Mood Swings

My moods have been very strange for the last few days. I don't know if it is caused by the weather; it is very spring-like although it is only the first of March, or, if it is caused by other things.

#923 Quilled Owl

#940 Big & Bold Sunflower

First, I had a couple of people who stated they wanted to buy paintings and would 'stop by next week'. Neither came of course and that left me feeling down.

Grid display at the Chamber

Glass cabinet display at the Chamber

Second, there is a new manager at the local Chamber of Commerce where we have a great display space for local art. He plans to make changes and I am afraid that the art display will be adversely affected. Also, I now have a committee to help with the art displays and you know what they say about committees - lol.
 
Next, I have been adding more product to my Amazon Handmade page. http://www.amazon.com/handmade/Mellowood-Studio?ref=hnd_dp_smp
This takes a fair bit of work; taking and cleaning up photos and then doing the posting. Although I had a few sales before Christmas, I am constantly wondering if I will ever sell anything else - lol
 
Finally, tourist season is not too far away and I am making some plans that will, hopefully,  improve my chances of attracting more visitors to my home gallery.

We put up a new sign at the highway, directing people up the hill. This photo doesn't show the true color; it is very bright yellow and should attract more attention than the previous white sign. I am also going to be working with a few other artists in my area as well as a local winery. The idea is to promote each other to visitors, using rack cards, business cards and maybe even a small map pointing out our locations.

All of these things seem to be on my mind constantly so my mood swings up and down, up and down.  I am sure this is just a temporary blip in my state of mind and that I will be back to thinking 'que sera, sera'.

The Year's Review

I keep a record of all the art I create and at the end of every year I update my file on the computer. This gives me a good overview of what I have accomplished and it gives me an idea of my income for the year.

I started the year with a 30 paintings in 30 days challenge and used the time to improve my skill at Oriental Brush Painting.

I switched gears and, after taking a card making class featuring flowers, I started making cards. I taught myself quilling (thanks Youtube) using my own painted papers and added that and some of my own drawings to the cards I made. I even put together some 'Color Me' cards to sell.

As well as learning new things (and, I have to be honest, playing), I was also busy organizing some art displays as a volunteer with the local Arts Council.

Art in the Chamber

Creston is lucky to have two great venues where artists can display and sell their work. For 2016 we will have four 3 month long displays instead of six 2 month displays as we have had in the past.

From January until October I am also busy with my garden flowers; starting bedding plants, transplanting, watering and pruning, planting out, watering and dead-heading, harvesting seed and finally clearing everything up before winter. And, of course, continuing to create.

The Protector

I did a color painting challenge in the spring and followed that with the September 30 paintings challenge, this time focusing on doing pen & ink cards.

Lighthouse card

I used many of the cards in lieu of Christmas cards this year adding one of my crocheted ornaments as a nod to the season.

Altogether I painted around 75 pieces this year plus the cards (around 50), plus the quilled critters (about 80).

Quilled Critter

 I have opened a store at Handmade at Amazon http://www.amazon.com/handmade/Mellowood-Studio?ref=hnd_dp_smp
I have displayed my art in a number of shows and venues, participated in a self-guided art tour, and taught art to some beginner artists. All in all it has been a busy and moderately successful year. While I will not likely ever make enough money with my art to do much more than pay for my supplies, I will continue to ply my brushes and other tools, learning and playing as each new year unfolds.

Happy New Year everyone and thanks for checking in!