Summer Update

Hey all! I wanted to write a quick update before I keep packing up the studio. Yes, we're moving yet again. We have a lot of stuff and it doesn't make moving easy! I am looking forward to setting up my studio again and tackling some new projects once the move is complete. Going through all my supplies last week inspired me to try some new things. I have so much fabric! What can I make with it?!?!

Organized chaos

Putting kraft paper between pieces so they don't scratch in the move. We have so much art!

I am proud of our art collection and look forward to the day where we have a home with enough walls for all of it! Is it possible to be an art hoarder? I'm starting to feel like one. When we went to C2E2 this year we said we wouldn't buy any more prints since we didn't have space. We came home with prints from Jenny Parks and an art piece on wood from Jelly Koe. Whoops. 

I keep the "10 secrets of Highly-Creative People" printout from Tiffany Han right above my desk. Always a good reminder. 

That's about it! I've been playing around with making collage packs to sell since I am kinda obsessed with unique paper finds and think it would be a great way to use my collection. 

Art as a Business

Per usual, I’ve been doing LOTS of thinking, but not much writing. I need to stop keeping all these thoughts in and get them on paper (well, computer).

I’ve been focused on my day job and other side gig a bit, but still have been thinking about my art practice a ton. I have been making small collages to make sure I keep the practice of making something. I’m in that cycle of being scared to make art. Scared it might suck, scared no one will buy it. But why? This isn’t my main source of income, so why be scared? It might be because I want to start thinking of my art as more of a business and less of a side-hustle turned hobby. Granted, this will still be a side hustle but I want to focus on it more again. Creating makes me happy, putting my work out into the world makes me happy. I suppose the part I really dread is the more business side and “admin tasks”. I know treating my art as more of business will propel it but it’s hard to focus on that when I just want to create.

To dive into what I mean by treating my art as more of a business: I mean to focus on things other than making art and give it a good amount of attention, not treat it as an afterthought. This means keeping up with calls for artists AND their deadlines (I am awful at that). This means marketing myself (scary!) and developing a personal brand. I feel like my work is recognizable, but not on the level I’d like it to be. I need to deal with the nitty gritty boring admin tasks that come along with a business. I know I can do it, but the true question is- can I pull it off? Can I make this a regular side hustle again? And a profitable one?

I want to write more on this as a way to keep myself accountable, so make sure to bookmark my blog or add to your favorite blog reader. I recommend Feedly.

A recent painting and experiment in abstract

A recent collage

On Change

On Change:

I’ve been thinking a lot, listening to a lot of creative podcasts, writing in my journal a bit; and something that comes to mind  is how tastes and what you make as an artist change over time.

I used to embroider a lot, like, all the time. I remember working on a commissioned piece on a lunch break at my old job. I don’t remember the last time I did any sort of embroidery and you know what? That is totally ok. I can be hard on myself thinking that because I don’t do certain things anymore that I am being lazy. It’s not lazy, it’s changing tastes and styles. It could be a long break was needed and I’ll come back to it naturally. I don’t want to force myself to embroider in my art again because I most likely won’t enjoy it, or it might even come across as forced to the viewer and look totally out of place in a piece. If I get the urge to embroider something I will be happy but I’m not going to get down on myself right now.

Currently:

A real quick look at some fun I’m having in old sewing and craft books right now. Inspired by Lisa Congdon’s painting in old books, I thought this would be a fun exercise the other night to transition from day job (I work at home most days and my desk is for work and art) to working on creative projects that evening. It was nice to immediately close the work laptop and paint on paper. Then I took a break to make dinner and get in some TV, and later worked on writing a review for my new project, Belmont Book Review.

Creative Challenge

I decided to give myself a creative challenge to get myself out of my normal process. I've been really stuck with getting something to look exactly as it does in my head and I think it's slowing me down. I end up putting a lot of pressure on myself! 

So my challenge was to pick some random supplies without thinking what the end game is, and make a piece of art. 

The supplies I picked for this challenge

 I ended up choosing some scrapbook paper and wallpaper sample (both floral), decorative paper flowers, vintage book paper, embroidery thread, buttons, and a few small decorative odds and ends.

I ended up creating a mixed media piece in which the base was the floral scrapbook paper, cutting out the shape by following the flow of two flower bunches. From there I figured out the basic layout of the bigger bits and added the detail. Pretty simple and quick challenge for myself! I don't think I could of created this piece any other way and I find that so interesting.

Thanks for reading! If you have any creative challenges you like to do let me know in the comments.