Pursuing one’s art is rarely an easy or practical way to earn a living. The capriciousness of the market in judging the monetary value of art and unpredictability of what makes a particular artist’s work popular or adopted by the market at large makes it risky to depend on art for a livelihood. I admire and respect those who do. To make a living, I have chosen instead a demanding and absorbing profession in the technology business. This vocation is all encompassing and by its exacting nature, makes its claim on my identity and life energy. However, my art is a truer expression of self as a woman and spiritual being.
My aunt, Charlotte “Char” Grundig encouraged me through the example her life and lifestyle in Vancouver BC and pursuit of art as a career – both music and painting. Her life exuded creativity. It inspired me to pursue the creativity within even while the dominant influence of the business world attempted to prevail.
Charlotte was suddenly stricken by lung cancer in December 2007 and succumbed in the spring of 2008. She was so young that we lost her long before any of us imagined a world without her. Char’s watercolor of the dancers is a favorite of her paintings and speaks of her immense creativity, loving nature and joy of living that she brought as a muse to many.