I have a love/hate relationship with January if I am being honest. Always have. I love it, because of my background and interest in coaching and self development. I love the freshness that they idea of a whole new year gives you, the feeling that you have a blank slate and can design a year exactly how you would like it to be. For the last few years I've chosen a word of the year, an intention, and this has helped me to focus on what it was I wanted from the year and how I wanted to approach things. It felt like a golden thread on which to move gently from month to month.
Yet January can also be overwhelming, I think because it comes with this expectation that things can be different, will be different, must be different. A blank piece of paper is great - but it's either stressful because you can't think of anything to fill it, or stressful because you can think of so many things you start feeling like your brain is going to start popping out like a character in a TV cartoon series.
And, it's usually cold, feels like it is such a long month waiting for payday, and is missing the festive feel that was around over Christmas. As my parents would say, it's very much a time of going "back to brass tacks". But it has so many moments of beauty when we allow ourselves to slow down and see them and experience them.
This year, I've definitely felt those tensions between wanting to get on, and the slowness that the season feels like it is demanding from me. I've spent more time at home. I'm currently writing this, tucked up at home, heating on, with a cup of tea on the side and feeling cosy. I'm learning how to do things my way. Or, to be more precise, to tentatively find a new way of doing things.
I've always been a rusher through life. I like to read quickly. I flick through things to get to the end. I try to pack too much in. And this can be seen as a good thing - the world loves a sense of productivity, action and getting things done. And yet I'm starting to wonder if that's the best way for me. I often jump in too fast where a slower approach gets me better results in the long run.
So this year I am allowing things to unfurl a little more gently. I'm switching on the twinkly lights. I'm allowing myself to see what happens. And I'm going back to breathing and thankfulness as things that make a difference for me. Find my art around "breathe" here.
Let me know how you're approaching this start to the year and how you access those moments that bring you joy.
My 2016 word of the year as some of you will know was BELIEVE. Believing in myself is something I've had an ongoing struggle with and I really wanted to get behind it in 2016 and regain a little of the sense of belief in myself that used to be there. When I watch my boys, as pre-schoolers they generally have an endless sense of belief I themselves, their innate cuteness and interest to others and their ability to do things! It's a good lesson and one I'm trying to remember as they grow up.
2016 always felt like it was going to be a bit of a transitional year for me. My boys started preschool at the start of the year and all of a sudden, I found myself with some time to work on my art. I'd successfully had one of my pieces featured in Alena Hennessy's book at the end of 2015 and I took it as a sign that I could make art my own.
This year has been a slow meandering, and unfolding towards that goal. It's not always been as fast as I'd like - I'm generally known as someone who moves fast into action and likes to get things done. I was struggling with having been out of the workplace since the summer of 2012 and one of my biggest learnings this year has been that sometimes, you just need that time to let things unfold. Even if it's not your natural style and can also frustrate you. This year has been about become ready. Ready to call myself an artist, when people ask what I do. Ready to put my art out there amongst other fabulous art, without getting too stuck on where other artists are in their own journey as a maker. And ready to learn how to run a business again and trust that this is something I can do.
Here are some of my highlights
First exhibition
In March / April I was accepted for my fist open exhibition at Miss Annabel Dee on Leigh Road Leigh and had two paintings exhibited. It as exciting to see my art on the walls of this local gallery that supports local art in such a great way.
First stockists - Groovy Baby and Made 94
In June and then September I had my first stockists in Groovy Baby and Made 94 both fabulous small businesses on Leigh Road in Leigh on sea. More about these lovely small businesses in features later this year.
Branding launch
At the end of September I launched my new brand and tag line "Art of the Singing soul" with my branding done by Leah Beecham of Woodland Designs. She did a fabulous job of interpreting one of my mandala pieces in my favourite colour schemes and this gave me a strong start to move forwards in my business.
Printed versions of my original art
In September and October I created my first printed pieces of my work. It was a learning curve to find out how to manipulate then in Photoshop and learn how to maximise their colours and use photoshop to put them into the required templates. So far I've had giclee prints, digital prints, cards and notebooks and I am so happy with the quality.
Pitching Not on the High Street
In October straight after holiday I pitched in Richmond to Not on the high Street. Whilst I wasn't successful this time it had given me a huge push to think about who I am as a brand, what my maker story is, and to get my first products made. It was great to see where they work and to get some feedback.
Business launch - offline
This year I have done four stalls locally which has been a fabulous experience to get used to getting out and selling my art in real life. It gave me a good feel for some of the local markets and helped me to see what worked and what didn't.
Business launch - Etsy
Finally right at the end of the year I launched my etsy shop just in time for some last minute Christmas sales! It felt like a huge pat on the back to myself to be able to celebrate finally launching online, and to receive sales and a review straight away as doubly exciting! Now it's onwards and upwards to continue to grow as an artist, a small business owner and entrepreneur and make a success of this in 2017 and beyond. Let's see what exciting things around the corner this year! Thank you all for your support in helping me to get this far and I look forwards to further joy unfolding in my business!
