking for
went shopping for my stepdad looking for a gift that would speak to a sign
a gift that would speak to a sign
a gift that would speak to a sign painter and there was a book called sign
painter and there was a book called sign
painter and there was a book called sign painters I say this word a lot so in the
painters I say this word a lot so in the
painters I say this word a lot so in the book I’m flipping through before I give
book I’m flipping through before I give
book I’m flipping through before I give it to my dad whose job I’d never thought
it to my dad whose job I’d never thought
it to my dad whose job I’d never thought about it was just familiar the smells
about it was just familiar the smells
about it was just familiar the smells were familiar the paint stains were
were familiar the paint stains were
were familiar the paint stains were familiar those about it so I’m looking
familiar those about it so I’m looking
familiar those about it so I’m looking through this book and I see this woman
through this book and I see this woman
through this book and I see this woman she has on a cow cowboy hat she has
she has on a cow cowboy hat she has
she has on a cow cowboy hat she has tattoos and I decide right there that
tattoos and I decide right there that
tattoos and I decide right there that this is the most badass woman I’ve ever
this is the most badass woman I’ve ever
this is the most badass woman I’ve ever seen and I want to be like that when I
seen and I want to be like that when I
seen and I want to be like that when I grow up so I started painting signs and
grow up so I started painting signs and
grow up so I started painting signs and they’re real bad there are little
they’re real bad there are little
they’re real bad there are little Pinterest e signs and they’re more
Pinterest e signs and they’re more
Pinterest e signs and they’re more shabby than they are chic I do that for
shabby than they are chic I do that for
shabby than they are chic I do that for a while it’s not great eventually things
a while it’s not great eventually things
a while it’s not great eventually things start getting real people start wanting
start getting real people start wanting
start getting real people start wanting my work so I order fancy pants sign
my work so I order fancy pants sign
my work so I order fancy pants sign painter enamel and I order fancy pants
painter enamel and I order fancy pants
painter enamel and I order fancy pants sign painting brushes and they’re not
sign painting brushes and they’re not
sign painting brushes and they’re not the same brushes that you get at ha blob
the same brushes that you get at ha blob
the same brushes that you get at ha blob they’re these long things you have to
they’re these long things you have to
they’re these long things you have to maneuver them there it’s it’s hard work
maneuver them there it’s it’s hard work
maneuver them there it’s it’s hard work weird I didn’t know what I was getting
weird I didn’t know what I was getting
weird I didn’t know what I was getting myself into but I was in it and I
myself into but I was in it and I
myself into but I was in it and I ordered all this stuff so I kept
ordered all this stuff so I kept
ordered all this stuff so I kept painting
painting
painting up until then I hadn’t had to take any
up until then I hadn’t had to take any
up until then I hadn’t had to take any risks I had just sort of gone with the
risks I had just sort of gone with the
risks I had just sort of gone with the flow and I’ve always been risk averse so
flow and I’ve always been risk averse so
flow and I’ve always been risk averse so it didn’t occur to me that was gonna
it didn’t occur to me that was gonna
it didn’t occur to me that was gonna start happening
start happening
start happening eventually I received an email one day
eventually I received an email one day
eventually I received an email one day it was from an architect he said we need
it was from an architect he said we need
it was from an architect he said we need a sign painter I have this project I’m
a sign painter I have this project I’m
a sign painter I have this project I’m working on you want to meet about it so
working on you want to meet about it so
working on you want to meet about it so I met with him and his group and I put
I met with him and his group and I put
I met with him and his group and I put on the best dress I could find which
on the best dress I could find which
on the best dress I could find which wasn’t really that great and there was a
wasn’t really that great and there was a
wasn’t really that great and there was a festival going on in our city so I had
festival going on in our city so I had
festival going on in our city so I had to park like a mile away from where we
to park like a mile away from where we
to park like a mile away from where we were meeting and it was the end of
were meeting and it was the end of
were meeting and it was the end of August so I rolled up to this meeting
August so I rolled up to this meeting
August so I rolled up to this meeting real sweaty and gross and I sit down at
real sweaty and gross and I sit down at
real sweaty and gross and I sit down at a table and there’s just a bunch of
a table and there’s just a bunch of
a table and there’s just a bunch of white guys in suits you know like this
white guys in suits you know like this
white guys in suits you know like this is not my crowd and I sit down and they
is not my crowd and I sit down and they
is not my crowd and I sit down and they start telling me about their project and
start telling me about their project and
start telling me about their project and they show me blueprints as if I even
they show me blueprints as if I even
they show me blueprints as if I even know what a blueprints about and they’re
know what a blueprints about and they’re
know what a blueprints about and they’re telling me about this thing that they
telling me about this thing that they
telling me about this thing that they haven’t built yet so they show me some
haven’t built yet so they show me some
haven’t built yet so they show me some branding and it’s very good it’s with a
branding and it’s very good it’s with a
branding and it’s very good it’s with a company that I’ve worked with and then
company that I’ve worked with and then
company that I’ve worked with and then they ask well what do you envision for
they ask well what do you envision for
they ask well what do you envision for this building well I had no idea I’d
this building well I had no idea I’d
this building well I had no idea I’d never seen the building it didn’t even
never seen the building it didn’t even
never seen the building it didn’t even exist but I had to suck it up and whip
exist but I had to suck it up and whip
exist but I had to suck it up and whip out some idea on the spot so I start
out some idea on the spot so I start
out some idea on the spot so I start talking about Instagram Abul moments you
talking about Instagram Abul moments you
talking about Instagram Abul moments you know how can we promote this through
know how can we promote this through
know how can we promote this through some little kitschy stuff and it’s a
some little kitschy stuff and it’s a
some little kitschy stuff and it’s a brick building so it must have brick
brick building so it must have brick
brick building so it must have brick signage and we can do some real cool
signage and we can do some real cool
signage and we can do some real cool stuff on metal you guys I’d never done
stuff on metal you guys I’d never done
stuff on metal you guys I’d never done any of this
any of this
any of this I had never painted on brick I didn’t
I had never painted on brick I didn’t
I had never painted on brick I didn’t even know where to get metal or what I
even know where to get metal or what I
even know where to get metal or what I would do to it I had no idea what I was
would do to it I had no idea what I was
would do to it I had no idea what I was doing in this meeting or how to write a
doing in this meeting or how to write a
doing in this meeting or how to write a proposal or do even a mock-up even so I
proposal or do even a mock-up even so I
proposal or do even a mock-up even so I took this risk and I don’t even know
took this risk and I don’t even know
took this risk and I don’t even know that I knew how big of a risk it was and
that I knew how big of a risk it was and
that I knew how big of a risk it was and they were interested they wanted to work
they were interested they wanted to work
they were interested they wanted to work with me so I had to figure it out
with me so I had to figure it out
with me so I had to figure it out I wrote a contract I made you know
I wrote a contract I made you know
I wrote a contract I made you know proposals and a lot of mock-ups like a
proposals and a lot of mock-ups like a
proposals and a lot of mock-ups like a lot over and over and eventually I got
lot over and over and eventually I got
lot over and over and eventually I got the job
the job
the job and then I had to figure out how I was
and then I had to figure out how I was
and then I had to figure out how I was gonna do it so I had to find where I was
gonna do it so I had to find where I was
gonna do it so I had to find where I was gonna buy the metal I had to figure out
gonna buy the metal I had to figure out
gonna buy the metal I had to figure out how to paint a brick sign I
how to paint a brick sign I
how to paint a brick sign I never painted a brick sign that’s
never painted a brick sign that’s
never painted a brick sign that’s serious business if you screw up brick
serious business if you screw up brick
serious business if you screw up brick that’s it that’s the worst so I called
that’s it that’s the worst so I called
that’s it that’s the worst so I called my dad had a little SOS moment and I
my dad had a little SOS moment and I
my dad had a little SOS moment and I learned to paint a brick sign while we
learned to paint a brick sign while we
learned to paint a brick sign while we were painting my first brick sign on a
were painting my first brick sign on a
were painting my first brick sign on a lift super high in the air I had to get
lift super high in the air I had to get
lift super high in the air I had to get down a few times to almost barf but I
down a few times to almost barf but I
down a few times to almost barf but I didn’t that was a success so we ended up
didn’t that was a success so we ended up
didn’t that was a success so we ended up with thrive and it was great and I had
with thrive and it was great and I had
with thrive and it was great and I had my first brick experience and that risk
my first brick experience and that risk
my first brick experience and that risk paid off because after that job I got
paid off because after that job I got
paid off because after that job I got more and I was legit I went from being a
more and I was legit I went from being a
more and I was legit I went from being a hobbyist to a person with a real job I
hobbyist to a person with a real job I
hobbyist to a person with a real job I never planned for that to happen I was
never planned for that to happen I was
never planned for that to happen I was always afraid of that happening because
always afraid of that happening because
always afraid of that happening because I could fail some of the risks that I’ve
I could fail some of the risks that I’ve
I could fail some of the risks that I’ve taken were huge in my head but they
taken were huge in my head but they
taken were huge in my head but they really weren’t that big of a deal like
really weren’t that big of a deal like
really weren’t that big of a deal like painting a sign for my good friends Row
painting a sign for my good friends Row
painting a sign for my good friends Row I’d have to climb up to the third rung
I’d have to climb up to the third rung
I’d have to climb up to the third rung of a ladder I was convinced I was gonna
of a ladder I was convinced I was gonna
of a ladder I was convinced I was gonna fall off and die
fall off and die
fall off and die it’s the biggest risk in the world but I
it’s the biggest risk in the world but I
it’s the biggest risk in the world but I had taken at that point but it paid off
had taken at that point but it paid off
had taken at that point but it paid off because that friend who owned that
because that friend who owned that
because that friend who owned that brewery they hollered at me to paint
brewery they hollered at me to paint
brewery they hollered at me to paint their 50 foot long sign on the side of
their 50 foot long sign on the side of
their 50 foot long sign on the side of their new building just last year the
their new building just last year the
their new building just last year the tiny risks have turned into big
tiny risks have turned into big
tiny risks have turned into big opportunities they’ve allowed me to
opportunities they’ve allowed me to
opportunities they’ve allowed me to paint their beautiful branding on one of
paint their beautiful branding on one of
paint their beautiful branding on one of the more prominent walls in our downtown
the more prominent walls in our downtown
the more prominent walls in our downtown that’s one that has meant so much to me
that’s one that has meant so much to me
that’s one that has meant so much to me that tiny risk with that third step on
that tiny risk with that third step on
that tiny risk with that third step on the ladder it worked out so my
the ladder it worked out so my
the ladder it worked out so my trajectory has been scary it’s been
trajectory has been scary it’s been
trajectory has been scary it’s been messy I’ve had to figure out how I’m
messy I’ve had to figure out how I’m
messy I’ve had to figure out how I’m gonna do these things and with every
gonna do these things and with every
gonna do these things and with every mess and I mean spilling stuff on myself
mess and I mean spilling stuff on myself
mess and I mean spilling stuff on myself spilling paint all over my car freaking
spilling paint all over my car freaking
spilling paint all over my car freaking out on the spot having to get pep talks
out on the spot having to get pep talks
out on the spot having to get pep talks from like everyone who knows me it was a
from like everyone who knows me it was a
from like everyone who knows me it was a messy process but really good things
messy process but really good things
messy process but really good things have come from it so a big risk that I
have come from it so a big risk that I
have come from it so a big risk that I took just last year was taking these pep
took just last year was taking these pep
took just last year was taking these pep talks that I’ve needed and turning them
talks that I’ve needed and turning them
talks that I’ve needed and turning them into art that I wanted to share with
into art that I wanted to share with
into art that I wanted to share with others this was a scary thing you guys
others this was a scary thing you guys
others this was a scary thing you guys it’s scary to like let people know the
it’s scary to like let people know the
it’s scary to like let people know the things that you don’t want them to know
things that you don’t want them to know
things that you don’t want them to know but I felt like I needed to
but I felt like I needed to
but I felt like I needed to had so many talks with other creatives
had so many talks with other creatives
had so many talks with other creatives but it seems like making ourselves
but it seems like making ourselves
but it seems like making ourselves vulnerable is the best way to connect so
vulnerable is the best way to connect so
vulnerable is the best way to connect so I started doing it so I had you know
I started doing it so I had you know
I started doing it so I had you know maybe a 18 inch by two foot piece and
maybe a 18 inch by two foot piece and
maybe a 18 inch by two foot piece and then someone let me paint a big piece
then someone let me paint a big piece
then someone let me paint a big piece that went on their building
that went on their building
that went on their building share something beautiful like that’s a
share something beautiful like that’s a
share something beautiful like that’s a good thing to say having a bad day share
good thing to say having a bad day share
good thing to say having a bad day share something beautiful but then after that
something beautiful but then after that
something beautiful but then after that someone let me paint a giant 400 square
someone let me paint a giant 400 square
someone let me paint a giant 400 square foot mural of a quilt pattern and a
foot mural of a quilt pattern and a
foot mural of a quilt pattern and a quilt pattern meant something to me it
quilt pattern meant something to me it
quilt pattern meant something to me it was the ultimate sign of comfort so by
was the ultimate sign of comfort so by
was the ultimate sign of comfort so by taking these risks I got to put out the
taking these risks I got to put out the
taking these risks I got to put out the thing that works for me into an
thing that works for me into an
thing that works for me into an environment that’s allowed it to work
environment that’s allowed it to work
environment that’s allowed it to work for other people that’s a special thing
for other people that’s a special thing
for other people that’s a special thing that woman the one who got me interested
that woman the one who got me interested
that woman the one who got me interested in sign painting she called me last year
in sign painting she called me last year
in sign painting she called me last year she lives in Austin we’ve hung out a
she lives in Austin we’ve hung out a
she lives in Austin we’ve hung out a couple times and it’s always been the
couple times and it’s always been the
couple times and it’s always been the most amazing
most amazing
most amazing she says Olivia I have a job here in
she says Olivia I have a job here in
she says Olivia I have a job here in Fayetteville is this something you’d
Fayetteville is this something you’d
Fayetteville is this something you’d want to tackle it’s 18 feet long it’s on
want to tackle it’s 18 feet long it’s on
want to tackle it’s 18 feet long it’s on brick the building is still being built
brick the building is still being built
brick the building is still being built so there’s no why I’m gonna say no to
so there’s no why I’m gonna say no to
so there’s no why I’m gonna say no to that like I will pretty much do anything
that like I will pretty much do anything
that like I will pretty much do anything that she asks so I go in with my long
that she asks so I go in with my long
that she asks so I go in with my long 18-foot paper pattern and all my little
18-foot paper pattern and all my little
18-foot paper pattern and all my little paint stuff and my cute kit and I’m
paint stuff and my cute kit and I’m
paint stuff and my cute kit and I’m feeling really good about it and the
feeling really good about it and the
feeling really good about it and the electrical hasn’t been done in the
electrical hasn’t been done in the
electrical hasn’t been done in the building so it’s pretty dark and I start
building so it’s pretty dark and I start
building so it’s pretty dark and I start to paint on the brick and the grout in
to paint on the brick and the grout in
to paint on the brick and the grout in between it’s just falling apart every
between it’s just falling apart every
between it’s just falling apart every time I pick up my paintbrush it looks
time I pick up my paintbrush it looks
time I pick up my paintbrush it looks like I’ve stuck it in the sand so this
like I’ve stuck it in the sand so this
like I’ve stuck it in the sand so this was a risk that I didn’t know was gonna
was a risk that I didn’t know was gonna
was a risk that I didn’t know was gonna be super risky and it was rough but I
be super risky and it was rough but I
be super risky and it was rough but I got through it
got through it
got through it and I impressed the person that really
and I impressed the person that really
and I impressed the person that really meant the most to me so I keep doing
meant the most to me so I keep doing
meant the most to me so I keep doing these small things because I’m terrified
these small things because I’m terrified
these small things because I’m terrified I don’t I don’t enjoy it I don’t enjoy
I don’t I don’t enjoy it I don’t enjoy
I don’t I don’t enjoy it I don’t enjoy taking a risk it’s the worst feeling in
taking a risk it’s the worst feeling in
taking a risk it’s the worst feeling in the world you get sweaty and you want to
the world you get sweaty and you want to
the world you get sweaty and you want to barf and you worry about things all day
barf and you worry about things all day
barf and you worry about things all day what if I’m gonna fall off
what if I’m gonna fall off
what if I’m gonna fall off like what if everyone laughs at me and I
like what if everyone laughs at me and I
like what if everyone laughs at me and I look dumb like this is my process but I
look dumb like this is my process but I
look dumb like this is my process but I have to suck it up and I do and every
have to suck it up and I do and every
have to suck it up and I do and every time I do it leads to big things so my
time I do it leads to big things so my
time I do it leads to big things so my process has not anything impressed
process has not anything impressed
process has not anything impressed there’s a lot of freaking out and then
there’s a lot of freaking out and then
there’s a lot of freaking out and then it gets to the point where I have to
it gets to the point where I have to
it gets to the point where I have to just do the thing so I do everyday I try
just do the thing so I do everyday I try
just do the thing so I do everyday I try to identify what freaks me out and do
to identify what freaks me out and do
to identify what freaks me out and do the thing thank you
the thing thank you
the thing thank you [Applause]
”
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