We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Debra Murrow. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Debra below.
Debra, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?
I was in my late 20s, working in different corporate jobs and was at a transition stage for my life. I was either going to take another corporate job and do training, or start my own business. Initially, I considered going into voiceover work. Then I met someone who suggested that I should look to do something fun and creative with my natural talents and God-given abilities. I thought – ‘Game On!’.
I took some time to figure out what steps I needed to take to move ahead. After a while, I received a revelation of the power of words. Then at the same time, I found this amazing pen brush that I regularly use, and almost immediately, I started to create art with ¨words & phrases¨! That’s basically how COLORME Art Spa was born.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers, and how you got to where you are today, and how you got into your business?
I’m Debra Lee Murrow, and I wear many hats – artist, coach, life focus consultant, wife, mother. I create custom art canvas for parties and corporate functions. It’s a great experience and a memory for a milestone event! My art is perfect for favors at birthdays, weddings, business events and conference sessions.
The way I found my art was through a spiritual journey in my late 20’s. I received a deep revelation of the power of words that we use in our life, and started making “words & phrases” the basis of all my art work. It was so much fun and relaxing to create the art. Then my friends started coloring my art work… So I coined the word COLORME; because itś so relaxing and “spa” like, ART sure heals the soul!
What type of products/services/creative works do you provide?
I provide DIY art experiences. I give people an outlet to ¨get creative¨ and help to remove any mental barriers they might have to getting creative in their spirit. I create “conversation starting points” before an event or meeting begins. This helps to break the ice, and get people in a fun, joyful mood to create. Normally, I have a large, pre-drawn canvas for people to paint on together. It sparks conversations and allows for people to express their creativity.
My line of products include COLORME postcards, posters, canvases and DIY jewelry (necklaces) that people can create on and find the artists within. I also teach a variety of art workshops for events, conferences, corporate functions and other group gatherings. I can do these either in person or online. I love bringing people through a creative process and watching them breathe and smile again with satisfaction over what they created.
What problems do you solve for your clients?
I help companies and their employees to get more creative in using their right brain creativity along with their left brain rationality. I create community art, so it’s great for “team building” activities. My art process can help solve almost any problem they might have, by helping their employees create art and express themselves. Somehow, the answer almost always shows up!
In working with people around my art, I also help break down any barriers people might have in creating art or accepting that they are (everyone is) an artist. I encourage creative expression to the Nth degree! It can be frustrating at first, and sometimes we need to first ‘sit in the yuck’ before ‘birthing the beauty’. In other words, it’s called practice. There’s an old saying “Anything that’s worth doing, is worth doing poorly, until you can do it well.”
Once that’s out of the way, they can create anything they want. In my classes I coach people to find their individual creativity, rather than me instructing the whole group to paint the same image. I’d rather encourage them to express themselves than follow exactly what I do!
So many people get caught up in life’s responsibilities, with work, kids, mortgages, and more. We are such a ´busy´ society and usually only praised for financial success. Unfortunately, this means that everyone just works all day long! So these people forget how to play, especially with art. So I’m alert to their situation and I’m happy for them just making the time to come to my class.
What do you think sets you apart from others?
My art teaching and event structure gives people a safe place to explore their inner artist. I’m able to listen, teach and help people enjoy the art that they choose to create. After my group functions, the completed canvas or art piece is a wonderful way to remember the occasion, whether it’s a business event, or a personal milestone like a wedding or birthday. The colored art piece serves as a memorable piece of art to display for years to come.
What are you most proud of?
I love it when students of mine find their true purpose! Art can reveal a lot about what is deep inside a person, and when that coincides with something they can pull into their life, it’s very satisfying to see people soar in their gifting.
I love it when I’m able to make company employees shine a hidden side of their talents. I think so many people working at companies all want to express themselves apart from the work boundaries that they are in. So when I put on my art teaching classes, people definitely get creative and unleash their inner artist! Usually 9 of 10 people always ask me where they can get all the art mediums I make available during my event or class.
What are the main things you want potential clients or followers/fans to know about you/your brand/your work?
Like eating, drinking water and exercising daily, I think it’s super important to be creative EVERYDAY! It’s not what you create as much as that you ¨create¨. By being creative, you’re stimulating your brain, gaining new ways to approach problems and find more energy in your open imagination.
I work from Scottsdale, AZ, but have taught my art in many U.S. states. I can teach online and ship art supplies, or give you a list to get them yourself. One day, you just might find me in your city with a cool new community art piece.
I’m open for events! Event planners, company PR people and other organizers can hire me to teach. In recent months, I did an event in Minnesota. I’m headed to San Antonio for another outing this summer, and Nashville in the fall.
Tell me about how you work at events?
When I do art at the events, I usually graphic record the events. So when the keynote speaker is talking, I am painting. It’s a great ‘giveaway’ to the attendees after the event; because since we really only retain a small portion of what we hear, it’s a bit of a memory tool for attendees. When people get the ¨graphic¨ recording all about what they “just” heard, they can then put their own notes in it and color away.
I can also produce the graphic on a large canvas and it can also serve as a ¨break¨ or “team building” after the event is all done. Anytime you can do something that will jog your brain into remembering a set of ideas, it’s a good thing – the ideas get a chance to cement into your brain.
Educational Speaking: I love to come and encourage your people! I create art during my talk, and I get your employees to create along with me as well! Instead of just speaking to a group, I turn these sessions into a teaching and a creative outlet for the attendees, almost a kinesthetic experience, as I talk and get them to interact and engage.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
Yes. I’d love for people to know that God does have a plan for your life. I help my students explore the inner child and help them realize that God-given plan. As Tony Robbins is keen to say – “You can have fun with your natural and God given talents.”
Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
I stumbled upon this amazing book called ¨Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain¨ by Betty Edwards (first published in 1979; revised in 1989, 1999, and 2012). In this book she explains how all people can draw, and proves that everyone can draw and draw well. The point she makes is not that everyone becomes a professional fine artist, but that we grow the ¨art¨ brain, the right side, so that we can become “whole”!
The point is that we should all learn how to draw and stop the drama around the saying ¨I am not an artist¨. Because we all really are born artists and creative beings. The challenge is to remain one and not to listen to the naysayers out there telling you that you’re coloring outside the lines and that is wrong!
Last note – Betty used to teach her Right Side of the Brain workshops, but now her son teaches them. I attended his class a few years ago, and it was a game changer for me. I did quite well and was very pleasantly surprised with the outcome, as well as the rest of the class; we all did great!
Contact Info:
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Website: https://www.COLORMEArtSpa.com
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