Hello, I'm Bonny Snowdon, ex-corporate person and mother turned successful artist entrepreneur. It wasn't that long ago though that I lacked the confidence, vision, and support network to focus on growing my dream business. Fast forward past many life curve balls, waves of self-doubt, and so many lessons learned. And you'll see Ignite my thriving online coloured pencil artist community, a community that changes members' lives for the better,
and gives me freedom to live abundantly whilst doing what I love and spending quality time with my beloved family and dogs, all whilst creating my best artwork with coloured pencils and mentoring others to do the same. But this life wasn't always how it was for me. It used to only exist in my imagination. I've created the, It's A Bonny Old Life podcast to help increase people's confidence, share mine and my community's experience, and hope through fascinating personal stories, champion the other amazing humans in my personal, professional, and membership community, and create another channel through which I can support others to realize their dreams. If you're a passionate coloured pencil artist or an aspiring one who's looking to create their best work and a joyful life you love, you are in the right place. Grab a cuppa and a custard cream, let's get cracking.
When you start learning something new, it's always daunting. We all have our own way of coping with things, but sometimes life gets in the way and confidence is lost. My next guest join me as a student back in 2021. Spent the first few months too scared to put a camera and mic on in the Zoom sessions,
but slowly built up her confidence. Today, she's successfully selling her work, has joined me on live streams, talking about her journey to hundreds, if not thousands of people, and her confidence has soared. I'm delighted to be chatting to Karen Simpson about her journey with coloured pencils. Good morning. Hello. Oh, well, it's so, it's so, so nice to see you.
I'm so, I'm so glad you've joined me. I hope it's not too early in the morning for you. You look very glamorous. Oh, I'm, You Know, it's Really funny, isn't it? You know, when things don't go quite as you'd sort of plan them and then I just start like sweating. Yes. And I have it and it just comes out.
Yes. Just like That's right. That's right. I mean, it's, I'm not as bad as I used to be. I, it's, I mean, I've been sort of being in front of a class of students, 16 to 18 year olds, and you're trying to connect a laptop to a, a smart board. It's not working. I think when you've got three of that,
you think, oh, well, okay, You can do anything. That's it. This just reminds me of those days. And I think, no, that's it. I've gone now. Oh gosh. Oh gosh. I can't think of, I can't think of any, I can't think of anything worse because they're probably all sitting there just going, just do this.
Just do this. But they're letting you, they just allow you just to keep panicking, don't they? That's it. Yes. Yes. Redirecting at the moment, you know, not responsive at all. Oh, I dunno. So how, how are you doing? I'm doing alright. Thank you, Bonny. Yes. Thank you for inviting me to do this.
I'm really honoured. No, well, I thought who you've come such a long way with, with everything, and I just thought it would be so fabulous just to talk to you and I guess get to know a little bit more about you anyway and, and your background and everything. But I just think you're such an inspiration, really, really are.
Thank you. I, I mean, I don't see myself as that, but we never see ourselves as other see us. Do we really? No. And and when, when I had the invite, I mean, if you'd have asked me 12 months ago, I would've, I would've been a day just thinking, how can I get, how can I get outta this?
Or, you know, should I do it? And there'd be all those questions. When I had the email on this occasion, I, I ju I just felt, felt comfortable and, and that was, that was really, really good. I then, I was talking to some friends and I was saying, you know, I said, I said,
the email said about inspiring people and I said, I says, how can I inspire people? And that, and my friends sat there and says, well, but you do, you just do it. Yeah. Says whatever you do says you just go for it. And, and that's it. So it's, it's just really, you know, sort of nice to have that feedback from people because it makes you,
you feel a bit better then, doesn't it? Well, It does. It does, doesn't it? And all of that hard work that you've been, you know, not only putting into your art, but putting into yourself with your confidence and all of that kind of stuff. Yeah. It really then starts to sort of pay off. Cuz it is hard work.
Oh, it is. It is. When you are working on something, a new project, if it's a drawing, you are hesitant. You're sort of asking too many questions in lots of cases instead of just carrying on with it and doing it. But sort of, if you've got the anxieties as well of, of meeting people and sort of taking part in things and you,
your world is just sort of so much more closed in and you're just feeling afraid all the time. You think that every question you want to ask is a silly question. How many times we, you know, I've said to students, no, no question is silly and I find myself doing it as well. You know, it's, it's just, it's just the way,
you know, the fear grips you really. Yeah. I I guess you, you worry, you do worry about what are the, so I'm the same, you know, in a, in an environment where I'm not as confident. So say in my, in the business stuff that, that I do in these mastermind things, you know, when I'm sitting there thinking,
oh gosh, shall I ask this question? And then I kind of really pluck up the courage and I'm thinking, oh gosh, is everybody gonna be thinking what a stupid question. And then people come on and go, what a brilliant question. I'm so glad you asked that because I was a bit too scared to ask that. And, and it's,
you know, I think it's just a case of not working on yourself so that you don't worry about what other people think because you have no idea what other people are thinking anyway. No, no, no. You never know. And, and this is it. And, and your idea of what other people are thinking about perhaps sort apart on lots of occasions.
So best just go for it. Definitely. Definitely. Yes. Take me back a little bit. Talk to me about Karen, about what you used to do, what you are, and then sort of finish off with what, what you are now doing just to give us a bit of a, a history about you as a person. Cause I'd love to sort of,
I'd love to hear about how you really grew that confidence to be and do what you're doing now. Well, I, I think from early days that I can remember as a child and, and remember in, in the fifties, sixties, things were a lot different then. And children were there sort of, you know, in the background, in you,
well, in my, in our family anyway, you, you didn't speak unless you were spoken to when you went anywhere and you sat still. And, and that is drilled into you from an early age. So I think if you are in that environment, you carry that on through a lot, a lot of your life. I did anyway. I know that.
And you go into, into jobs and interviews are very traumatic. And that for you, the outlook, when I was sort of a teenager, you know, starting work was still in the, in my parents were still in the view that you did, you did a little job somewhere and husband would come along and look after you, and then you sort of,
you know, you just look after the family and that, that was the only sort of thing that you were there to do in life. And of course the world changes and, but you, you are still in that mindset that, that, that that's how, how life is and that you can't really achieve anything more than that in life. So when I left school,
and I, I can't say that I did exceptionally well. I had a few exams that I, I passed, but they were very minor ones. But I was very fortunate that when I was going back into my sixth form, I got a, an interview at in local government, and I was, oh, I think there were about 200 candidates.
And I was in the final six and had to go back for another interview. And I actually got the, got the job. It was, it was a, a clerical job. He was working in the finance department in the, in the, in local government. And, and I was there for a couple of years, but they, they sent me to college one day a week.
And I, I felt I had the best of both worlds there. I was earning some money. Eight, I was meeting other people who were learning. And I really developed a keen sense of learning is so important for people. If you can't do it at school, do it later in New Years and never think that what happened in school is something that sets your life,
you know, for the rest of the years basically. And so I, I just went on, on a journey of, of after a couple of years going into another job and I, I went, I became shorthand typist. They sent me on, on courses again one day a week. And I did that for a couple of years, and I became a personal secretary to a hospital administrator at a marvelous time there,
there was sort of a new hospital being built and I was meeting lots of people. My confidence during this time was really changing. I, I was sort of happy with what I was doing. I was moving up. I wa I was sort of moving into better jobs each time. And, and, and life was fabulous. I got married, had a child.
My first child had a very terrible time in hospital. I, I basically there, there was a 12 month period there where I, I nearly died on a couple of occasions and I was rushed into hospital on the one occasion, and the doctors were saying to my, my mother that another 20 minutes and I would've been gone. I, I was,
i I was bleeding internally from an operation, you know, sort of that incident, I think is, is the one then that sort of set, set me back on the, I was terrified of everything. I remember having post-traumatic shock disorder from the, from the incidents that happened. I had my father passed away while I was in hospital. There,
there was, there was just, you know, sort of something. All the walls seemed to be happening. And it was, it was then about two or three years later that they, that, well, they'd said to me, af after 12 months that if I wanted another child, I could have a caesarean on this occasion. And happily I,
I had another child. And, and that was, that was a wonderful experience. But the, the, the toll of everything else, the trauma, and you can probably hear a little bit if it in my voice still a bit sort of, you know, sort of, yeah. For years after a, a good 15, 20 years went by and I'd get to November,
December and I relived all of the, all of those experiences again. Oh goodness. Goodness. And, and it, it was, it was a terrible time. I, I was about six years before I was actually discharged from having my first child because of all the problems that I encountered there. But y you know, during that time that I was married,
but of course my children were very young. I became a single parent. Life's tough. You sort of, you're trying to feed children, you're trying to keep a roof over the head. I I actually went back to live with my mother because my father had passed away. And, and we, we ended up staying there for, for a number of years.
And, and it was, yes, it was, it was a time. Then when the children started school, I was going back to college and, and I was, I was doing as many courses that I could possibly do while the children were in school. And I actually did a cake decoration course because I've been doing cake decoration as a hobby since I was a child.
And, and it, it just felt so comfortable doing it. So I've always had something arty in my life that I like doing. And on these courses, the, I was in a fabulous group. She was a marvelous tutor, very much like yourself, Bonny and the group that we were in, they were, they were really at the top of,
of their, their level of, you know, it, it wa it was fantastic. A lot of us went on to teach, some of us went into some, went into having their own business and that, but it, it was a very special time. It was a very traumatic time because I can remember going through a divorce that lasted about four years and it wasn't easy.
And you, you trying to juggle going to college, you know, managing a family and everything else that goes with it. But it, it was very strange. They, I started looking after students then while I was at do doing these courses, the tutor then said is, can, can you just look after, you know, one or two people that they're brand new.
She says, you'll be, you'll be okay with them. She's in the room with me when I'm, when I'm doing this. And, and people saying to me, why don't you go into teaching? You know, you'd be very good at this. And I was like, no way. And that, but I was talking to it. And anyway,
actually it was one of the best things that that, that I ever did because I found that I absolutely loved learning all about the psychology of learning, all about the sort of motivation, you know, the, the Maslow and, and everything. I think everybody that one, you know, we all do that. All Maslow and, and yeah. And they,
and the, and and Bloom's taxonomy and, and, and that and Pavlov and, and the salivating dogs and everything. And, and it was fascinating and I absolutely loved it. And I, yeah, I did, I did this part-time teaching course so that I, I could teach and I was also doing, and believe it or not, a business and finance course as well.
I had my ideas that I wanted to, to do a cake decorating business. So I retook my GCSE maths and English. So by this stage in my life, I'm sort of how older my, now I'm getting to about 40 really. And I'm thinking, you know, the children are sort of getting older and that they're at about 10, 10, 12 years of age.
And, and, and so, you know, I was branching out in that way and then I got, got some part-time teaching at, at two or three different colleges. And yes, things were going really well at one of the colleges I was at, they had an OFSTED inspection. So that, that's, you know, when, when people mention Ofsted and the fear that goes places.
Yeah. So yes, that was very traumatic. But I, yeah, I did get grade one and sort of, yeah. And not long after I was asked to, to join a different department and that, so my career then teaching cake decoration just went over into teaching other subjects. And because I'd got all my qualifications in word processing and typing and,
and you know, all the office office things that go with it, I ended up teaching Microsoft Office Excel and, and that, and to youngsters who were 16 to 18 in it, that were basically, they, they hadn't got, shall I say, excellent qualifications in gcses. But a lot of them had got the ability and, and, and so,
you know, they could get this a pass level two in, in key skills and that, and, and they could move on into other subjects. And I think because that mirrored my life when I left college, when, when I, I left school and went to college, I, I really enjoyed that be because you sort of, you're thinking,
well yes, I, I can see the potential that, you know, you think you now good at something at school and yet it, it can lead you on a path in this further education to, to do other things. And so, so that, that was, I, I did that then for a few, few years and then decided that I wanted to manage a department and,
and moved on in that way. But in order to do that, I knew I'd got to upskill again. And then, so while I was at, at work full-time at this point, I'd, I'd got full-time work. I did part-time teaching degree and it's tough to do that. I can remember being up at three o'clock some mornings still typing all these 10,000 words,
you know, and everything and, and sort of, you know, then, then you'd be up by seven o'clock again getting the children ready. They were teenagers by then, but getting, getting them ready and on off to work and that's sometimes dropping them off at work cuz they're not driving and that, so, yeah. So yes, it isn't an easy time to do these things,
but yes, you, you do it. And I, I managed to get a job then managing a group of, of lecturers in English and maths and some, I was doing the IT and then I decided that, you know, I could see things were changing, maths and English were still very prominent in anything that we do. The IT was taking sort of a,
a, a backward stepping away because people were having mobile phones and things were changing. And so I did a, an English diploma, which I was really thrilled about because that then made, it was a little bit of a turnaround again, because when I was first starting teaching, I had the opportunity to do an A level English course and I'd started the course,
but I had also the opportunity to do a cake decorating class. And it was at the same time and there was no other option available to me. So I got to, it was one of those things, you either do this or you do that. And I opted to do the cake decoration. So it was like I'd come full circle. I was back to,
to the English again. And I absolutely loved that again. And it was the, it was learning all about language and, and that, and, and sort of the history of the language and, and the use of grammar and everything. I'm certainly not brilliant at it. And I, I thought if I'd have carried on doing this, I may have been even better at this.
But you know, that, that's, that's it. I've, I've had the, I've had a great journey, so I'm not complaining and, and it sort of, it just sort of carries on like that. I, I'm very passionate about learning and, and then sort of, I was looking after mom because she got dementia and trying to do a full-time job.
And it was very, very difficult. And things were, things were hard and that, and things were changing where I was working and I was ill, I left and I, on my final year of teaching, I, I did a part-time job so that I could look after mom and, and still have a little bit of income and work and everything.
And then, and then mom passed away during that year, who, it was, it was a really, it was like, that year was like, everything that had happened 20, 30 years earlier just all came crashing it. And it was, it was devastating. And I really then sort of was in that phase. And actually when I joined,
joined your academy, that was the phase I was in. I I was still sort of traumatized by everything. It was almost while I was busy and I was working and I was doing things, everything was just pushed aside. But I didn't realize just how much baggage there was there. And, and moving forward was an horrendous task for me. And then lockdown,
I mean, before lockdown, I was also after mom had passed, my, my daughter-in-law married to my oldest son, she'd had a pancreas and kidney transplant. She'd had type one diabetes as a, as a very young girl and had ill health and that and, and my, she got a, a got a granddaughter, but my first grandson was,
was still born. So that was another traumatic time during, during that, that episode. And then Kelly, my daughter-in-law, she had the, had the transplant and everything and, and all the trauma that goes with that. And I was helping taking her to hospital and everything. And sitting there watching people, their lives are so different to, you know,
other people. It's, it's, it's, you know, they're, they're sort of spending five or six hours sitting in a hospital just looking at other people in the same situation. And, and even that is a very heartbreaking time. So I was dealing with all of this trauma myself, but I was watching and I was thinking, oh dear,
this is, and you, and you take on people's anxieties as well, you do feel for people. And it was, yes. And then unfortunately, the Kelly's kidney, the transplant went into decline and she's now back on the transplant register. So if she can get a kidney now because she's on dialysis, that, that's a way of moving forward for her.
So, you know, there's, there's always family traumas going on with it, with everything else that goes on, on in your life. And that, and then we, we get towards lockdown and of course things change. I couldn't take Kelly to various hospital appointments. My son was, was doing it. I mean, he, he, he's,
he's marvelous. He, he, he, he is really supportive and everything, but trying, trying to work and, and do it all, I was, I was trying to help him as well. And lockdown, as I say, when that happened, it was like everything had come to a full stop. And during that time, it, it was,
it was a real sort of, you'd isolated from people so you don't, you're not sort of in contact quite as much. You haven't got the face-to-face contact with people. And, and it, it's a very low time, especially for people who I hadn't got anyone to talk to. I, I really do feel for them. Then my, my youngest grandson was born during that time as well,
and, and sort of having, having the, the traumas of having, having lost a grandchild as well. Oh, I'll tell you, you know, you, you, you just praying for the, for the, for the, a fantastic outcome. And Caleb was born and, and he'll be three next, next month. So it that's fantastic as well.
But oh yes, that, that lockdown and I, I remembered seeing YouTube advertising a drawing and a chat with Bonny Snowdon, and I thought this Thursday I thought, yes, I'm, I'm going to, I'm going to watch that. And, and that was it. And I was hooked from that very first one. I felt something that was incredible and I,
I sort of, it, it, it was, it was, it was just so interesting to watch. You were so interesting to listen to. There was nothing political. There was nothing sort of contentious issue or anything upsetting people, belittling people in any way. And it was just wonderful to sort of be part of, of that. And, okay,
I I, I don't even know whether I did sort of type anything in the chat because I was still very nervous at that point of doing anything. And, and I, I started watching and, and on, on the 1st of August, then I, I, I joined your Patreon group and I started to, started following you on there and, and looking at the tutorials and taking part i'd,
I'd already at that point, I'd, I'd already done one or two art classes. I'd started to do watercolors and I'd, I'd also done a color pencil course, which took place once a month, one day a month over at three, three months. And I did that a couple of times and I really enjoyed using coloured pencils. And I think that's what what I,
I, when I saw you doing that on, on YouTube, I thought, I'm, I'm going to watch this because we couldn't attend classes anymore. And, and it was fabulous. And I'd got the Polychromos pencils already. I already enjoyed using Pastoral mat and that, no, sorry, I didn't, I don't think I, I'd used Pastor the math.
I think it was, I think, I think it was you that mentioned it. I think I'd been using it like a hot press paper. And I enjoyed doing that. And, and it was, it, it just all snowballed from there. E everything, everything just took off. And then of course, the Academy and I joined the Academy and I've never looked back since.
And that first sort of confidence one, I thought, oh yeah, I thought, hmm, I, I've had a counseling session in the past and that it had helped and I, if, if I've got a joint problem, I've gone to physio. And I thought, yes, that's help you follow what they, what they do. And that,
and I thought, okay, I'll, I'll, I'll join the confidence group and I'll see, and, and, and that, but you know, there, there were times when I, I sort of, when I was, I was watching and that, and I could hear people talk and that, and the, the camera wasn't on and the,
the microphone wasn't on. And it's like, oh no, I can't speak. And, and like you say, like this technology when it's going wrong, that happened and it was like, it was like the end of the world and that I couldn't cope with it at all. And, and then, then sort of, I start, I started taking part and I,
I tell you, I mean, I can't even recognize that person. If I look back on that, that episode, that first confidence one, I, I, I just feel so different now. It's, it's just sort of, it's been marvelous, really wonderful journey. So, so really that that's brought me up to date with a lot of what you perhaps didn't know.
There's probably a lot more there, but, you know, that's a, that's sort of small summary of my life anyway. I, I find I have to challenge myself as well when I'm doing things still that, I mean, my partner says to me, said, you're very competitive. I'm very competitive with myself. I've gotta try and, and sort of push myself each,
each time. So it sort of, so when, when it comes to drawing, I, I, I felt confident enough that what I did, I was, I was pretty good. And that, that's, that sounds a bit arrogant, but it, it isn't coming from there. But I did, I I, I sort of, I was happy with my,
with my work, but I always like the opinion of someone who knows what they're, they're talking about. And that, and, and sort of, you know, you sort of, you gain things and the critiques you've done for me, I've taken on board or board what you've said, and it's like, there's always that little bit more that you can do.
So I, I, I'll try to stay humble and think, well, you know, I can always learn something by, by listening in and trying something else. So, so that's, that's good for me. But when I, when I'm doing the, the art group and that I sometimes just, I look at the artwork first of all, and I'll look at the colours that I'm actually going to use.
I don't look at the, the sheet that you, the colours you've chosen, I challenge myself and think, well, what colours would I use? And I sort out my colours and then I get the sheet and I look and I think, oh, right, okay, that's, that's the same, that's the same. Oh, I hadn't thought of that.
And, and, and then because I'm experiencing that, I'm, I'm learning again. And I, and, and that to me sort of that, that keeps me sort of really, really on the board with everything. And, and, and that's how I'll move forward with, with, with things. I mean, sometimes I can see different colours and that,
but it's like every, everybody sees a different colour. You do a print, you look on the screen, there's a slightly different colour whether I can get the tonal values, and I'll try and exercise where I'm using the same colour, and I try and get to see if I can get like a different tonall value, like when I'm doing a pencil and,
and you go from a light one to a harder pressure and all the ranges in between. And I'll try and do that with, with a coloured pencil, and I can see the differences. And so if I haven't got a particular colour, I think, oh, I could do that. And I could put that with it. And, and, and so I'm sort of go going through that.
I do thi wish I'd, I'd write things down more often because I tend to do this. Nothing. How did I do that? I can't remember what I've done there. I can't remember my name today. Let's alone, what colours are you? Oh Gosh. Oh, I'm just the same. I'm just the same. Oh, goodness. And I,
you know, I remember those, those first sort of few confidence sessions where you were literally just a black screen, you know? No, no, your camera wasn't on your microphone. And then all of a sudden you were doing a live stream with me in front of about 3000 people talking about how you'd gained your confidence. I mean, talk about,
you know, gaining confidence and, and, and just becoming something completely different. But it's, you know, like you say, having all of that trauma in your past, it's did, did you have help with with that? Yes, yes, yes, I did. Yes. I eventually had some help from the, the medical problem that, that sort of,
well, medical procedure that went wrong and that, and I eventually had some help. I had a, had a fantastic GP who was very supportive. And when I sort of spoke to him when I'd moved, you see, I'd, I'd, I'd moved after it had happened. So, and this, this new GP I had. And, and when,
when I spoke to him, he, he said to me that he, he, he got a friend who was a consultant at a, at another hospital, and he said, he said, W would you go? And so, because I was terrified, absolutely terrified. And I, I w I went, I, I did trust this gp and I went to this hospital and this guy was a consultant and he sent out a,
i, I think it was like a, a senior registrar, no, it would been a senior house officer then. And she spent well over an hour with me talking to me about, about all, everything that had gone on. And I, I can remember walking into to his, his consulting room, and this was a good, after half an hour after she'd seen me,
and I walked through the door and he says, oh my poor girl, what a, what you have been through, he says, and it was like somebody actually believed the encounter that I'd had, rather than try to dismiss it, that I didn't really remember it correctly. And, and, and everything, I mean, I'd had hospital sort of operations,
I'd had to put things right. And, and it was sort of, but you know, you just didn't, they, they just did not comprehend when, when you're trying to sell people at the hospital that this had happened and how you were feeling. And suddenly I'd got a doctor who was yes, he says, look, he, he, he said,
you know, he says you had to examine me and everything and, and that, and that, that was how traumatic is. But he said, but after that he said, he says, I, I can, I can get this put right for you. And, and, and anyway, sort of, you know, he, he told me exactly what had happened and,
and, and it was sort of, yeah, things started moving on from, from that medical trauma. So I'd, I'd had a lot of help there. But then when I was sort in the job that I was in as a, as a manager and things were, were sort of happening there, which, you know, you sort of, when you leave,
you have to sign a, a non-disclosure agreement. So you can't say, I tell anybody what, obviously what's gone on. But when I was off sick during that time, I did have, have support there from independent sort of help. And, and that was, that was really helpful. But I, yeah, I can remember going into,
into, for that consultation and having difficult, major difficulty just, just speaking. And she gave me a form at the end of the, of the session and basically it was a feedback form. And when she gave me the form, I looked at it and the form in my hands was shaking. And she, she saw me going to a meltdown and,
and it was, it was, it was, it was just, yeah, I, I, I, I can, I can remember she says, look, no, no, just, just leave it. She says, I, I can, you know, you don't, you don't have to fill that in or anything. But it was just a simple form and I just,
I just couldn't, couldn't read it and, and answer it and, and ev everything Oh, that, that was, that was the state I was in at that point. And yeah, y you know, it's, it, unless you've experienced it, it's very difficult, I think, for people to understand it. But yeah, we, we all have some traumas that we,
you know Yeah. It's simple for one person And it's, you know, it, it's, it's the way that we try that our head tries to bury it. Yes. But our bodies just can't. That's right. And you bury it for, you know, a period of time and then it's like, no, and it has to come out Yes.
Somewhere. And I guess, I mean, therapy and all of that kind of stuff helps. But, but also I do think being part of a, a community or being surrounded by, by people who, cuz you were saying, you know, when you are, when you're surrounded by people who are, you know, when when you're in a situation and it's all a bit whatever,
you know, it works the other way as well. So when you are with people who are more positive, who are doing stuff, who that's right, you can see it getting over stuff, you can see that it's possible. Yes. You know, which is, which is amazing. And, and you kind of, it's almost like osmosis, you kind of take on other people's positivity.
Yes. Just like you would take on, you know, when you're sitting in the hospital and, and you're, you're with all of these, you know, these people who are going through a, a terrible time and, and just having to sit there and not really knowing what's gonna happen, you take on all of their emotions as well. Yes.
And I, to me, that, that I always get sort of such a, you know, such a buzz beam with people who are really excited about what they're doing and, and everything like that. Yes. And yes. You know, to be part of that kind of a community is amazing, you know? It is. And I, I think that's the strength of,
of the, of the Academy. I mean, it isn't just about drawing, it's about the camaraderie of people, the supportiveness, I mean, under your leadership. It's absolutely been, been, you know, fantastic. And that's, you know, it's, it's, it, it's just a lovely environment to be in. And it, its sort of,
you know, some people can be unkind, some people can sort of be what they're thinking is supportive and it's, it's just has a negative impact on you. But when we are in this environment, we, we all understand because we, we've, we've had people say, oh, I don't, I don't like sort of the art that looks real,
you know? And I'm thinking, well, that's the work I like to do. And, and, and you find yourself justifying what you're doing. Now if someone says to me, I, I, you know, oh, I don't like real, I says, no, I, I do realism. I says, because that's what, that's what I,
I prefer. I said, I like a dog to look like a dog. You know, it isn't, I've got anything against anyone doing something different. But, you know, it's, it's like people are thi I think when, when they're sort of saying what that, what they like and that, and it's, it's basically running down what you do.
You, you think, well, you know, you say, and you wouldn't, You know, I, there's, there's always that sort of that thought in the back of your head, what, what's, what's the, you know, what's behind this? What's you, what you trying to do? You know? That's right, of course. And of course you'll never know.
And it could be that, that, that, you know, they've tried realism before and found it really, really hard. So now it's like the dog in the manger, isn't it? Oh, well, I can't do it. So, you know, and, and to be honest, I, we've probably all been there. Yes, yes.
You know? Oh, yes. De definitely. I Mean, I'll look at sort of people out running. I'm like, oh, running, it's so bad for you. It was only cuz I can't flipping run. Oh dear. I used to run, I used to run, I used to run 5k a day. Now I Struggle To walk.
No, that, that doesn't do anything for me at all. Now. I like sports, I like, I like, I used to love playing football as a child. My, my mother used to sort of think, oh dear, she's here again. I, I can remember sort of, there was a big field near where we lived and I'd be on there playing football or cricket with,
with a bunch of lads and that having a fantastic time. And my mother would come over at cart, you girls, girls should be having dolls and pushing prams and this sort of thing. No, no, not me. Do You know, I was in, I was in London last week and had three days in London, went to see Vicki and Pearl.
And, and Vicki surprised me with, with a couple of, with with Lovely Cerys. And there was Deirdre, then we met up with some more people that came and met at a pub. Do you know, I, I hadn't realized quite how small a bubble I live in. Obviously I've, I've kind of conversed with people all over the world.
But in London, you know, I I I walk outta my door and I'm lucky to see a person in real life. You know, I go into my local town and there's just people just, just like me, London, oh my goodness. It was, and I sound like, you know, I've never been anywhere before. And, and of course I have,
but it's so diverse and you don't know, you know, you are walking along and there's just the most beautiful people in all shapes and sizes and, you know, people who are, who are, because I'm, I'm always quite self-conscious about my, my weight and everything. And there's people who are far bigger than me and these sort of clingy cl and they look incredible.
They look amazing. And I wanted to go up to all of these people and go, oh my goodness, you look, look at you, you look amazing. There was this beautiful woman on the train, she must have been about six foot something. And you know, she was wearing this sort of like little tiny top and little tiny bottoms, and she was quite voluptuous and she was wearing roller skates and she looked amazing.
Yes. You know, and, and oh, just, they've got pri it's pride month, I think at the moment. And just that whole diversity, I just find it. Yes. Amazing. I, I honestly, I, I don't, I don't get into the politics and all of that kind of stuff. I just love to see people being whoever they want to be.
Yes. You know, and dressing however they want to dress. And there's me worrying about what I look like in a shirt and, and I, we just don't need to worry about it. And I I, you, I don't, we don't get that in a small town. No, no. But Somewhere like London, it's so diverse. There's,
it's such an amazing array of different people at Oh, it was just brilliant. I'm just like walking around going, oh my God, they look amazing. My God, they look amazing. They're just brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. Well, you, you saying that we, we don't travel to, to London very often, but we, we went to on a theater trip and we went,
we went to see Phantom of the Opera, but one, one on the, I think it was the afternoon before, before this, we were in Trafalgar Square, not knowing that there was a pride march going through there at this time. We could see people starting to gather and everything. And like you say, it was fabulous. But we actually watched,
watched this, this march through all of all these different groups and everything. It was a fabulous time when people were having, having such a wonderful time. And, and then, then of course we, we went off to the theater and, and you got a different group of people again. You know? Yeah. Yes. Yeah. That was,
that was the day. Yeah. We walked past David Attenborough. We always remember that. Oh, did you, Did you recognize him? Yes, we liked David. Right? We did. We did. We went to Mamma Mia the party. Yes. Which is in the O two. Honestly, I feel. So I've never been to the O2 before.
And you, and you walk in and it is literally like a whole city under a, under a roof. I sound so naive about everything. Brilliant. So we're there, and, and you walk, you know, it's, it's all like a taverna and there's like a, a fountain and oh my goodness, it was amazing. But we were sitting on this table of six,
the three of us that went, me, Vicki and Pearl sat down and, and the, the, the, the, the show is kind of all around you. So one minute up there, one minute over there, one minute behind your shoulder and is everywhere. And these three people sat down on our table with us and of course like, oh,
hello. You know, and they spent the whole evening and it was, what, four hours on their phones. They didn't watch. We were with cocktails and we were dancing, we were singing and we were like, you know, I've got some hilarious videos. And they just were on their phones all, all the time. I was like, oh my goodness.
Yes. I know. That's one thing I have found that I've used my phone more since I've started a business. Oh, oh gosh. Yeah. Oh, yes, yes. So, So before we, before we wrap up, tell us about what you're doing or tell me about what you're doing now, because it is absolutely wonderful. Oh, right.
Well, I'd, I'd, i'd, I booked a couple of events earlier on in the year, well, Christmas and, and just after that, after Christmas, and I did, well, I sold some artwork and I sold some printed cards that I'd had for my artwork. And, and I thought, oh, all right, if I'm going to try and do this and advertise,
I thought I need to make some inquiries about how I would start a business. So I've been watching your business sessions and, and that and, and doing that, spoke to an accountant and they told me the sort of thing that I, I, you know, go going through it, what you can, what you can do, what you can't do.
And so, you know, April I started my business, so I'd, I'd add, I'd add a piece of work on shelter gallery in Western Park. And, and then another local gallery, which I didn't even know existed. I'd got some work on display there. Met another member of the Academy there as well. And yeah, about that coincidence.
And, and then I went on holiday. When I got back, I, I sort of started looking at various events and I managed to get about three booked in May and three in June. Now two of those were canceled. So that was, you know, sort of bit disappointing, but still that we had to live with that. Two of them,
I didn't do so well on, on those. So the first two, they were quite disappointed, but dis so I was disappointed. It is wrong, really, that that's, it's nice to sell things, but it's also a learning curve. And you're setting up a table. You are sort of meeting people, okay. If, if you don't sell anything,
if someone's taken a a, an inquiry sheet about a commission, you're talking to people, you're getting used to what the things they're asking. So it's all a good learning curve. And, and then recently the last couple of that I've done have, have been in different areas. And that, so this year is, is a learning curve. Now I'm not,
I'm not getting into the right places I need to go where, you know, my sort of work will suffer. See, that is such an amazing attitude to have. I've done one art show, trade show thing, and I've never done another. All right. But having, but you know, you, you've clearly looked at what you want to do and that attitude of,
well, if this doesn't work, then I need to kind of look at, you know, a different venue or a different area or, but also learning the trade learning, like you were saying, you know, this is how I put my table up. This is how, and once you become really comfortable with that, that's sort of like a given.
Then you go to these shows and you're just like, ba ba blah, up we go. Right? And, and you, you get to know how to set your stand up, all of that kind of stuff. And then your focus then is on Yes. The selling and everything. What a fantastic attitude to have. It's, it's so much.
I mean, even the four that I've, well, I've done six altogether, but Mm. Yes. Th they're so different. And they're going to do a summer one where I was at the first two, so I'm, I'm going to try a, another summer one, but I'm actually taking a break from doing the sales events. Now, my last one was at the weekend,
and I've had, I, I've had some lovely inquiries about, about commissions and that. So I've got a, I've got a couple of commissions to do. I've got the, I'm, I'm quite excited about this. I'm having to contain myself, but I, I say to my, my, yeah, other daughter-in-law, you know, is supporting me at times.
And, and she comes out with me and helps me set the table up and that, and, and she, I said to her, I've got this idea. I said, and I auntie to do it, you know, she says, oh, she says, I'm feeling excited for you, you know, and all this. So I, I'm,
what I'm going to do, my plan is now over the next six weeks until my next event is basically to do more drawing, get my commissions done, focus on, on, on this project that I've got going and, and, and then launch that ready then for, for the autumn and, and the winter months as well. So yeah, it's,
yeah, intriguing. That sounds Exciting. Exciting. I'm really, I'm, I'm really pleased about the way things are going on there. But you see, it's like dividing your time. While I've been doing this with the sales events, I haven't been able to, to draw as much as I wanted to. I've missed a few art groups and that,
which I, I've, I very rarely did for the first sort of 15 months, and now I've got about 12 projects that are half completed. And I'm thinking, no, I need, I need to work, I need to do that. So yeah, so I'm, I'm trying to get my art room here sorted out because I've got a lot of craft items in it.
So I've been, I've been either gifting those or selling them, selling them off to create more space because I know ne I know the things that I don't want to do anymore. So I'm creating space for the things I do want to do, and I need space to, I need a nice room that feels comfortable that I can, I can create.
Yeah. And draw. And, and I've even, I've even put a story on Facebook, which I'd never done before. I wore on Instagram and that on Instagram, and I did a real, and I thought she said, of keep on saying, I dunno her to do this. I thought, right, you going to do this? Oh,
good for you, you job. And, and, and it sort of, if I, if I say something a couple of times now, I think that's it. I'm not saying it a third time, I'm doing it. Yeah. So, so that, that was it. And I, I'd been wanting to create this space No, for so long I thought that's it,
it was on my dream board. I thought, do it Brilliant. Oh, you know, honestly, Karen and, and people listening are just going to be so inspired by you really, really are you, you kind of epitomize the, the, the, the, the, you know, so many people who have had sort of stuff happen in their lives and everything.
Yeah. And then they get back into that creative, and you've, you've been creative, you know, for them you've had like the cake decorating and, and all of that kind of stuff. But now having a business Yes. Is just Amazing. And it's a time when really I, I'm sort of, I'm retired, so it's never too late.
No. My motto, just go for it. But I tell, I, I must tell you one thing you do, you remember you were talking about a podcast, Mel, Mel Robbins. Oh, Mel Robbins, my friend Mel. Mel Should be your friend too. I'll tell you. I I, I started listening to podcasts and, and that's from Mel.
And I noticed that she was talking to a doctor anyway, I thought, oh, I, I watched I, I'll listen to this one. Well, that was it. I, I was, I was amazed. And, and he was, he was talking about detox diet. Well, if anyone knows me, they know that I've been on a diet ever since I left school.
That that was it. I've lost weight. I've gained weight, I've lost it again and, and all the rest of it. But I have never been able to give up sugar. It's something that I have in teas and coffees. I cannot do it. Right. So I, I downloaded this book on Kindle from this doctor 10 day detox, and it's about blood sugar diet.
And I thought with my daughter with diabetes and that I, I know it's a type one, but you are very conscious of, of things and that. So I thought, I'll try it, I'll try it. Anyway, I put, I was at, stuck at a particular weight, and I was going every week. And it was, it was still,
no matter what I did, it was not budging at all. So I did the detox, I did it for 10 days. I did, I can't say that I did it exactly to the book, but it was near enough. And, and that's 10 days I'd lost five pounds. And also, I've never had sugar in a drink since. Really?
And yes. What, what was his name? Dr. Mark Hyman. H y m a n I'll have to have a look at. I don't think I've listened to that one. I'm gonna have a listen to that. It's, It, it's, it's a 10 day detox, the blood sugar diet or, or detox, something like that. Yeah.
So I downloaded it as a Kindle book and I was say reading it and it was saying, you know, you try and cut down on, they do a pre one and that, and I thought, well, I don't, I don't drink. So that, that was all right. So that was it. I was already on decaf coffee and teas when,
whenever possible, if, if there isn't a decaf one, it's not the end of the world for me. But I always try and, and sort of, you know, do that. But I've just been amazed. I mean, I mean, I can't, I can't remember enjoying a drink without sugar in it. And No, I think the opposite would happen.
Yeah. I'll have to a look at that. I'll have to Have a look at. So, so it's, it's, yeah. So, so She's, she's just, she's just amazing. That is Mel. You know, I just love her normality and her passion and, you know, just, I just think she's awesome. Yes, yes.
And, and, and I mean the same with Susie Pearl as well, but I mean, listen, listening to those Yeah. Chats and that, it's been, Oh, she's helped me. She's tell you how much she's helped me. Yeah. I wouldn't be do, I wouldn't be doing what I'm doing today if it hadn't been for her. She,
she is an amazing woman. No, it, it's in Incre and I wouldn't be doing what I was doing today. Well, I'm just, I'm just so glad that, that we, we met and, you know. Yes. And I'm so glad that, that you're doing what you're doing now. You know, it's absolute. And that's all down to you.
You know, I, I know that the academy's got this, that, and the other that can help you, and it teaches you bits and pieces, but you've got to actually do the doing. Yes. You know, you've got to have the discipline, you've got to have the, the determination and the passion to actually do it. And, and you,
and you're doing it. Yes. Yes. Amazing. It's amazing in the life I've always wanted. So it's, it's, Oh my goodness. Oh gosh. That makes me want to cry. Yeah. So really fabulous. Yes. And I'm hoping one day to have the chance to meet you in person. Oh, definitely, definitely, definitely. Yes.
We need to, we need to sort that out. Well, I'm looking at, we're doing some in-person events anyway, so I'm Yes, Yes. That we can do that. I'm hoping to be there. Yeah. Yeah. Oh, it's been wonderful to talk to you, Karen. Thank you so much. I'm, I'm jumping into our team meeting now.
All right. Okay. Morning Team meeting. We're actually looking at the venues for our first in person events. So fabulous. Watch the space. But thank you so much for talking to us, and you know, you are inspiring you, you're amazing. You're absolutely amazing. You know, and you always look so gorgeous with all of your turquoise and everything.
I just love it. It's, it's, those are my colors. I'm, I'm happy in those colors. I, I always wear makeup. That's me. Yeah. Well, you always look amazing. So I, I'll just, yeah. And, and I'm happy inside now. Oh. And I think that's sort of, you know, and it doesn't matter what comes along,
it's, you know, you go down a little bit and you think, no, I'm getting back up there again as soon as possible. And, and that, that's how life is. So you, you've gotta go with it. Oh, you're, you're amazing, Karen. You're absolutely amazing. Thank you so much for, for chatting and hopefully I'll see you a bit later.
Yes. For Art Club. Yes, you'll, yes, I'm all set up, ready to go. Oh gosh. Alright, Karen, I'll speak to you soon. Okay. Thank you very much, Bonny Bye. Bye. Bye.
I really hope you enjoyed listening to this episode of my, It's A Bonny Old Life podcast. If you did, I'd be so grateful to you for emailing me or texting a link to the show or sharing it on social media with those you know who might like it too. My mission with this podcast is all about sharing mine and my community's experience and hope by telling your fascinating personal stories, championing the other amazing humans in my personal, professional, and membership community, and to create another channel through which I can support you to realize your Coloured pencil and life dreams.
If you haven't done so yet, please help me on my mission to spread positivity and joy throughout the Coloured Pencil world by following me on my socials at Bonny Snowdon Academy or by getting on my list at bonnysnowdonacademy.com. And remember, I truly believe if I can live the life of my dreams doing what I love, then you can too. We just need to keep championing and supporting each other along the way in order to make it happen.
Till next time.
