It's Monday.

I actually don't really mind Mondays. Work is slow, we don't receive very much freight and things just seem more relaxed.

I also have three days of art making to look forward to.

Little Squirrel

Last week I received an e-mail from local shop Tilde asking if I'd like to be the featured artist for April. One of their scheduled artists couldn't make it and so I was asked and of course I said yes!

So, I have a couple of weeks to put together a show from all of the animal pieces that I've been working on. I'm really excited to show the originals. I've been loving this series and I want to share them with everyone.

I do want to create a few more pieces the show. There's always that chance of added pieces looking awkward with the rest of the series, but I'm going to try to avoid that as much as I can. Maybe I'll set all the pieces around me while I work. And maybe if I'm aware of the weirdness that sometimes happens, I can avoid it.

Narwhal Etching

I've been working on some new etching prints, and I'm experimenting with collage and maybe beeswax. I don't really know where I'm going with it, but I love the juxtaposition of the etching with the collage. I'm going to keep working with it and see what kind of results I can achieve.

fox. Etching with collage and paint.

I'd love to make a book with the etchings and maybe include some sewing. I have a lot of ideas about this and I wish there were more hours in the day.


Well, Monday calls and I have work to get ready for. Happy Monday, friends.

Printing

I've been doing a lot of thinking about my Etsy shop, and about my art this past week. This summer has been a bit of a struggle as far as sales go.

I look back on past years and I'm amazed that I made so many sales. I truly wasn't greateful for all the business I was doing. I took it for granted. This has been my worst year on Etsy since I started. I've thought about just not doing it anymore. I've thought about giving up. I've thought that it's my work. That it's just not a good fit for Etsy. It's been discouraging to say the least.

In all that thinking I've thought that it is impossible for me to give up. This is what I want to do forever. I decided that a shop update is much needed. a total over haul. I need to change my thinking and I need to completely revamp things over here.

Working on a new plate.

Last week I was reunited with my etching press. I had it in a community studio that I used rent from. I left it for other artists in the building to use if they wished. Well, the artists were recently asked to vacate this studio space in order for the building owners to renovate and create better studio spaces for double the amount of money. It's a sad situation for many, and I'm afraid more of this is going to happen to artists in our lovely city...

It's hard to see now, but this is a little bird sitting on a branch. 

anyway, this also meant I needed to fetch my press before it was sold in a studio move out sale. So, now it's sitting my garage waiting for me to create art. I ordered ink, paper and copper plates today! I'm excited about this. I feel like it's all pat of the big picture of my revamping.

I feel like this is going to be a wonderful change for me artistically, financially and mentally. It's time for new. It's time for letting go. I'm excited.


also, I signed up for my first ever half marathon today. It's in San Diego and I'll be running with my good friend of 17 years. I've been afraid to do this forever, but it's too late now. I've paid and now I'm doing it and it feels good :)