The Facebook Quiz | Find Out: Which Sugarluxe Girl Are You?

Quite seriously? I’ve been dying to make and take this quiz for years.  Sometimes technology just has to catch up with the vision.

Before completing my undergrad degree in Psychology, I began considering what I’d like to study next (yes, I’m one of those nerdy types who loves to learn!)

Luckily, one day, bolting  across campus to gather information on both the LSAT and requirements for secondary teaching certification, I ran into one of my former professors.  He told me a little bit about his research in the Ed. Psych Department.

He was overseeing a Graduate Program with a specialty in Cognition.  After hearing just a brief description, I knew it was what I wanted to do next. 

 LEARNING and COGNITION
“Educational Psychologists who concentrate their work in these areas try to better understand the factors that influence performance and how to affect positive change.”  Quoting this description from the department itself, you can probably see how this became part of the foundation upon which I would eventually build the Sugarluxe Brand. 

Having spent two years prior to graduation helping to conduct research with another professor in the area of Abnormal Psychology, I was really looking to switch gears.  It was my last year of undergrad that most greatly impacted my direction.  I was assigned to work at a hospital about an hour and a half south of town.  I reported to the psychiatric wing once a week.  We were doing a study on schizophrenia.  I was the only female research assistant (and barely 20 years old) on an all-male patient ward.  I remember the overwhelming feeling of apprehension the first time I walked through those double doors.

ART + PSYCHOLOGY
But after acclimating to the unrelenting cat calls, it was a weirdly rewarding and life altering experience.  Namely because of one patient.

I don’t even know if this man knew I was there.  I sat next to him.  I observed him.  I tried having countless conversations with him.  But he never responded to me.  He wasn’t catatonic, he was just a bit delusional and suffering from severe hallucinations.  The deal was…he would draw the entire time.  He was quite an amazing artist and when he finished each sketch, he would talk to it as if his drawing had come to life.

Despite having a fairly profound disturbance, I found him to be fascinating and inspirational.  In fact, he affected me so deeply, I realized, I wasn’t cut out for that kind of work.  I was afraid I would never be able (and never want) to desensitize myself.

Instead of focusing on what was wrong with him, I wanted to figure out what was right. 

What had happened to this man?  Who were the people he portrayed in his art?  What motivated him to draw?  Was he always compelled to create?  How did it help him to cope with life?  Could we use his talents to facilitate treatment?

CRAZY IDEAS
Back then, I would have never dreamed that I would get to live my life doing what I do. 

In all honesty, I think I was a little scared that people might think I was delusional for thinking I could be an artist.  Or that I could build a company with very little money, based on artwork that had never been seen by anyone, with no connections in the art world, no formal art training and with the intent to spread a message of hope and optimism, especially at a time when that was so clearly against the status quo. 

Maybe THAT’S crazy?!

Just as I imagine it must have somehow helped my patient, creating art has helped me to cope with pain, confusion, and frustration.  The fact that I’ve chosen not to depict those feelings as part of the artwork itself, and merely as part of the therapeutic process it provides, doesn’t make it any less profound.  There’s far more there for those who look below the surface.

MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE
That’s why I’ve anxiously awaited the opportunity to implement a Sugarluxe Girl profile quiz. Even though there are probably thousands of quizzes on Facebook now, this one actually does have years of thought, understanding and analysis behind it.  Its influence is a product of my work itself.  The personalities that are infused into the art are drawn from the very people who continue to inspire each and every piece I make.

Part of my mission has always been to comprehend the complexity of the positive characteristics that make up our personalities and how those attributes contribute to our sense of self.  The way that I’ve tried to do that is by simplifying those wonderful traits into something visually iconic.

FUN on FACEBOOK
Does that sound too lofty and idealistic for a simple Facebook Application?  I hope not.  It takes less than 5 minutes and it’s also FUN!

I have a blast meeting up with friends/fans on Facebook.  I love seeing what you’re up to, learning about your families, looking at photos and watching the massive amounts of support that people provide one another there. 

Plus, I’d bet people agree – I’m actually a lot more light-hearted than I probably sound here.  This blog is like my diary and facebook is more reflective of my daily life. I guess it just depends on where I am at any given moment.

But that’s really my whole point.  Like the pictures that I paint, we have so many layers, don’t we?

I hope you like the first Sugarluxe Girl quiz.  More importantly, I hope you will share it with friends because the profiles, although definitely fun, are also meant to reinforce how wonderful you are – to me – and to all those who know you. 

The results I’ve seen, seem to be pretty spot on.  What do you think?  Which Sugarluxe Girl Are YOU?

 

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Our True Potential?

I greatly appreciate your help in this mission:  To understand our most positive personality traits, how they affect our outlook on life and by acknowledging and owning those characteristics, we can identify, and hopefully, bring out the best in others, too.

This is one way, TOGETHER, we help people discover that confidence and kindness are essential building blocks of a better life. 

7 Steps on How You Can Help:

1.  If you haven’t already done so, START by joining us on the Sugarluxe Facebook Page.

2.  Paste this link to your profile - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sugarluxe/85019116599

3.  Next, be sure to take the Facebook Quiz - Which Sugarluxe Girl Are You?

4.  Post or even re-publish your results to your profile and invite your friends to participate too.

5.  Leave a comment here on this Sugarluxe Blog post and share the results of your quiz.

6.  Write your Facebook App Review on the Sugarluxe Quiz Application Page.

7.  Discuss ideas with other creative, compassionate, kind, charismatic Sugarluxe Friends!

Famous Longhorns – University of Texas Alumni | Alcalde Magazine

Chandra, it was wonderful to interview you – I really appreciate your candor and warmth. The whole time we were talking, I thought, I need to make this powerhouse of an entrepreneur my mentor. Cora Bullock – Editor – Alcalde Magazine

If you only knew what this interview meant to me. First, it was for my alma mater.

HOOK ‘EM HORNS!

Second, this magazine has a subscriber base that is HUGE (if you don’t already know this – the University of Texas has been one of the biggest schools in the country for decades, so it has produced a crapload of college grads since I graduated…uh, years ago.

The university has more than 450,000 living alumni – holy cow!

So, as you might imagine, Alcalde Magazine has plenty of amazing people they can profile. Clearly, with almost half a million people to choose from, I can’t get over that they wanted to do a feature story on me!

Let’s see, here’s another Longhorn Alum…

Okay, well everyone knows about his love for the Longhorns and anyone who lives within a 50 mile radius of Austin probably has a Matthew McConaughey story. But mine is really good…

So, Bob Michaels, back in the day, was in a band that used to bring out every former frat guy in town. That included Matt.

Like any local rock star girlfriend, you gain instant access to everything. Plus, let’s not forget, I was in all the movies made here at that time, so my popularity on the $45 day player circuit was hard to deny. True enough – there are a handful of shows that you can see me in for maybe .0126 seconds, a few, I even say a word or two. STARDOM can be such a rush.

Anyway, with my bit part movie career taking off and a kick ass guitar player by my side, we RULED.

It was my birthday – Summer of ‘96. We were celebrating at Shakespeare’s Pub with all the boys in the band when Matt comes in. He slides up next to me and I welcome him home. I ask him how he’s doing out in Hollywood and he mentions that he just wrapped on a new movie. He said that he was “stoked” about it – it was based on a John Grisham novel and he got to work with Ashley Judd (who is one of my all-time most favorite celebs ever). He tells me a bit about A Time to Kill…it premiers in a few days – and all I could think was…”Oh my GOD!!! You are about to become absolutely mega-famous!”

Pulling my friends in close, I’m like…”seriously, you guys…listen, his life is about to change!” My friend Mark Chandler says…”let’s get drinks and toast to that.” And Matt yells, “I’m buying!”

“Bartender – Shirley Temples for everyone!”

Applause, applause, clink, clink! Hurray! And then a really drunk guy comes up and slurs, “Dude – aren’t you the dude from Dazed and Confused?” I looked at Matt and said, “See? It’s just the beginning…”

Right now, if you are thinking…Oh hurl! She’s just calling him Matt to try and show she’s so freakin’ cool. And then I think, if that’s how you really feel, then wait until you read about my good friend, John. John Corbett. You know, Aidan from Sex in the City. Yeah, that’s right!

I guess a lot can happen in a decade…

I, obviously, chose another path. Acting, although I feel it in me bones (yes, I’m Irish), could not have been a viable career unless I made the full-on move to California. Alas, I decided to make pretty pictures for a living.

Racking my brain to give you an example of another Hollywood Longhorn, I can’t think of anyone else right now but Renee Zellweger. I don’t have a fun Renee story, so never mind her.

I decide to Google for famous longhorn alumni from the University of Texas.

And check this out!

Look what comes up FIRST – number 1 out of 7,390 results – Chandra Michaels! Chandra Michaels and Sugarluxe…No way – take that Renee!

Well, I’ve never won an Oscar and I’m far less squinty, but I am still gracing the pages of the same magazine that touts such all-star alum and that makes me really happy!

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The Blanton Museum of Art Hosts Sugarluxe

Less than 3% of the artists in New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art are women, but 85% of the nudes are female. - Guerrilla Girls

Now, I’m not saying the Guerrilla Girls would feel compelled to rally behind Sugarluxe, considering its basis in mainstream glam. But perhaps they would applaud my own unique FEMINIST pursuit to increase opportunities for marginalized female artists.

The word Feminist…or the “F” word as it may be to some – is to me about equality. Always has been. And fundamentally, those who know how to look beneath the surface of my art, already know that.

So, how do I combat the sad fact that females are more likely to be on display in museums as a nude rendering than as a talented artist? Well, surprisingly enough…it was with one little belt buckle.

Even acquaintances of mine have seemed surprised when they started seeing Sugarluxe paintings, my permanent installation at the Hotel Des Arts, or my reproductions on canvas in the gallery sections of home decor stores.

“Oh, I had no idea that you were going to do anything besides belt buckles.” said one girl.

Never underestimate the power of the inconspicuous. For me anyway, a bigger plan is always at play!

That’s my advice to any aspiring artist who actually wants to make a living doing what they love.

We have to move past the antiquated, traditional assertions of what art is and define it for ourselves, for our generation and for this chapter in history. Make it accessible, no matter its form. Art is Everywhere!

So, when I was asked to do a signing and trunk show at The Blanton Museum of Art, I felt I must.

Now here’s where gets a bit sticky…

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