The Life of Riley

I was focused earlier on today, but now my mind is wandering. Possibly wandering to 6.15pm this evening when I will be chocolate tasting in Hotel Chocolat, but it could equally just be aimless.

I have been busy the last few days - I am now a registered business on Google and I have ordered a card reader so I can receive card payments in person. I also managed to sell three paintings and three mugs yesterday which was an unexpected bonus, and I have quite a good commission to do in the pipeline so things are going well. Whilst my art payments don't exactly make my bank manager rub his hands with glee, they do keep saving me. The last sales have been a welcome post holiday cash injection. More of the same please.

Before any other new news, I am still going to attempt to catch up with my backlog of blog posts; So without further ado, it is time to introduce Riley, who was the next commission/ piece of work after the S98 Submarine. 

I am getting worried that I am starting to enjoy these dog commissions, or at least missing them a little. I am sure I must be due another one soon! I also keep toying with the idea of getting my friends to send me pictures of their cats to see if I can grab onto that market too. Watch this space.

In the meantime, if you are so inclined, I would be grateful if you could leave me a review on Google. You can do so using the link here

The Sub

So whilst it looks like I haven't done anything for a while, this is not the case. I have completed 3 more commissions since posting about 'Bess' painted two new pictures just for the fun of it, and put 'mugs' and 'cards' up live on my website. I have also created the 'vouchers' section but as I am launching each section with a giveaway, I decided I needed to have some of the other sections up and running before I open up the vouchers. I keep being just about ready to start working up the print part of my shop too, but then various distractions keep coming along and waylaying me. I am hoping to start working on this shortly, and I have ordered the puzzles ready to be put up either next, or before the prints, depending on how time flies. It would be nice to feel, or be ready for some Christmas sales for once! That said I have signed up to a small fair at the end of November, so I am hoping this will generate something - at least I have lots of items in my 'stock cupboard' ready in anticipation! I have also done a much better job of getting to know some people in my local area, so I am looking forward to being able to invite some friends and peer pressuring them into buying some bits and pieces. I believe that is what friends are for....!?

In the meantime, heading back to the end of July, I had an unusual commission to complete, of a, wait for it, a submarine!!! (I bet you didn't see that coming). It was actually simpler and more enjoyable to paint than I was expecting. I had forgotten how much I like painting the sea, and having a bit of an unexpected challenge with the submarine, was a nice break from some of my more usual topics. Who knows what I will paint next!