Onwards and Upwards

 When I last said 'see you next week' I meant see you in two weeks time, as then this works right?

I like that I sent the previous blogs intentions and then managed to completely forget about it, along with posting on social media and writing a long overdue newsletter. But never mind, I did manage to create a new painting at the weekend which feels like it absolutely trumps everything else. I won't share it just yet as I haven't taken the photos of it yet, or sat with it, or completely settled on a title, but I promise it will be on the next blog post. 

I will just say that it went well. I went with a 'seeing how I feel' painting so it grew on its own. I also kept it relatively loose and easy as the first one back, not to mention not too big and under no pressure to be amazing. As it is, it actually came out rather well, says everything I needed it to say and unlocked a new colour palette for me. So I consider that to be a big success. 

It is onwards and upward from here. 

One step at a time.

 So, a year later.... time for a mid years resolution to blog once a week, or at least once a month if failing anything else. Lots of news has been missed in this last year, but for good reason! 

I am not very well at the moment, and haven't been for some time. The last three months have been especially hard going but it seems like I am finally on the mend albeit it far too slowly for my liking. I am hoping this means that some of my bad habits will improve, like not blogging or remembering to post on social media. These are two things I need to change. I also need to paint more regularly, but I have a plan for that for when I am better by restructuring my day slightly. I have good hopes for this and I am feeling enthusiastic about making lots of improvements. Once I am better I should have lots more focus and energy than I have had for ages which will make for longer days, longer working days and better productivity. After all, work breeds work usually.

I am sure my last few posts have been like this and nothing has changed, but lets see. You have to keep setting intentions and trying, even if it doesn't work or you don't manage. Just set the intentions again and try. You never know which moment of trying will succeed. 

It seems good timing that I belatedly put a new painting up for sale today. It was one I started in Spring, just before I got properly sick, that I managed to finish a couple of weeks ago. It is of the Magnolia tree, which always feels like a new start. The start of a new year, a new season, and maybe for me at this moment a new chapter. 

So here is 'Magnolia' 24" x 24" x 1.5" box canvas, available for purchase on my website. As always, thanks for looking, reading, waiting, or just randomly sharing this moment with me. Until next time, or lets go with see you next week!

(And the link if you want to buy)  

 

Millar's Eatery

I have 'to write a blog post' on my to do list. I have left it so long since the last post that I don't know where to start! 

I have had the Marlow Art Trail since, put some work up at Millar's Eatery for a 3 month display, had two commissions, sold a couple of pieces, started regularly doing reels, kind of, ordered new puzzles and I have the Cookham and Maidenhead Art Trail coming up in early September! Plus a few new paintings and the introduction of some affordable minis, the canvasses at least, I haven't painted any yet. 

So lets just start with a post I was meant to write at the beginning of July and pretend it isn't almost the end of August. After having Millar's Eatery at Coopers Yard as my fabulous venue for the Marlow Art Trail, they kindly offered to house a display of my work for three months starting in July. They enjoyed the art trail so much, the co owner also being an artist, that they decided to implement a 3 monthly rotation of displays, and after being on the trail, I got first refusal, along with my fellow displayers. 

Not much seems to be happening on that front so far as I was hoping to have had some sales by now, but there is still time. I am also tempted to switch the display around for the last month if I can work out what to show instead. It seems like the to do list is always three miles long and before you know it the time is up. It is fun though, to know I have some work up in the public domain, a bit more space in my house to breathe, and an extra potential outlet. I am trying to spread the load a bit more to reach some more potential clients. Exposure is everything. 

So,  if you are in Marlow, head down to Millar's Eatery, they do fabulous food, coffee, tea and cake. I will be going there myself soon! A, Meter House, Fieldhouse Lane, Marlow, SL7 1LW.

Spring is Coming

 So lets ignore the fact that I missed a week between posts this time, that is better than the month that went by previously. 

I successfully managed to get in to the Cookham and Maidenhead Art Trail, and the Marlow Art Trail is coming up soon too so I need to start getting my head around those two things, and possibly painting some local places. I have the tower at Cliveden first on my list. In the meantime, I have painted a small picture of some daffodils, and a canvas is waiting in my 'studio' to be started; Which I have on my list for tomorrow evening or Friday.

Other than that, the to do list is a mile long, so long in fact that it is difficult to pick a place to start. I have a few 'quiet' days coming up though so I am hoping I can get on top of a few things, and maybe win the lottery. 

But, whilst we wait for that to happen here are the daffodils for you. Daffodils have a special place in my heart. I used to help my Mum in the garden every Sunday when I was a child. One time I got to plant some double headed daffodils by the garden path. They have reappeared there every year since, usually flowering on or around my birthday. They have grown a superstitious quality as usually the daffodils match the kind of year I am going to have - lots means a good year for me, less, not quite so good. This year there were only 6, but 6 strong ones, when most of the other daffodils in my Mum's garden were blind. So I will take this as a good sign, it might be a tough year, but I will be strong. 

Cuba Tones

 As usual, my good habits didn't last very long, but there is s blog post happening now so that will do, I was meant to be doing one a week, but...! Not much has happened art wise recently, I have sold a few of my sale items, managed to stick to my social media schedule and painted a new picture! I had planned to start a new painting this weekend, but Milly Molly Migraine had other plans for me, but perhaps I will get a chance to this weekend instead. I have been organised today though, my two new paintings are online everywhere except my website, I have chased a potential sale and earlier in the week I applied to Cookham Art Trail, so I have been doing my job. 

It would be nice to have an unexpected painting sell though, those are the boosts that help keep me on focus. Here is to wishing, my birthday is soon, so perhaps the universe will give me a sale as a birthday present. 

Starts manifesting. 

 In the meantime, here is the new painting. It is another one of Cuba. I already feel like there will be more of these! I half wish I still had Havana Good Time too so I could have seen the three paintings together, but I guess that is what photoshop is for. So here, enjoy....

And just because I can, the three of them together...

Sale

 I thought I may as well jump on here straight away whilst I am having good habits and trying to be organised. 

As promised, the article about my interview is up and you can read it here

I have also just released a few items for sale. Some older paintings, mugs and puzzles are all available with a 10 - 25% discount for the next month. Please head to Etsy for more information! Etsy Store

That will do for now. Those of you subscribed to my newsletter, keep an eye out as there should be one landing in your inbox tonight!

Setting down some roots....

 I feel like it is probably too late to say Happy New Year now, I am usually good at doing the first blog post of the year, but obviously not this time. 

So what has been happening? As usual, lots and not much at the same time. I have had some steady sales of mugs, puzzles and cushions as well as the odd belated calendar. 'Barbados' has also gone on holiday for a trial at a potential new owners house. I am assuming they won't be able to say no once it has been in their house for a while, so that should be off the market at the end of the month. I have also been interviewed for an art blog in New York (!) so I will share that article once it is up. 

Painting wise it has been a bit slow this year so far, I made the decision to finally overpaint 6 works I have never been satisfied with. Two are complete already and I had intended to do the next one this weekend just gone but it didn't quite happen. In the pipeline I have a new painting of Cuba to do and some sunsets from my beginning of the year trip to Gran Canaria. So lots of potential. I have also just been reviewing my accounts. I realised I have signed up to lots of art things with annual bills and I need to make them work a bit better. If there is anything I can cancel, amalgamate or lose if it isn't working then that is all good. It is also a time to double check my stock, what is selling reliably, what is too much and maybe to sell out the current stock and refresh the merchandise. I am working on making my website more 'exclusive' and thinking of maybe using Folksy or Etsy as a kind of outlet store. The trouble with that is then making sure my website is 'seen' so that is still a thought in progress.   

I am finding it difficult at the moment to grasp the direction and list of things I need to sort out. It seems like there are too many things and they are all over the place. I want it to be more organised and easy for 2025. As part of this I have just set up a habit tracker for the month. Theoretically this should encourage me to keep an eye on my schedule and tasks. For example, blogging once a week and sharing a reel, completing a painting once a week and getting up early everyday, drinking water, eating well etc. It feels like I shouldn't have to do this really, but somehow it feels like it is easier to maintain and manage if it is written down and fixed. The trouble with being self employed is time management, as you never really have to do anything, so then sometimes by the time you have thought about what you need to do the day is over. I am hoping this way, with fixed weekly deadlines and tasks I will start to be more productive and more importantly consistent. Let's see how it goes, either way it will be worth a try. 

So after all those updates, I had better share the first painting of the year! So please watch below and see 'Fall' become 'Roots' as it was the first one I felt like I needed to alter. 

  I feel like it was quite a big improvement, so I hope you do too.