Havana Good Time

 After the first painting of the year inevitably comes the second. I am well on the way to sorting out my paintings for 'The Beehive' display on Monday. It seems like there is a lot to do and not much to do. I suppose it doesn't help that I want to paint another picture to go up if I can, so that will be tomorrow and Saturdays job I suspect. 

In the meantime, painting number two is up on the website, my prices have been amended (on a piece of paper at least), frames have been ordered and sticky dots made ready for the name tags for all my work. I just need to write an artist blurb now which I am not looking forward to, well that and stick the stickers on the paintings backs, write the authentication certificates and sign all the ones going up on display. All while having a horrible cold. 

Hooray.

Not.

But this is a good warm up, I had a big birthday last week and all my friends and family clubbed together to buy me a two week exhibition space and opening night at my local gallery - Norden Farm, so I can't wait to get that in the diary! Hopefully I can have some more paintings of Cuba to show at it, which is the subject of my latest piece of work, and I have to say, even I am impressed with how this one turned out! 

Canopy Shyness

 Ironically after the last post, I did take a time out to sort out my health and clean out my house. My health is improving now, with the aid of a million vitamins and iron tablets, and the house is not only clean but decluttered, minus my bedroom which still needs doing. Going through clothes requires a different mindset to simply sorting out clutter. 

So this means, my mind is clear, I don't need to do any house admin things, and I found some more art cards and thing to post for sale on Etsy. Plus, more importantly I have finally done the first painting of the year. I went for a known quantity to start with as I feel so out of practice painting, that I needed something 'easy' to start with. The good news is, the painting went well, I have three commissions lined up to work on, and an 'exhibition' of sorts lined up in Maidenhead at the beginning of April. 

I say exhibition, it is an exaggeration; An exclusive pub/restaurant in White Waltham is showing my art on its walls for three weeks as part of a local artist showcase. Hopefully it can become a regular occurrence, but we shall see how it goes to start with. 

It sounds like my manifestations for the year are going well. Now if I could just paint a bit more regularly and sell a few paintings, I truly will be winning. Until then, here is the first painting of 2024 - 'Canopy Shyness' 

  

Happy New.....month?

 Happy February (and belated Happy New Year) Time flies when you get older. I miss the summers that felt like they stretched for years when you were a kid. 

Lots is getting underway this year, as 2024 signals me getting back on top of my game. I have big plans to get more disciplined and consistent. I am clearing some bad work vibes from my life and prioritising my creative side, because that is well overdue. I just need to work on my routine. Ironically it is easier for me to be creative with no routine, but I need some boundaries otherwise nothing ends up getting done. This is my manifestation for 2024, to find a pattern I can work with and stick to. I really need to make this work!

The last time I felt truly productive and organised was in lockdown 2020, but it would be good not to have to shutdown the entire world in order for me to have some peace I can work with. That isn't exactly sustainable! But maybe I can take some lessons from what I was doing then and try to reapply them now. 

The trouble with not being 20 is stamina. I used to be able to just do art related things in the evening and into the early hours, but I can't seem to do that now without needing a week to recover. I might have to teach myself to be an early bird! But we'll see. 

2024 is also about being kind. If I need a day off, or some sleep, or to concentrate on my health or tidy the house then that is ok. There is no rush to do everything all at once.

Consistency is key. If that is two hours a day, everyday then that is better than everything for a month and then nothing for 6 months. 

Fingers crossed.