Transcript
(lightly edited for readability)
Let’s meet Shelly Lang – Artist
00:00:08 Linda
Hi everyone. Welcome to another episode of The Genius to you podcast. I’m Linda Blythe and I’m here today with Shelly Lang, who lives in Los Angeles, CA. And I’m excited to have her here because we’re going to be talking about her art and her pure essence power portraits program that she offers for clients out there in the world. So welcome, Shelley.
00:00:33 Shelly Lang
Thanks, Linda. I’m really excited to be here.
00:00:36 Linda
Yeah, it looks a lot warmer over there than it is here right now. Looking forward to some of that summer love.
So let’s have a chat about what what you actually do.
So I understand. First of all, primarily you are an artist and you have a collection that’s about to be launched and that sort of thing. And of course your pure essence power portraits.
So talk to me, first of all about, you know, what is your genius in terms of art and being an artist and how you came about bringing it into the world as a product?
00:01:13 Shelly Lang
Yeah, for a very long time I’ve known that I had a purpose, for being here. And that is to inspire and delight. And I’ve always been extremely creative and just had a pull and a drive to make art that is powerfully relevant to the current culture and the tensions that we face collectively. Whether it’s conscious or not.
And so I’d say that’s my genius. And then the pure essence power portraits are specifically about doing the Natural Success work. That’s where I got the idea.
And so the genius around that is it’s my way of serving and supporting others on their creator journey. That’s what the portraits are really.
Pure Essence Portraits - what are they.
00:02:36 Linda
Yeah, so that’s fascinating. So talk to me a little bit about that. If I was to come to you as a client and say, “hey, I’d love to have my pure essence power portrait done” what happens there?
Do you do that?
00:02:52 Shelly Lang
Well, you could almost say it’s my way of coaching, you know. So basically what I do is, first of all, we sit down together and I do a reading. I started out just doing a Genius reading, but then I realized, well, I probably need to have some victim in there too. Because really, I just wanted to empower and the original idea, which still is the idea, was to inspire, empower, guide and support.
So we sit down and I do a reading on on you and I tap into your genius and step into your victim and some some patterns around your victim.
And then we we have a conversation and and pull out what resonates most and you let me know if there’s a particular color or maybe there’s a style; well not a style so much, but colors that you like mostly is what come up. And then I go to do the work, to do the painting.
I pretty much let it come through me intuitively based on the reading and my intention to support you on your journey. So my intention is again, to inspire you, to celebrate you in this and it’s kind of like a North star for you as well. Like we were talking before we started the podcast about how when you jump into the the training, e ach time you come into it, you come from it at a new place. So you’re learning something new.
Well, the portrait is meant to grow with you. It’s meant for you to see things in it as you as you are moving towards your highest potential and all that you love.
To have, be and do. It’s meant to continue to inspire you as you move along your journey, because intuitively you will be seeing things in it that maybe you didn’t notice before because you were in a different place.
00:05:34 Linda
Yeah. Beautiful. I love that. And I love that you actually bring the victim side in as well. That shadow side because, we can’t deny that part of ourselves. And essentially it’s an important part, right. And it serves us in our creating and it serves us in setting us up for tension and all those sort of things.
So it’d be like trying to create an image without any contrast to it. So I love that it’s not just artistically a valid point, but in terms of what these portraits are designed to do there.
That’s brilliant. That is genius. I I love that because we could all go “happy happy joy, joy. Let’s just look at the sunny side of life and the great points about this person.”
But that’s not who we really are, and it is an artifact for helping to compel us forward. As creators, I think that’s brilliant. I love it.
00:06:26 Shelly Lang
Right. Yeah, it’s flat without it, right? It’s flat. It’s not alive and tension is alive, you know. And you’re really in your wholeness when you’re embracing both of that, right, because you are your genius and your dark side.
00:06:52 Linda
Yeah, very true. And I also love that you said that it evolves with you and I have had that experience too. When you look at some art and then you look at it again from a different set of eyes, you know you might not have seen it or you might have even had the painting on your wall for for months or years but when you take the time to be present with it and you look at it again, it’s. Like ohh wow. There’s there’s something in here that I didn’t see before or I’m seeing it in a different way.
And that’s very true for this and how powerful that this is something that’s created from and in synchronicity with your artistic talents. But from your own greatness, from your own shadow side, from the higher perspective. I really love that. That’s an incredible creation that you’ve got going there.
So Shelly, have you always been an artist?
It's been a journey of giving myself permission.
Honestly.
00:07:45 Shelly Lang
In my heart, Yeah. It’s been a journey of giving myself permission. Honestly.
00:07:56 Linda
Yeah, right. So what were you doing before you were doing art?
00:08:02 Shelly Lang
Well, various jobs that I really didn’t want to do. I’ve done everything from advertising sales to office equipment sales to office work and restaurant work.
But I’ve been on my journey to find the opening, to create the opening myself. Basically it’s been about permission for me to be myself.
Linda:
Right. Yeah. And how does it feel to have stepped out of that world and into this new world of embracing the art and the artist within?
Shelly Lang:
It feels peaceful. It feels like home. It feels true. Feels so true and… Exciting.
Yeah, and… just feels… Delightful. You know, making the art—unless, unless I get stuck in my Ego. And then it feels tension-filled.
Linda:
It sure does, doesn’t it? Yeah. Beautiful. But that’s true for any creation. And again, we wouldn’t be without it, because we love that—we love our tension after a while. Initially, it freaks us out.
So, what you really love about what your creation is doing to impact lives, to impact the world. What really calls you forward into that?
00:09:47 Shelly Lang
You know what I was saying before about my purpose being to inspire and delight? Because it does that, you know. It shines a light on what’s special about a person and celebrates them. And that’s been very much my experience so far with people. I haven’t actually created one for someone doing this work yet.
But the people I have done it for, it has helped them. Led them, and supported them on their journey. And it’s just been wonderful to experience the expansion they have felt receiving the portrait. Or at least, that’s what I was feeling—that they were feeling?
I think that so far they’ve been blown away, and that really – wow – it expands my heart.
00:10:59 Linda
Yeah, that’s amazing. And to have such an artifact there all the time that people can refer to.
We love our choices, and we love making our choices; but they’re very easy to ignore, aren’t they?
You’ve either got them in a book, on your computer, or even on a board in your office or whatever. People can very easily ignore or not make their choices. But an artifact such as that would be a lot harder to just walk by and not really acknowledge what’s going on, even if it’s just that microsecond connection to it.
00:11:29 Shelly Lang
Yeah, I think you’re right. I think you’re right. And that really was in my vision.
When it came to me, I just had this vision – like t could be hanging above someone’s fireplace or in a bedroom or in the hallway. You know, when you’re going about your day-to-day, and you glance at it, and it’s there to spark something, to remind you, or to lift you in that second.
A twinkle. A spark. You know, that kind of thing.
00:12:02 Linda
Yeah, very true. They say a picture speaks a thousand words, and it can in just that microsecond. So yeah, I love it—fantastic.
So you said you haven’t done any of this work with someone who’s done the curriculum yet—the Natural Success curriculum. What are you most excited about in terms of working with people who understand End Results and the shadow side? And greatness and all the things that we love about the work.
00:12:30 Shelly Lang
It’s just so great to be on the same wavelength and come together with the same intention of being present – being aware – and having this whole set of wonderful tools on how to do that.
That’s just so refreshing and so exhilarating. When you’re coming together to create something. And really, honestly, to work with people on that level—it’s refreshing, and it’s just clean, so I imagine to create a curious, inspired portrait with someone in this work; I imagine it will be very enjoyable and exciting.
00:13:26 Linda
Yeah, fantastic. I love it.
So what’s the one thing you wish you knew before you started creating this business?
Giving Yourself Permission
00:13:41 Shelly Lang
Well, I wish I knew that I had permission, you know, to be an artist a long time ago. I mean, I know it now, so I’m doing it. But before, I wish I had given myself permission a long time ago.
To stand in it. To be it. And it would come, it would flow, you know.
00:14:11 Linda
Yes, yes. I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone say, “I wish I waited a little longer to create my art.”
I’ve heard a lot of people say they wish they had started this earlier. But, you know, I’m also a believer that a lot of things come in good timing. You’re never too late to hear the message and step into it. While we’re here on Earth and we’re breathing, we can still create.
What’s the one thing you wish the world knew about who you are and what you do? This type of work. If you could pick just one thing? I know there are a lot of things, but what would be the one thing you wish the world knew?
00:14:52 Shelly Lang
That I make art that, at once, is a completely surprising revelation. And a memory of a deep truth you always knew.
00:15:20 Linda
I love that. That dichotomy – tapping into something that’s always existed within you, and then the surprise of the revelation of it as well.
I love it. Fantastic. How exciting!
00:15:36 Shelly Lang
It’s like an—”Oh, I know that. I know that.” Or, “That’s me.”
Yeah, that’s how it works.
00:15:47 Linda
Yeah, beautiful.
On resistance to having your portrait done...
Another question that occurs to me is that some people have resistance around, say, having their portrait done. Portraiture can be a little confronting—some people don’t even like having their photos taken, for example.
So what would you love to say to those who may be sitting in their resistance around seeing themselves in a certain way?
00:16:13 Shelly Lang
Ohh yeah, that’s a really good point.
Well, the way I’ve done it so far is… I had a client who already had a portrait of herself, and she didn’t really want another portrait. So we agreed that I would find an image that represented the essence of her, and I used that.
So what I do is, if I’m using the likeness of someone, I will use a photo as a reference. But then, there are a lot of other things that go into the portrait that express their essence. It could be anything – from gold leaf raindrops, to enamel butterflies. You know, it manifests from the reading.
So that’s how I’ve dealt with it so far. And we could do a circle on it and see what manifests, what is created from it, from our genius together.
It’s a creative expression of the person, so it doesn’t have to be a likeness of them. But it does have to be an image that expresses their essence.
00:18:00 Linda
Yeah, of course.
00:18:00 Shelly Lang
It really – it actually could be an abstraction, I suppose that’s how my offering could evolve. But so far, the way I’ve done it is by using an image that expressed the essence.
00:18:28 Linda
And I mean, let’s face it – it’s pure ego, that’s what’s going to put that type of resistance there anyway, isn’t it?
It's pure ego,
that's what's going to put resistance there.
So we acknowledge it and move on...
So we just acknowledge it and move on. And you’ll know exactly what’s going to be right for the client in that moment, in that collaboration, in that synergy between the two of you – creating that end result.
So, anything else you’d like to add?
Actually, I did want to ask you about your art collection that you’re still in the process of creating. You’re going to be launching it in the not-too-distant future. I know we’re primarily here to talk about the Pure Essence Power Portraits, but I’m curious about your other art and what’s happening there?
00:19:16 Shelly Lang
Well, you know, it’s me showing up to the canvas, getting out of the way, and allowing it to unfold – kind of like the way William shares about how to write a book.
So far, I’ve got two paintings, and I don’t know exactly how many there will be. But it really is about empowering and honoring the feminine in the world – not just the feminine in women, but the feminine in all of us. The feminine part of how we create, pretty much.
The volatile essence, the pure, vulnerable state of inspiration that is the feminine. And yeah, that’s what it’s about. I’m not sure when I’ll finish, but hopefully at least within the next four to six months.
00:20:39 Linda
Yeah, brilliant. So, a work in progress, but that sounds very exciting – tapping into a collective essence, really, aren’t you?
00:20:47 Shelly Lang
It is collective, yes. It’s a conversation about who we are in the world right now and the tension we’re living in, whether we’re aware of it or not. And it’s a conversation about that.
My intention is to bring out that revelation I was speaking of. What we already know but maybe haven’t been putting our attention on it, if that makes sense.
00:21:30 Linda
Yeah, definitely, for sure. It’s one of those things we’ve sort of pushed to the side – “We’ll deal with that later, when we have time, when the masculine energy isn’t so much at the forefront.”
00:21:41 Shelly Lang
Yes, it really is a comment about balance. Let’s bring in more of the feminine to balance out the masculine – so that it is a more nurturing, inclusive, and compassionate world.
00:22:04 Linda
Beautiful. I love it, I love it. I look forward to seeing what the end results are from that – amazing.
00:22:10 Shelly Lang
Thank you, thank you.
00:22:12 Linda
Yeah, very good.
So, Shelly, we have you on the Genius2U platform, so people can obviously find you there. I think we’ve got your website and email details listed as well. That’s at www.genius2U.com, and we’ll have that in the podcast notes for people to find you and get in touch and get their Pure Essence Power Portrait done, which sounds very enlightening.
I look forward to seeing some of those creations, and of course, your larger-scale work as well. I wish you all the best with that.
Any last-minute comments or anything you’d like to share with the audience before we go?
00:22:49 Shelly Lang
Thank you. Yeah, well, it was just really fun to share what I’m up to and to do this. So, thank you so much.
00:23:04 Linda
It’s my pleasure.
And I’m extending this offer to all of the guests so far – at some point, we’ll have another chat down the track about some of the deeper aspects of our work and what we’re doing. So I look forward to seeing how that evolves.
Thanks, everyone, and we’ll catch you on the next podcast.
