FloyJoy – Positivity & Expression
Oddly enough, one of my favourite Bucerians is someone I do not know well.
I can’t even tell you how we initially met. Dennis and I probably wandered into “Lujo,” Floydilou’s then gallery, back in 2017. Since then we’ve simply exchanged smiles and a few friendly salutations. Although our interactions have been limited, in every instance this lady demonstrated grace and inspired positivity. I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Floydilou for a long overdue meeting, on yet another beautiful Bucerias morning.
Floydilou Kerr, a.k.a., The Flower Artist, has welcomed 2023 with, not surprising, a positive message…for her, this year is all about ‘simplifying’
“ and living life without woulda, coulda, shoulda.”
She knows the value of rest and self-care, and, “just simplifying my life, knowing what’s important and really enjoying the surroundings that I’m in. You get so busy that you don’t take the time. The time to go to the beach, to take that walk. That’s what’s important at the end of the day.”
Floydilou’s Facebook profile page says, “Expressive Floral and Experiential Artist” and “Launching Women into Business With a Pro Beauty Brand”. Take it from us, that’s just scratching the surface.
Prior to moving to Bucerias, Floydilou was self-employed in sales and marketing, representing a skin care and cosmetic company. Upon moving here, she became a professional painter, teacher and business planner. She saw a need – people wanted to take painting lessons. In creating her own career as artist and teacher, she filled that need. In addition to building her own enterprise, she says, “My gift is looking at other people’s talent, their skills and their passion, blending that all together and creating a business plan for them. I’m able to do it really quickly without it being long and drawn out. I see something and will create a one or two page business concept. Marry the skill, the talent and the passion, and pull it all together and make it into a business.”
Perhaps you were one of Floydilou’s students…or maybe you added your special touch to her community paintings during Art Walk?
Floydilou’s creative and entrepreneurial thoughts often collide, and she has a knack for finding the next great idea. Right now she offers “Live Interactive Painting.” Imagine, at your next family event giving your guests the opportunity to participate in a group art project? Perhaps you are opening a new business and wish to find the perfect piece of art to hang on your showroom wall…you CAN hang that perfect piece of art – the same one that was painted by your guests at your Grand Opening!
A unique and intimate way to have fun and make special memories.
Who is Floydilou the person?
I’ve had a good strong grounding and roots and it really boils down to being very fortunate what I was born into. Floydilou the person was raised in a really loving household with a mother who was creative and a dreamer, but also a hard worker and diligent. My mother didn’t have much growing up, so in her career as a dance teacher she always provided for the children who “could not have.” She did things behind the scenes that people never saw.
And my father was always there, providing, protecting, and working hard. He was always whistling and happy even though he had a very hard and laborious job. Upon his retirement he passed away and never got to do the things he worked hard for his whole life. So, now I do everything knowing how fortunate, blessed, lucky, grateful, and appreciative I am. And I will live my life without woulda, coulda, shoulda, because my parents did all that for me.
Who is Floydilou the artist?
Growing up in a dance studio, I was always able to express myself, and feel, and just have fun. In my adult years, I’m just coming back to it in a different way. I get to express myself in a different manner – I’m dancing with my hands on canvas.
Ooooh, I awed. That’s a great phrase! We laughed. “Thanks,” says Floydilou, “I’m taking that from my girlfriend Shelly.” Thank you, Shelly!
When did you realize it was painting that you wanted to do?
I realized that by happenstance, by accident, by providing for the people that travelled here. The snowbirds and the tourists were looking for a place where they could paint, and since my husband is the artist who had the studio, we had the paints and all of the materials surrounding me. I am an entrepreneur at heart – visionary, try everything because you don’t know when you can’t – so I created this opportunity to have art workshops and that’s how it came to be. Once I started to play with the paint alongside the tourists and the snowbirds I thought, well this is really a great experience in having fun!
How long have you been here in Bucerias?
We’ve been here for ten years now. We had been coming prior to that just on vacation, but in a business setting this is our tenth year having the studio. We’ll finished out this year, our last season to make it to ten. Next year we’ll be in our new studio space as working artists, offering private or group sessions.
Share a funny story with us.
Well, when we had the gallery and the studio was located above, I was in the gallery when an artist brought in one of her art works. She’s an abstract artist, so it really surprised her when I hung her painting upside down! It’s kind of funny, when you’re a gallerist and somebody brings in a painting and you see the art in a different way and hang it differently. She loved it, and we sold that piece of art within a week.
What is FloyJoy?
It’s my brand. The whole idea is, if you choose your path of joy, anything being joyous and fun and happy, you’re on the right path. You’re in alignment. So choose joy. When you’re in a tough situation you’ve got to find that joy somewhere and follow it. Everything will line up for you and your life will be much easier.
It actually comes from a song called “Floyjoy,” by the Supremes.
A friend said to Floydilou, “That song is what you should be playing when you’re going up on stage.” (right then, and much to my delight, Floydilou breaks into song for too few seconds, moving her body and snapping her fingers to keep tempo while belting out a few bars!) She continues her story…it’s a really upbeat and happy song. Because we did a lot of stage talks, she said I should have that song as my intro, and that should be my brand. Now that I’m going to do the live interactive style painting, that will be the song that leads me on!
You’re a great supporter of local talent and a visionary in regard to the growing art scene here in Bucerias. What do you think our town will look like as the community continues to expand?
I’m really hopeful and excited about it. I do think that we will see a lot of the artists and artisans move to a different part of town, and I also think that we will see a need for a studio art tour. There are so many artists that have always worked from their home…so many hidden studios and talented artists. Michael and I went to see an artist the other day, stepped into the studio and purchased a couple of masks from him. He’s up on the highway and nobody really knows he’s there. He brought us into his home, tucked in behind, and I thought that’s where that whole studio tour would work, like, wow, look at all this great art he has. Artists like to tell people about other artists. Art is subjective, not everyone is going to love my art. They’re going to want something else that speaks to them, so I’m happy to refer them to another artist.
As long as we’ve known each other I’ve noticed you have grace and a certain positive light in you. There’s a noticeable change in you though, these days you are absolutely radiant. You’ve taken a healthy lifestyle change and I wonder what might have prompted you to do that?
What prompted it was me stepping back into the skin care and cosmetic scene with an American company, LimeLife by Alcone. They were about to open in Mexico but Covid hit in 2020 so everything has been put on pause. I’ve chosen to stay with it online so I can represent the product and build a team because the products can be (ordered and) shipped. I can still build the business, earn the income, so it’s a really great way for me to step back into my roots of helping people look good and feel good. Sometimes that sparks someone to take the journey with me. Whether it’s selling or using the product, they find their joy. You start feeling good about yourself and that’s what happened to me in the health aspect. First it was just putting on the makeup, taking care of my skin, but more of the self-care. Looking in the mirror everyday, loving yourself. It’s that quiet time, the time when I do my affirmations. Doing that led me to this weight loss journey that I’m on, and that has to do with health. All of a sudden one day I couldn’t walk, and I’m a walker. I haven’t had a car for more than twenty years. When I couldn’t walk I was like, I’m young! That step brought me to the next step, and now I actually want to work out…at 7:00 am somedays!
Want to know about some upcoming opportunities to paint with Floydilou in her studio?
Grab your friends and unleash your creativity at Joyful Expressive Florals on Thursdays and Fridays through the months of February and March. Introductory offer of 10000mx, maximum five people.
Email: floyjoystudio@gmail.com Facebook: Floydilou Kerr Instagram: @floyjoystudio
Do you have a large wall in need of a focal point? Take pride in creating your very own in Floydilou’s “Go BIG and Go Home,” two day workshop, taking place February 16 and 17. Currently two spots available – it will be the most fun you’ve had in a long time, I promise.
