New Work, but Now What?

Hi there. How are you?

Just over a month ago, I set out to make some new original pieces. I was dying to make something new, something abstract and intuitive. Here are some of the pieces I've made:

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I'm really happy with these pieces and I have enjoyed the process of making them. They're very "me" and I plan to continue to make this type of work. I'm hoping to work with an awesome frame maker acquaintance to get these puppies ready to show and sell.

Now here's the tough part......

How will I market and sell this body of work? I know there is a market for abstract work, but it's probably not the following I have grown over the last 10 years. My current audience is interested in flowers, chairs, birds, and coloring books.

So have I shot my artistic career in the foot by changing direction?

I don't think so, but there is work to do. As much as I tell myself that it's not necessary for me to sell this work, that it's perfectly OK for me just to make art for the sake of it, I know I won't be content with that. I do want to sell this new collection and the real work is going to be finding the audience for it. This is where I'm stumped, or maybe just afraid? I've got to make a plan.

The Midwestern will be a testing ground.

I'm looking forward to heading north in a couple of weeks for the opening of the Midwestern at the Rockford Art Museum. As I mentioned a few weeks back, I've got an abstract piece in the exhibition. It's a big cool deal to be included in this show and being accepted was one of the things that inspired me to make more work like it.  I'm hoping I'll gain some exposure for my current work by having this piece in this well known museum show......It's a way to put my work in front of the right audience.

I know that buyers/galleries aren't going to come looking for me.

I need to do the work, and that work is hard and a little bit scary. But, if I'm going to be an artist who sells work and is successful, I need to make it happen and I need to put myself out there.

What I do know is that I am enjoying making this work. 

I'm enjoying the process much more than I have in a long while. It's meditative work for me and I can do it with very little thinking.  When I'm not making I'm thinking about making. That's a good sign! If I like what I do it shows in my work.

That's all for now. Thank you for continuing to follow me on my artist journey. Ciao!

A Lovely Evening for Some Coloring

Hi there. How are you?

Last week I took a trip back to my hometown to host an adult coloring party at the Rockford Art Museum. What a blast!

I hosted an adult coloring party on May 12 at the Rockford Art Museum. So fun!

The setting for the coloring party...Right in the middle of the main gallery!

A Lovely Setting

The party took place right in the middle of the main gallery at the museum. The current exhibition features work by Stephen Warde Anderson, a nationally known "outsider" artist and Rockford native. It's really delightful! Do try to catch it before it closes on May 30th.

 All of the guests got a copy of Elegant Abstracts, my newest coloring book.

Coloring and wine go well together

Each guest received a copy of my new "Elegant Abstracts" coloring book and the museum supplies lovely Prismacolor pencils for them to use.  I shared a couple of colored pencil techniques and then we drank wine, socialized, and colored!

Here are some snaps from the evening:

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Thanks to all who attended. I had a blast and hope you did too!

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Would you like to hold an adult coloring party?

I'd love to host more coloring parties like this. Would you like me to come to your home, your library, or your event and lead some coloring? Do get in touch!

Until next week. Ciao!

A Change is In the Air

Hi there. How are you?

This may be a long rambling post. Lots to tell. Much to process. Read on......

"Let it Flow Through You" 12" x 12", collaged paper and ballpoint ink on cradled hardboard, 2015.

I got some good news last week.

This piece was accepted into the Rockford Midwestern Biennial, a juried survey of contemporary art made by artists in the Midwest. This is a prestigious show at my hometown museum. I've applied in the past, but this is the first time my work has been accepted. Very exciting!

It was just what I needed.

As any creative will tell you, this being an artist thing is hard work. So hard sometimes, that I contemplate giving it up. I've been feeling that way lately, so getting my work into the Midwestern was a much needed creative boost. Let me explain.

One Year Itch?

I've been feeling restless in my artmaking lately. Unsatisfied with my work. I've been unsure of what to do next. As I look back, I've been feeling much like I did last year at this time. (I wrote all about it HERE.) Maybe this artistic restlessness is a spring thing for me? Or maybe it's time for another change?

This "itch" really made itself known with the launch of my latest coloring book. Sales have been pretty lackluster, and it's hard not to take that to heart. Yes, I know I launched my first coloring book at the beginning of holiday shopping season, so that contributed to its crazy good sales. Any maybe some people are still coloring my first book. Whatever it is, the poor sales have been disheartening and disappointing.

But it got me thinking....

I like making coloring pages, but is that all I want to do? Nope. I really like drawing in my sketchbook. I often find myself drawing patterns, but do I want to be a surface pattern designer, and license my work for fabric and other commercial uses? Nope, doesn't sound appealing to me.

What I do want to do is draw, paint, and make.

I want to make original works. Yes, I know I stopped making originals around this time last year because they weren't selling. Alas, the urge to make original pieces still remains.  I want to work abstractly and intuitively, and with confidence. I want to make for me, and not necessarily to sell. (But selling and making money would sure be nice!)

The universe is talking to me.

I listen to a lot of podcasts, read a lot of blogs, and am on entirely too many mailing lists of other artists and creators. Last week, it felt like everyone was talking directly to me.

In one of her most recent podcast episodes, Danielle Krysa told me to do something I love, instead of trying to do something that I think people want. On her blog, Alisa Burke told me to get off of the computer, stop comparing myself to others and just start making. Crystal Moody told me that "things change, don't fight it, roll with it."

The universe is telling me that it's time for a change. It's time to be true to myself as an artist. I want to branch out from the more commercial and illustrative things I've been doing. I'm not going to give those things up entirely, but I don't want to "put all of my eggs in that basket."  I keep feeling like I'm trying too hard to be something I'm not, following the trends and styles I see as I scroll through Instagram or Pinterest. I spend entirely too much time comparing myself and my work to others. It's time for that to stop and for me to trust my gut.

Let's call it a pivot

So, I'm not going to reinvent myself again as an artist, but I'm just going to switch things up a bit. A slight pivot in my artistic course. And all I know is that writing this post, organizing my thoughts, and getting it out there has been terribly therapeutic. Enjoyable even. It's helped me to process how I've been feeling and to set a course for the future. Expect to see more writing and more making here soon. (But not next week......I'm going on vacation!)

I appreciate that you've taken time to read this post and welcome your feedback.

See you back here in 2 weeks. Ciao!

P.S. If you enjoy my work, please share this post or some of my artwork with your friends! Thank you.