Preparing for a New Year
Preparing for a New Year
Evaluating Priorities and Making Room for Growth
Building on my last post, “Uncharted Territory”1, I’ve continued to consider my journey into the new year. For it’s that time of year when I start making serious decisions about my next year’s calendar. Even though this may seem like a natural December thing to do as one year moves to the next, it is also a natural part of a festival artist's lifestyle. Summer and Fall show deadlines are approaching and decisions need to be made. Will I apply? What will my art look like six to nine months from now? What will my art practice look like?
For me, there is no short answer. With one toe in my old world (yes, I did just apply to two shows), and one foot into a new world quickly unfolding before me… I plan for a new year of firmly embracing my evolution as an artist.
Evolution of Art and Artist
Even though this past year doesn’t necessarily feel like it - as I spent a lot of time struggling through my art processes and ideas - I look back and realize that it has been filled with all kinds of art-making. From the abstracted oil collages of my “Fractured Stories of Hope” series to digital art drawings, new plein air paintings, mixed media pieces, and even a few paintings to celebrate the joy of backyard birding - I’ve been busy!
Yet while I loved the art I’ve made, my overall studio practices have still felt less genuine than I intended. I had wanted (and honestly, expected) more time to create and work through concepts this past year. I struggled with spending more time on selling, marketing, and promoting than I had hoped. And while I made some choices to improve the outcome (like taking a month-long break from social media, enjoying a short solo camping retreat, and creating a more stable practice of daily journaling as well as scheduled work-out routines), I didn’t quite make it to where I wanted. Yet at the same time, I was extremely grateful to finish the year strong with the completion of my latest book which has inspired me to move forward and embrace my evolution as an artist.
Intention
So, going forward, however, I am choosing to be more mindful and respectful of my intentions and my interactions. Even as I continue to choose fewer in-person events and lean more on virtual ones, I still want to experience more community and care in the exchange of art and ideas. I want to share my experiences and content with complete sincerity. And in doing so, I want to be more accountable and consistent in my actions - to myself, and to my followers at large.
And as all these year-end thoughts are swirling about, I also know that my artwork is moving in a direction that is slower, more methodical, and process-oriented. I find myself struggling with knowing how to keep my art career afloat while purposefully walking this path I feel so compelled to follow.
Since I started my art career, I’ve been fortunate to make my living by making art. Part of that success, however, was based on my ability to make a lot of work quickly (thereby enabling lower price points), and work that was easily accessible - emotionally, decor-wise, and as inexpensive prints and related items. Even now, more than 2/3 of my income comes from licensing these early images.
Which honestly, is how I survived these last couple of years when shows were shut down.
I know I’m lucky. I'm extremely grateful to my supporters who have purchased my original and licensed work and have kept me afloat. All this support is the very reason I can consider jumping into a new art-making lane. But I also know, this revenue stream won’t last. As my original art takes longer to create and my ability to add new images to my licensing contracts thereby diminishes, so too will sales of both original and licensed work. Also, as I attend fewer shows and events, I will miss the marketing opportunities they provided to talk about and share my work. So how do I sustain my art practice while committing to new artistic intentions?
Proceeding with Care & Planning Thoughtfully
One issue I am tackling is the pricing of my artwork, which is always a difficult matter for any artist. In the past, I have been able to err on the low side. Since most of my sales are direct (as opposed to selling through a gallery); I can paint quickly (and hence re-stock quickly); and also, since I can use the images as licensing opportunities - I’ve been able to sell at lower price points. Also, because I prefer to keep original art affordable for as many people as possible, I happily sold these pieces at lower than average market prices (considering the value of my time, care, skill, and effort).
However, going forward I feel it’s time to give my artwork prices that reflect the actual gallery market. (Which means, starting January 1, I will be raising prices on all my original art. You can read more about this decision here.) I will instead have two online “Affordable Art” events in April and October of 2022 where I will quick-create paintings to make available at a lower price point. It is important to me that original art is available to everyone, and by having these events I hope to fit into more household budgets and help more art find their forever homes while still giving me some income and while allowing the time I need to work on more process-based art concepts.
Taking Social Media Breaks
Leading up to these events, I will also clear my calendar of online obligations, choosing a “Social Media Break” during the month prior. (I took a month-long break in 2021 while also removing myself from Facebook altogether, and found it immensely helpful to my mental well-being as well as my creative time allowance.) Taking it one step further - I will also be designating one week each month as a “Monthly Social Media Break”.
By adding breaks to my official website events calendar, I hope to honor this decision while also providing clear communication to my customers and followers.
Creating Accountability & Consistency
As I use my calendar to consider events & breaks more carefully, I also hope to create accountability and community through more direct and interactive means. By using Patreon (paid) and Substack (free), I hope to offer something of value that doesn’t necessarily require the purchase of goods. (Being one who has recently reached the downsizing phase of life, I can certainly appreciate the need for fewer goods.)
Also - I have found another very helpful use of these art-sharing outlets. Admittedly, I have always struggled with routine and consistency in my life. I often like a little chaos - be it in my daily structure of time or in my leisure activities. Over the years I have found giving myself grace and providing variety within a routine helps me maintain course. I have also found that by sharing my intentions within a community (be it family, friends, or here with you), I have a better chance of completing my goals.
To that end, (and with much hope for a less stressful and chaotic year ahead), I have decided to be ambitious in 2022 and am offering new opportunities for makers and patrons alike to virtually join me (and possibly even join me in person) on my journey - both to help me sustain my art practice and also to keep me committed to the path ahead while growing what I hope to be a curious, mindful, and caring community.
I hope this is just the beginning!
Coming Soon!
I will provide daily and weekly studio journal entries* showcasing smaller mixed-media “swatches” of work in progress as well as larger pieces being worked alongside them with an opportunity to join me on Patreon with weekly art prompts. (In various forms - on Patreon, Substack, and Instagram)
I will be creating monthly entries/podcasts/videos* showcasing multi-disciplinary work in progress and the practices used in their making. (In various forms - on Patreon, Substack, and Instagram)
I will be posting weekly “studio insights”* updates on Substack
I will be sharing at least two virtual art show events in 2022 on Youtube/IGTV
I will be sharing at least two mixed-media making-of art features in 2022 on Youtube/IGTV
I will have at least one LIVE painting demonstration in 2022 on Youtube
I am planning a regional Book & Art Tour for September 2022
I am hoping (and planning for) a national Book & Art Tour in Spring 2023 (fingers crossed)
*with posting breaks one week each month and two months of the year (March & August)
Going forward I will also continue to offer my art to patrons in a variety of ways. From the original art, subscription services, and VIP Clubs available directly from me on my Featured Art Website (and now on Patreon), to the licensed products available from online retailers - I am so very grateful for the opportunity to continue sharing my art.
Community
Whether looking for new art or looking for new ideas, I hope I can offer a place to be in community. As I share my art practice, I will try to provide value in the content with inspiration for mindful creativity and insights into life as a professional artist. Whether I’m with the community online, in spirit, or in the art brought into a home, I hope I can offer a hand to anyone who wants to join me as we step forward into 2022.
And here on Substsack - you’re especially invited to join me on this adventure - sharing all aspects of what I do as openly and sincerely as I can. I will be posting 3 summaries/month, 10 months of the year. I will share how I divide up my time in the studio, what projects I’m working on, which ones are on hold, applications I’m submitting, where I’ve been declined, accepted, what income and expenses look like, and how I stay motivated and inspired to keep going.
In the meantime, I’m signing off for 2021. I wish you and yours all the best this Holiday Season and a very Happy New Year!
Sincerely,
Jennifer
On one of my breaks of 2021, I spent an unforgettable early morning on this beach watching the mist lift from the lake with magical beauty. I look forward to taking the time to have more moments like this one in 2022.
If you want to watch the progress of “Uncharted Territory”, I am slowly posting video logs as Instagram Reels. When the project is complete, I will edit and post the daily entries as a longer video on my YouTube Channel. I have no idea how long this will take. The ideas I’m processing for this piece have been with me now for years. Yet, I remain hopeful that 2022 will be the year I find my footing and not only finish this piece but embrace my most honest and intentional art yet.