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  • Writer: Nielsen Studios Inc
    Nielsen Studios Inc
  • Oct 11, 2019
  • 2 min read

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One can often find Patty Voje painting a variety of subjects when she is not leading a team of creatives at Spot. Patty is a woman with a great vigor for life and the willing subject for #26 of my American Faces series. During the day, Patty can be found at the helm, as the owner of Spot, a creative shop & digital advertising agency in St. Paul, MN. In her free time, she is a wonderfully, talented painter in the alla prima style, a style in which oil paint is applied in layers while the paint is still wet. The strokes from her brushes bring to life country landscapes and cityscapes. All around the globe her florals, cats, dogs, and farm animals such as cows, which are the favorite of people can be found. Patty shared with me that she has been painting actively for 20 years (actively to Patty means almost daily). Painting is an outlet for her creativity away from her day to day job as an owner and creative at Spot. Patty has such a zeal for life even after a career in the graphic arts industry, it can be seen in every painting in her brownstone studio in St. Paul, MN. Her love for art is apparent in the paintings that surrounded us as I created the image of her. She also encourages others to push themselves to create and share their work on a daily basis. When the end of our time together was coming to a close I asked Patty if there was anything she wanted to share, she said, “If you are drawn to art give yourself permission to create.” May a zeal to create push each of us to make this world a better place one painting, one sculpture, one photograph, one amazing creative work at a time!

Patty’s artist website can be found at: https://www.patriciavoje.com/

 
 
 
  • Writer: Nielsen Studios Inc
    Nielsen Studios Inc
  • Mar 22, 2019
  • 1 min read

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Serve #37


A soldier named Matt S. is the subject of this Serve. He is a man who experienced life and combat in Iraq over a period of 24 continual months during Operation Iraqi Freedom and has been active duty in the U.S. Army since 2000. Currently, he serves as a Staff Sergeant as an ammunitions specialist. He comes from a long line of men who have proudly served and sacrificed in the Armed Forces. I can truly tell that Matt has so much respect for those who have sacrificed. I saw it in the tear in his eye as he shared why he chose the Fort Ripley Military Cemetery as the background for his photo; to him each burial site is a symbol of sacrifice. Matt's time in Iraq left an indelible mark on him, but it also forged him into the man he is today. I suppose one could say he was refined by what he endured while under fire in a country thousands of miles from home. I am continually brought to a place of awe and respect for people like Matt. Admiration wells up inside of me as I realize I am sitting next to someone who has lived out the very definition of what it means to “lay down his life for his fellow man”. I am so thankful for the sacrifice that people like Matt have made. A thousand thank yous could never repay your sacrifice.



Best wishes,

Shawn Nielsen Mobile. 612.750.2593

Studio. 763.498.7375

"Let's Tell Your Story"      

 
 
 
  • Writer: Nielsen Studios Inc
    Nielsen Studios Inc
  • Mar 12, 2019
  • 1 min read


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Serve No. 36


Pastor Olman Estrada has been a pastor in San Jerónimo Honduras for 18 years. He faithfully and passionately serves his community with his whole heart.    You see the love for people in his smile and you hear it in the compassionate tone of his voice.  He is a man who lives to love God, his wife and his children every day.  He is also a man who loves serving his community.  I asked him why it is so important to serve his community and he said, “Because I think we should make a difference by helping people.”  Pastor Olman went on to say; “May they know God by listening. to His word on my lips as I serve." He sees his service to the community as a pastor as a high privilege from God. As we closed I asked Pastor Olman how long he will serve.  He said;  "I will serve God and his people until I breathe my last on this earth” I am so often in awe when I hear people's answer to a question like how long will you serve.  An answer like Olman’s often causes me to dig deep into who I am and ask myself;  "What can I do to help humanity?" May we all be challenged to help change the lives of those around us by serving.


Best wishes,


Shawn Nielsen


Mobile. 612.750.2593

Studio. 763.498.7375

"Tell Your Story"      


 
 
 
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