Hey All! Good Friday morning!
Frist, I would like to wish you all a wonderful holiday season! I’ll keep this post pretty short, as I know reading blog post isn’t much of a priority for most this time of year. So, let’s dive in!
- Current painting: This time of year is a little different than usual. I have more events to attend, my studio is a mess, and I’m ready for a reset. I recently attended my first “Artsclimation,” a fundraising exhibit in Knoxville, TN. This was a new audience for me to talk with about my process and a chance to make new sales. It ended up being a successful event but, as with many weekend show, also very tiring. So, I’m not currently working on a new painting but I am working through some ideas. My plan for now is to dive into some of my commission work, experiment with some smaller ideas, and be thinking more about what the next larger painting will be. Oh, and I’ll be trying to get the studio back in order while doing all this.
- My tip for the day: This isn’t studio related but, Shop local! This time of year is the most important time for many families that have small businesses. That includes artists. It’s so easy to find a local artist making affordable gifts you can give to your family and friends. Those big box stores don’t need our help. We depend on them for some things, and I know they are convenient, but let’s just use them for things like toilet paper and tennis shoes. I also believe people would rather have a handcrafted item over something mass produced product. I meant to create items that could be given as gifts but the end of the year snuck up on me. I did at least add some bee prints to my site, but maybe next year I’ll have some smaller originals to offer too. If you are interested in buying something of mine you can always contact The Copper Fox in Leipers Fork, TN. They have a nice variety of price-points that may fit your budget. They also have many other amazing artist works to offer.
- Something I’ve learned: There are never enough hours in the day! I know this isn’t big news but I’ve noticed lately that I need to do a better job tackling my “out of studio” task more efficiently so I can be in the studio creating. One thing I’ve found that has really helped me lately is “Power Planner” from Dan Coe. One of my biggest problems is focus. I always have a hundred things running through my mind and have a hard time prioritizing those things. By being intentional first thing in the morning, and picking the top three items to tackle I tend to accomplish more and am less likely to get side tracked. It’s also rewarding to check those things off my to do list. Of course, I recommend giving yourself plenty of grace while trying this method. Like anything it takes time to find your balance. If you’re interested in an app that also helps, try “Things.” I’ve used this one for a couple years now and it has a similar approach. Things is based on the book by David Allen: “Getting Things Done.”
That’s all for now. Thanks for reading my post.
Again, Have a Wonderful Holiday Season!
RLP