Just One Thing?

I want to talk about how it feels when you're drawn to exploring different ways of expressing yourself through art, and when you cannot commit to just the one.

The months prior to my Summer hiatus had seen me moving from illustrative art to a colourful exploration of abstract art.  I have no idea even now what pulled me to go into the studio that first day and use the paint in this way, only that it was something I had to do.  I needed to feel what it was like to create energy and stories through shape and colour but I was also deeply aware that it was completely different to my illustrative work, the work that I was recognised for.

After my break, I began to slowly start working in my sketchbook, this time pulled back to the gentle art of watercolours, dip pen and ink.  I felt that I reached for these things almost intuitively.  I picked up what felt right, and started to draw and make small paintings which became the bare bones of my new collection.

Last week I was talking to a friend about it.  I asked her, "will people start saying things like 'what's she doing now?' because I can't settle with just one thing?  It feels as if I ought to have just one thing, but I haven't".

There are plenty of wonderful artists who commit to working in one medium, and a certain subject matter (like landscapes for example) for many years, and gain a reputation in that field.  People know what to expect, it's reliable and solid.

Is it detrimental to our progress to not have just one thing?  Is it necessary for our progress to focus on one genre, and hone our talents using one medium?

I listened to a Podcast recently over on Let's Highlight Real with Meera Lee Patel.  She was talking about her own experience as an artist and writer, and touched on this subject.  She spoke about how she felt that one of the most important parts of the art for her is the story, whether that is told via a greetings card, a print or an essay, and how while she admired the artists who stick solely to one medium, and one way of creating, she often felt as if she didn't have a choice in the way her story was told.

This really resonates with me, some days I want to tell my story with watercolour and ink, other days I want to tell it through the vibrant and colourful medium of acrylics.  Other days, I'll turn to my blog and write.

So is this amateurish and confusing? Or does it instead show curiosity, ability and strength?

Meera said that it can be hard not to try and look like, or do things like other people.  But being an artist is about being true to yourself, and following your intuition.  I don't think I could choose just one type of paint and stick to it for the next 30 years, and I can't imagine not sharing through my writing either.  I also think that if you choose to work authentically, and commit to your own style, you are absolutely able to work with different mediums and genres to create a body of work that is 100% identifiable as yours, whether it's watercolour or linocut printing.

I'm currently working with watercolour and ink right now to create a beautiful new body of work which is inspired by the coast.  I felt compelled to work with words that are embroidered through the art (you can see more of this style over at Whistlefish here), using beautiful inks and a dip pen.

Do you prefer to see artists working with just 'one thing'?  Or, do you like seeing an artist sharing  their work through different styles and mediums?

Chat to me in the comments about your thoughts on this, I'd love to hear from you!

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Before you go...

SALE NOW ON!  30% OFF ACROSS MY ENTIRE WEBSITE STORE!

Enter code: SUMMER 30 at checkout to receive your discount on original art, fine art prints, cards, limited edition mugs and seasonal gifts.  A perfect time to treat yourself.

Visit the SALE

What I Learnt on my Summer Break

Is anyone else still astonished that it's September already?  The weeks of the Summer holiday have drifted by, and yet I wasn't prepared for it to end so suddenly; to be roused far too early by an insistent radio alarm clock, drowsily making my way downstairs to prepare coffee, breakfast and packed lunches again.

Despite not wanting the Summer to end, I was also secretly feeling rather excited at the prospect of going back to the studio.  If you read my last post you'll remember I told you I was taking a break from my work, and why.  It took a lot of courage for me to face up to the fact that things weren't working and needed to change, and yet when I eventually accepted this and made the decision to step back for a while to figure out what to do next, I felt the biggest sigh of relief envelope my body.

During the Summer we spent a week in North Berwick in Scotland, it's a beautiful gem of a town on the east coast and despite the weather not being in our favour (torrential rain and storms for the majority of the week), it was a very welcome change of scenery and I loved the place.  

Sitting on the beach on our last day looking out to Bass Rock and the islands beyond, I found myself thinking about painting again.  Of course, it had been something I found my mind wandering to on and off but it was here that I suddenly had the seed of a new idea. I'm not even sure how it came into being, or what inspired it, but as the weeks of the Summer drew on, I felt myself returning to it over and over.

I knew that I wanted there to be more fluency with my work, to create cohesive collections of art and design work based on certain themes.  I made a list in my notebook to refer back to, and let the idea germinate.

As the Summer days rolled by in a gentle, easy way,  I began to start unravelling what wasn't working in my business, and surprisingly, one of the main components of it was actually me.  I saw how I had become increasingly anxious and despondent about  my work, I often struggled with imposter syndrome and the thought that I wasn't good enough. My daily thoughts and beliefs had disintegrated into a very negative place.  

A positive mindset is one of those magical tools of the trade that we really do need in order to thrive.  Once fear or depression begins to creep in, all other kinds of negative chatter can deter us from following our path, and can debilitate the process of succeeding.  Our dreams and goals remain unrealised, panic and anxiety become a part of us, and we can often feel as if we are hitting brick walls without understanding why.  I recall days where it felt like I was walking through thick treacle, achieving nothing, only wasted hours scrolling through Instagram where I would inevitably end up comparing myself to what everyone else was out there doing.  

This also puzzled me a bit, I'd always thought of myself very much as a 'glass half full' person, but I could see (with a little unpicking) that the drag of daily social media updates, of playing small, of mid life challenges and not being bold enough to take bigger steps, had all conspired to halting my progress.  Somewhere along the way I had given over to believing that I wasn't going to make it.  My mindset had turned from 'I can' to 'I can't'.

Again, it feels almost a little awkward to lay this bare and share it with you.  Admitting that 'I' am part of the problem isn't easy, but I do think that accepting what is, is half of the battle because once we do that, we have a starting point to move forward from.

I also chose not to post on Social Media for the entire Summer and at first, I felt afraid that this would have bad consequences.  People would unfollow in their droves, I'd be forgotten. But do you know what actually happened?

Nothing.

The number of followers stayed roughly the same, people were actually still finding me, and following and liking my posts despite not being active.

And this was a revelation.

For months and months I harboured a secret dread each day - what to post.  What content did I need to create?  What did I need to photograph, edit, upload onto Instagram or Facebook today?  And I knew I simply could not carry on doing that.  Not only was it draining, I was finding it dull and depressing.  Following my experiment this summer of not posting for literally 7-8 weeks, I know now that I can still have a social media presence but without the grind of posting daily.  My intention moving forward is to use my spaces on social media a couple of times a week, paring it back to basics and sharing what feels joyful and interesting.  My main focus will now be my email community who I write to a couple of times a month, and this Blog where I will share more regularly about my work process, and things I'm up to.

As we move into September, there are other things unfolding behind the scenes...my new website is almost half finished!  I decided in the holidays that my old one was more than ready to be upgraded, and so it's with great excitement that I can share that my new online home is currently being constructed, and made ready to showcase my new work.  I'll keep you posted about it's launch, but suffice to say it's looking amazing and really reflects me and my new direction.

I have also been looking at my work and stock, and being rather strict about what works and what doesn't.  I think creative people and businesses must do this from time to time, and to be brutally honest about it too.  No point harbouring a load of products (and adding to them) if it's not a good seller.  And this led me to consider having a sale, as a way to make space for my new collections, and to clear some space for a fresh new beginning.

I'm going to be giving my email community the heads up on the sale so that they will have the first opportunity to browse and purchase.  I will be selling lots of originals and prints at drastically reduced prices in order to make the space I desperately need in my tiny studio. If you'd like to sign up to hear about this, you'd be very welcome and can do so by clicking the link in the side bar.

So, to conclude...this Summer has been about rest, stepping back, being honest, allowing new ideas to arise, reading and learning.  It's been about accepting responsibility, making plans for the future and practising positivity each and every day (for me, this is walking in nature, going to the coast, journalling, yoga and meditation, reading books and inspiring blogs).  I don't feel like the same person who last wrote here, I feel like I've grown and changed for the better and that can only be a good thing.  

I'm going to grab a coffee and head down the garden to the studio soon, I'm working on some sketches at the moment for my first collection. The sun is lower in the sky now, the swifts have left I think, and the light filtering through the fading leaves is golden and tinged with the signs of Autumn. 

It's good to be back.

How I stepped out of my comfort zone

Have you ever put off doing something because you feel afraid of it?  Or it might feel overwhelming or uncomfortable?

Stepping out of our comfort zone to do something new can be all of those things, and just recently I made the leap and tackled something I've been putting off for ages.

Video.

Today it seems everywhere you scroll there are videos and livestreams, I'm reading blog posts about how it's the best way to communicate with your customer, and how it's the best way to move your business forward.

And yet, it scared the hell out of me.  So many things to contemplate...first of all, where would I start?  There was so much I didn't know, and so much to learn.  I felt out of my depth watching tutorials on You Tube, and the tech side of it, uploading and editing...well, the sheer volume of knowledge required actually made me shut off my laptop!

So, what did I do?  For a long, long time I shelved it.  I joined Skillshare and watched a couple of good classes and felt the stirrings of excitement and possibility, but when it came to physically getting started, I just couldn't do it!   I wrote notes and ideas down in my biz journal - and they sat there unused for weeks.  That is, until I had a coaching session with Claire Sheehan.

Claire is an artist and coach, and we had a session a couple of weeks ago where she helped me take down some of the blocks I'd created for myself.  She was very helpful in getting me to see the bigger picture.  Instead of launching into an overwhelming, full on video series, Claire encouraged me to make something short and easy, for fun.  Right away the pressure to create something polished and professional disappeared.  And also, I could also see how I'd set this unachievable standard, of making my very first video and it looking like something produced by Universal Studios.  

It's fascinating how we build walls around ourselves to protect us from the unknown.  It feels so comfortable and cosy plodding along in our own predictable way, doing what we know we're good at, yet it doesn't take us any further than our own self made boundaries.

The thing is, we have to learn as we go - it's part of being a human!  We were not put on earth to stagnate and live a dull life.  We have to be able to say to ourselves, you know what?  This is my first attempt and I'm going to give it a go.  I will most certainly make mistakes, but I will learn as I go on, and if I keep on practising I'll get better at it, I'll gain more confidence, develop new skills and my 'thing' will be amazing.  I think back to how I first started with my art work, and it was nothing like what it is now!  I sometimes find old pieces of work that make me cringe, but I also feel proud of myself for deciding to have a go because if I hadn't, I wouldn't be where I am now.

The main stumbling block for me, and I think this applies to all of us when we feel stuck around creating something new, is the fear of looking like an amateur, of people laughing at us or criticising us for our efforts.  Am I right?  Looking like we don't know 'all the stuff', feeling like the new kid on the block...it creates barriers of fear and self doubt and this can be paralysing.  I can see now that I was never going to start making videos with so much emotional baggage!  Claire showed me that choosing to create something small, and for fun, removed the need for it to be perfect.

So, you might be wondering how things are going?  I chose to make a short film about myself and what I do to put on my website.  You are welcome to watch it on my You Tube channel here:

I am planning on doing more videos so you're welcome to subscribe to my channel if you wish to.

The experience of filming out and about, as well as in my studio was a really good experience.  I found out that I thoroughly enjoyed doing it, working out scenes in my mind and scripting it all.  I played around with editing the video in Photoshop, but sadly with the age of my laptop (it is sloooowwww) and so much to figure out, I chose to edit it on my Ipad using IMovie which was so much fun, and so easy.

I am actually now contemplating doing a bit of Vlogging - yes, that's right!  I am so excited by this whole new world that has opened up for me and cannot wait to do more!  This has also made me realise what I might have missed out on by not trying.

Good advice if you're feeling stuck right now:

Make it fun.

If your project or idea feels massive, break it down into small, achievable goals.

Do not worry about looking like a novice, all the best people started somewhere.  Start with what you've got and give it your best shot.

Remember, there's no written rule anywhere that says it has to be perfect.  

Think back to something you have achieved in life, think about something that makes you feel proud.  

Enjoy yourself.

A guide to Instagram for artists

I thought I'd share a few handy tips for using Instagram if you're an artist, and how to get the best from it for you and your business.

The main reason I use Instagram is to share my work and life as an artist, it keeps me connected to people who follow me and keeps people up to date with what I'm doing.  For artists it's a brilliant social media app as it's so visual!  However, there's more to it than just posting a few random pictures (which is literally what I used to do).   Let me explain.

My first bit of advice, and one that seems to have made the most noticeable difference to my feed is to use a real camera to take your pictures.  I know that most phones have pretty decent cameras these days but I can honestly say that since switching to my Canon G7X the quality of the pictures is 100% better.  Although this isn't a cheap camera (I saved up and upgraded from a pocket Canon last year) it has wifi which means I can upload images right to my phone or Ipad for easy editing in the Lightroom App.  This is by far one of my favourite editing apps, and you can easily find a free version to pop on your device.  I really enjoy the editing process, and Lightroom is easy to use if you're a beginner but at the same time, gives your images a real professional finish.

The second piece of advice is to make sure that you keep your pictures relevant to your business and what you do.  Most of my feed is pictures of my work, either works in progress or finished shots.  I also take pictures in the studio or of myself working.  To help give people a bit of an insight into my life I will occasionally add in scenes from places I've been, or found inspiring, but not too many.  I suppose what I'm saying is that, if you're a painter for example, you don't want to cause too much confusion and have people wondering what your brand represents if your feed is peppered with lots of family shots and pictures of your dog.  Unless that's relevant to your brand, and you paint dogs. Then that's OK.

Instagram Stories is actually a good place to post things that you don't want littering up your feed, for example, you might want to share that you're at a great exhibition, or of you out and about having coffee etc.  For this I tend to use mostly pictures I've captured on my phone.  I like to edit them in the Canva app as it has some really nice fonts - just choose the blank background and upload your own photograph, add text and graphics and away you go.  I also like to use Stories to chat about promotions or things to do with my biz now and then.  It can feel a bit daunting at first but look right at the camera lens (not the screen) and imagine you're having a chat with your best mate and you'll be fine.  Stories is a great facility to help people to get to know you more, and to see other 'behind the scenes' elements of your life as an artist.

When it comes to posting, I try and mix things up a bit, so rather than it become a steady stream of close up shots of my work, I'll maybe include an overhead shot of my desk space, or of something on my easel.  I also pop in pictures of myself at work because people seem to like this, and it does help to create a connection between you and your customers as they can put a face to the brand.  If you're a bit camera shy, consider getting a side shot of yourself at work, this is a fairly good compromise as you're not having to look right to camera which I know can feel a bit disconcerting at first! 

When writing text under your pictures, try and keep things interesting and engaging.  Maybe you could explain a bit about your process, or share which materials you used.  Don't be afraid to be chatty either and ask questions which gets people interacting with you.

It's also important to create a short Bio so that when people visit your feed, they can find out a bit more about you.  Use this space to tell people what you do, tell them where you are and provide a link to your website.  You can also install a tool called Linktree to send people to specific locations, such as your Blog or Etsy shop.

Another important tip I'm going to share is about the emotional side of using Instagram.  It is SO EASY to hop onto Instagram and within minutes you've got a serious dose of comparisonitis and all kinds of feelings can get churned up.  It's certainly happened to me before, but now I can detach emotionally, aware that the pictures I see are snapshots of a single moment of someone's life, as behind the scenes things can be very different and we never truly know what that individual is going through.  Similarly, with a business profile on Instagram you need to remember that when you are sharing, you are sharing as your brand - not you.  So if someone unfollows you, or reacts negatively to something you shared it's a reaction to your business and not you personally.

Whenever you post, think about curating your feed to best represent your brand, keep it interesting and mix it up.  Last of all, my advice is to be authentic and always be you.  Don't try and be someone else, but rather let your personality come through in your words and pictures, that way you will be sure to attract the right sort of people (potential customers who love what you do) to your Instagram account!

I hope you've enjoyed this post, I'm going to share more about using social media for your business soon.

When it all goes quiet

Working as an artist has it's highs and lows; sometimes it feels like a breeze, and at other times it can feel like climbing a mountain, fraught with obstacles and challenges.  When it's going well I am inclined to coast along on cloud nine, enjoying the flurry of sign ups to my Art Letters, the sudden, and magnificent reach of a post on Facebook, the shares and the likes, and the sales...yes, when it's in the flow it's a wonderful feeling and worth all the hard work and effort invested.

But the lulls, the quiet times, and the absolute tumbleweed times...those are harder to navigate.

Showing up in the world as an artist (or indeed, any kind of creative soul) is a vulnerable process,  and sharing our work with others can leave us feeling exposed and often at the mercy of validation.  When the kind comments and likes are coming in, it feels great.  We want people to see what we are doing and to cheer us on, and when we don't get the interaction it can feel so demoralising.  We can't understand why it didn't work out, or what went wrong.

But what do we do when it all goes quiet?

This month things have gone quiet, and I'm not going to lie, it can make me feel incredibly nervous at times.  I noticed a recent post by Just a Card saying something very similar, and so, although it's easy to feel like it's a personal thing and you're the only one it's happening too, rest assured it's probably not.
There are fluctuations in the market all the time which can account for these random periods of quiet.  Sometimes there is no obvious reason for why sales slow down and nobody sees your posts on Social Media.  The silence can often feel scary and never ending but I want to urge you to keep going.  Don't give up.

Keep going.

Use this time to plan out some engaging marketing - share your beautiful art, ask your customers questions, send your emails. 

When things slow down for me it makes me work even harder.  Behind the scenes I am beetling away on marketing posts and dreaming up engaging content.  I will sometimes go to a coffee shop with a journal and work out how I can keep my business going - I'll create a list of ideas, what new services could I offer my customers? What new products might they enjoy?  And if you don't know - ask them!  People love to be involved, and who knows, their responses could be the beginning of a brand new product or path for you to follow!

It could be that your latest creation just didn't hit the mark.  It happens.  In this case, and if you sense this is the reason why (and you'll intuitively know) then dust yourself off and start afresh.  Take some time to allow yourself to feel inspired.  Have a browse on Pinterest, look in magazines and see what catches your eye, maybe grab a sketch journal and see what evolves.  Go slowly and let things unfold naturally, inspiration cannot be forced or happen on demand. 

Talk to fellow creatives.  

I am so lucky that I have a fab bunch of women who I've connected with online and become good friends with, and we often chat, sharing our worries and our successes.  Again, talking things through can be really helpful, they may be feeling the same way as you!  Conversations with like minded souls can sometimes lead to fresh inspiration, a boost of enthusiasm or simply just a chance to share your concerns and be heard.

As well as doing this, I paint.  When the ideas come I get them onto wood or canvas and I share my process and keep myself in the loop.  I keep going. 

Remind yourself that everything is temporary, and things are always changing.  Keep yourself present, keep yourself positive, and focus on what you love.  Keep going, bravely showing up and sharing what you do.

The Emotional Side of Creative Business :: Things I've Learnt

It was the summer of 2006 when I made the decision to wind down my work as a freelance sign writer, and spend more time on my art.  It had long been a dream of mine to work as an artist and taking the plunge was an exciting and scary moment.  Looking back now, I can see just how naive and uneducated I was on the whole business side of things though.  Yes, I could paint and draw, it was my passion (it still is) but I was an utter novice in those early days when it came to the deeper aspects of earning money and keeping a creative business rolling along.

There's also the emotional side of running a business that I knew nothing about, it's not just about making pictures and selling them - believe me, when you set up a business you literally invest not only your money, but your heart and soul into it.

So today, I'm sharing a few things that have helped me grow my business over the years, and how to navigate the soulful side of working for yourself - the emotional side is a really big part of it and I was completely unprepared for the solitude/loneliness element of working as an artist from home.  I had come from working as a sign writer, where I travelled up and down the country working with lots of people for several weeks at a time on contracts.  It was hard work and a very transient existence in some respects as we were always on the road, but there was always company and familiar faces so you never felt isolated.

One thing I've discovered over the years is that it is super important to keep yourself connected with other people if you work by yourself.  I have days where the solitude is blissful, and truly enjoy my own company - other times, I suffer from cabin fever and feel desperately lonely and isolated.

Making plans to meet friends for coffee, or spending quality time with family is absolutely essential when you're a solopreneur.  I've also learnt that if I recognise those negative feelings creeping in, a phone call to my sister or partner, or a natter online with a couple of good friends can help to shift that, and I feel more connected again.  If nobody is about and I feel this way, I'll go for a walk for half an hour or so, just to clear my head.  And sometimes I go to a coffee shop with a notebook and pen, and enjoy the buzz of being around others while dreaming up new ideas, or emptying my brain of all the fog.

You have to be disciplined and this isn't always easy if you feel tired, you've got the kids off school or the house needs a tidy.  There's no boss to tell you what to do, as that would be you - yep, you're the boss, sounds cool doesn't it?  But it comes with responsibilities - you have to take charge and do things, you're only answerable to yourself after all, and if you don't do it, it won't get done.  For me, discipline is the thing that keeps my ship afloat, if I don't show up and do what needs to be done each day, my business flails.

You're also going to have times that feel scary and out of your depth - this is usually indicative of a time to grow and expand, yet moving into change can feel really frightening when we've been used to doing things a certain way.  Habit is comfortable and safe right?  But in order to grow as a person and as a biz, you need to find the confidence to step up and say "I can do this!"

I've got myself an emotional support kit that I've created over the years which helps me to feel better equipped when life chucks things at me like this.  Yoga and meditation are a huge help (and I try and do this every day).  Cultivating a daily self care practice has become essential, for years I have unconsciously put myself last (as I feel many women naturally do) and focused on my family, but I've learnt that time looking after me actually gives me more energy to navigate all the ups and downs in life. 
Walking, exercise and journaling are good tools to clear the mind, there's nothing like an hour in the woods on a brisk walk, or ten minutes thrashing everything out on paper to clear the head.

And if, after all this, there is still a feeling of being scared or stuck?

Ask for help, or learn how to do what it is you need to do to get to where you need to be. 

It's no use pretending you know what you're doing if you don't, you're just going to wind up going around in circles getting nowhere if you do that - so don't be too proud to say, you know what? I don't know how to do this, I need some help.  There are a gazillion websites, mentors, books and resources that you can utilise now, you just need to find someone who you click with and whose teaching resonates with you.
I am learning new things every day, and that helps me to enrich my life and grow my business too.  It's a win-win.  We're never too old to learn something new, and the beauty of the internet is that there is so much information at our fingertips, you couldn't pick a better time to start a business with all the incredible resources that are now available.

Here are a few really good websites that have, and continue to help me and business thrive:

The Girls Mean Business

The Creative Business Network

Dare to Grow

The other side of the coin to all of this of course, are the good feelings: the excitement of creating your art, the delight of making your first sale, getting a painting accepted into an exhibition, of earning money from doing what you love.  It can feel euphoric and wild and utterly wonderful and the best bit about it is, is that you engineered that yourself.  You did it. 

Nobody else.

Satisfaction from creating a product, marketing it, and finding customers who love what you do and who buy from you is something that still feels amazing to me now, after working for myself for 18 years.  It spurs me on, my self belief blossoms and it gives me the confidence to continue. 
Every achievement, no matter how big or small is all down to things you learnt and implemented.  When you overcome the tough parts and realise a dream, hit the jackpot, make the sale, meet the goal - that was you.  Give yourself a high five for that, give yourself a high five anyway, just for showing up and deciding to make a go of it each day.  That takes courage, willpower and dedication.  It's a rollercoaster ride working for yourself, but my goodness, it's worth every minute.

What my Intentions are for 2018 (and the planners I love to use)

With a new year firmly underway I am at last back at work after a very long absence.  Beginning in November I was laid low with a nasty cold virus, and despite a few days here and there where I thought I was finally feeling a bit better I kept on lapsing into this awful state of being unwell - aches, pains, cough, fevers...only now, as the days of January begin to slowly lengthen I feel more like myself (with a lingering cough, a souvenir of my epic 8 weeks of feeling vile).  I hasten to tell you that this is not like me at all, I do NOT do sickness, I will occasionally pick up a cold and then after a few rubbish days it has gone - I've never endured anything like this at all and went through tests and even an x-ray at the hospital to find out what was going on.  It seems I'm a healthy enough person, who just happens to have succumbed to a virus that lowered the immune system, which in turn meant it was easier to catch other bugs and things.

It being winter here until about April, I decided to persevere with raw honey and apple cider vinegar drinks, doses of astragalus root to boost the immune system, and take care to eat foods that are health inducing instead of the Christmas stodge we endured for what seemed like an eternity.  I think it's working.

So, I'm not too sorry to see the back of the Christmas period, and I'm embracing January as a fresh new beginning with lots of plans bubbling away for the coming months. 

Saying that, I'm not a person who makes resolutions as I don't think life needs resolving - it's not broken, just needs a bit of guidance in the right direction to get back on track, and personally for me the sheer expectation that comes with creating new year goals just lays so heavily on me that I tend to give everything up within a week anyway.

So, I choose intentions.  Which are lighter, easier, and more forgiving than tough resolutions.  To make sure I stay on track with my intentions and dreams, I like to use planners and journals.

I am currently using two planners to help me map my journey through this year.  The one on the left is by Danielle Laporte - a motivational speaker and author.  Based on her book, The Desire Map, she invites you to choose your core desired feelings each day as a basis for making choices in life.  The idea of working with how you want to feel and then choosing what you need to do to manifest those feelings is a really cool way of living with intention and creating a life you enjoy.  It has certainly made me consider the choices I make each day, and become more aware of what I do with my time.

The planner on the right is the epic marketing guide by Claire Mitchell, owner of The Girls Mean Business.  I worked with the 2017 version last year and despite not using it consistently, I increased my earnings, realised dreams and grew my audience.  I can highly recommend Claire and her illuminating teachings which she offers within this planner, online in a private Facebook group, and through a private marketing portal with monthly challenges on to grow your biz - it's all completely awesome.

I also chose a word for 2018 - this year it's all about EASE.  Moving through life without struggle, taking time to be mindful, to make the right choices, keeping it simple and good. 

So with all of this in mind, I feel like I have a great tool kit to get me through!

Here are some of my intentions for 2018:

• Go to the coast as often as possible (we have already braved the wintery Yorkshire coast for a couple of days, it was glorious!)
• Create an online art course
• Create a new art workshop
• Write more
• Go to Italy
• See friends who live far away
• Lose a stone in weight by eating mindfully, committing to my yoga practice and walking more
• Get my bike out and go for rides with my family
• Practice meditation
• Declutter my house 
• Read lots of books
• Swim in the sea
• Have my artwork published by new companies
• Practice gratitude
• Say no to things that don't feel good
• Grow my business
• Think about a new tattoo
• Learn Italian (I've downloaded the course on Babbel but need to spend some time doing it)

Have you set aside some time to think about what you would like to do this year? 

Back in the studio, I'm busy working on some new commissions for Whistlefish (here's a little peek above), it's great to have a lovely job like this to kick things off - I'm feeling really positive about this new range of artwork and very excited about all the possibilities in store! 

My First Art Workshop - How it Went and What I Learnt

Last Saturday I hosted my first Art Workshop in the cosy village hall in Hoylandswaine, Yorkshire.  I thought I'd pop in and write about how it went and what I learnt.

Before that though, you might have noticed an absence.  I haven't blogged since mid October and that wasn't planned.  I actually had big plans in place to blog every week, and intentions, as well as a desire, to write a lot.  I felt as if I had a lot to say and then I got ill.  I don't mean for you to worry because it isn't a serious illness, only a virus of sorts but it has hung on and in fact hasn't properly gone yet - it is one which fills the body with aches, a nasty cough which makes the lungs sore, awful congestion, headaches and an overwhelming fatigue.  And this tricky virus hung on for a good three weeks, leaving me feeling very run down
I had lots to do in preparation for my workshop, and lots of Christmas goodies to create and so I stepped back from Blogging, and I felt a bit sad because I truly love writing, but I felt as if I didn't have much to say, and it all felt like rather too much.

But here we are, the first day of December, cruising in a somewhat chaotic manner (in that I'm terribly unprepared) towards Christmas.  And this leads me nicely back to the topic of conversation with you today, my Christmas Workshop and all about what happened.  And today, I do feel like writing, so here we go.

My mini pop up shop

I arrived a couple of hours before the event to set everything up.  I was a little shocked actually at the huge amounts of stuff I was taking to set up!   I somehow managed to bundle it all in my car and set off across country, looking at the snow topped Pennines in the distance and hoping that my two ladies who were travelling over would make it across safely (they did).

At just before 1pm, the first of my students arrived, I must say, it truly was the nicest group of women to be blessed with, ranging in age from just 13 and up.  They were a friendly and good natured bunch who made my first class such a good one - thank you all for that.

The afternoon went so well, some of the women hadn't picked up a paintbrush since school, and acrylics were a new medium for some.  They all did so, so well - I really was so proud of what they achieved in those three hours.  

Along with some delicious cakes and bakes, and a selection of drinks to help things along the afternoon was a nice, relaxed affair with plenty of chat and laughter.  I remember showing them how to flick snow from the flat end of a wide brush, using watery white paint and proceeded to cover my heart with the biggest blobs that all but anihilated the design.  Things like that aren't planned of course, but it made everyone laugh! 

So what did I learn from hosting a workshop?

Planning is the absolute key!  I did pretty well at organising myself, and in planning the way I wanted the afternoon to unfold, but I think next time I would make a few tweaks to make it easier in places.  For example, it would have been a good idea for me to take a drying tool along, as some of the paint took a while to dry and people were waiting around which I felt bad about.  Signs on the doors to guide people into the workshop room (which is at the far end of the hall) would also have been helpful.  

I think I would spend time creating a nice, clear welcome speech too.  I had an idea of what to say but was caught in such a rush of nerves as I suddenly realised I had a room full of ten students that I think I forgot most of what I wanted to say, and rambled on a bit about other things instead!  Talk about tongue tied! 

I remember Louise Hay once saying that when we do something new, it's easy to come away and beat ourselves up about all the stuff that went wrong, or that we felt wasn't good enough.  She encourages us to be kind, to say 'well done, you did your best' and then think about how you can do it even better next time.  With that in mind, I am proud of what I achieved that Saturday, and will strive to make my next event even better.

I think I would love to do more things like this, despite the nerves (which I think are a natural part of stepping out of our comfort zones and into new territory).  I'm wondering about a full day painting course, or perhaps in time, a weekend retreat!  I think the best bit for me was being able to actually work with people, and to teach them what I know, to pass on skills and share that.  Watching their designs come to life after the different layers and processes was astonishing, they were brilliant!

Now it's back to work, but I'm going at a much more gentle pace so that I can finally shake off this virus and feel better again.

I'm putting the last few bits and pieces into my online shop now, so if you fancy supporting and buying Hand Made this Christmas, why not take a peep?  There are some lovely hand painted decorations (the last few, I won't be making anymore this year), as well as original art, prints, cards and mugs.  You're welcome to browse by clicking here.

I wish you a lovely day.

Julia x

A Peek at What I've Been Doing

'Snow Robin'

The weeks seem to be running away with me, I can't believe we are already in the middle of October and yet I am loving the feeling of Autumn, of the wild winds and rainbow of colours as the leaves change and fall.  I find it a pretty invigorating season and it seems to spur me on as the run up to Christmas becomes busier.

I thought I'd write a post to tell you what I've been up to of late, a little insight into my working days here in my Yorkshire.

For those of you who don't know, I work from a little wooden studio which sits at the bottom of my garden by a river.  We are lucky to have visits from all kinds of wildlife, and it's a pleasure to sit with the door open, listening to the birds and the bubble of the water over the stones.

My Studio

So what have I been up to of late?

I've done a lot of work this year for private clients and a publishing company, and it's been a pleasure to create many varied commission pieces and a lovely body of coastal themed work for the publishers.  You can find a collection of prints and cards available through Whistlefish Galleries, including this new collection of Christmas cards which I did earlier in the year.

Whistlefish Christmas Cards

I've also recently launched a limited release Christmas card 'Snow Robin' (shown at the beginning of this post) which you can find in my own online shop (link in side bar).  They come in packs of five and cost £10 GBP. 

Work has started on a couple of new paintings which will be heading to a new gallery!  I'm really excited to have been offered the opportunity to work with The Robin's Nest Gallery, and as well as two brand new originals, they will also be stocking a collection of my cards, prints and mugs.

Riverside - work in progress for The Robin's Nest Gallery

Behind the scenes I am also busily working on preparing for my first workshop which I'm hosting in Hoylandswaine in Yorkshire, on November 25th.  Already almost sold out and only two places left available, I am so looking forward to spending an afternoon with a lovely group of people as we create Christmas Heart decorations together.  Would you like to join us?  You would be so welcome!  There is a lot more information about the afternoon over on the Eventbrite website where you can book your place - just enter the code: get my ticket to find out more.

Click here to read more and to book

Finally...as most of this year has been spent working on commissions and publishing art, I've not managed to get many originals finished for myself.  However, I recently finished and had framed this colourful and summery piece - Hidden Shores which was inspired by drives down to the beach along high banked country lanes, full of grasses and wild flowers and every now and then that tantalising glimpse of sparkling sea in the distance.

Hidden Shores

This painting will be available in my online shop early next week, however you are very welcome to reserve it if you are interested, just get in touch and I'll send you more details.

So, the rest of the day sees me heading back down the garden to hopefully finish up the Riverside painting and start some sketches for the next piece.  I'm also hoping to start a collection of Christmas Hearts next week, so plenty to keep me busy and out of trouble!

If you've enjoyed this post and would like to keep up with what I'm doing in the studio then you're welcome to sign up to be on my Mailing List - you'll receive a lovely 10% off gift code to use on your first order in my shop, as well as getting studio news, you will also receive previews of all new art and exclusive sales.  There is a sign up link in the side bar here, as well as on my website.

What Stops Us Creating (and what to do about that)

Having a creative business working as an artist isn't exactly like a 9 to 5 job.  Creative work is laced with emotion and feeling, there can be difficult moments of lack, despair and comparison to overcome, vast pits of empty nothing when it feels as if all the ideas that I once had have evaporated overnight, that awkward phase of 'not being able to paint anymore' when it all feels forced and ridiculous and physically putting paint onto a palette is akin to walking through black treacle.
Creating art to share with the world exposes our vulnerability, we are laying the bare bones of our soul out for all to see and this can be tremendously difficult when you first start out.

Stepping up and allowing ourselves to be vulnerable, and to be seen is one of the bravest things we can do.

But this work also bubbles with deep joy, as I share my innermost thoughts and ideas on paper or canvas with you.  When the ideas seem to flow out through the brush without any conscious effort on my part and the colours and the images blend beautifully and come together in a way that is more than I could have ever engineered by myself.  The euphoria and endorphins generated by moments such as these are worth every second where it felt hard, or didn't work out.

I know from experience that this work can be difficult if it's forced or pushed.  An idea that was once laden with enthusiasm and excitement can be snuffed out like a candle, and I am left standing in the quiet emptiness.  Where did it go?  How can something that felt so amazing suddenly dissipate and feel so empty?  It is important to seize the moment when you can, follow the flow when the idea ignites your soul, and if you can't then realise that you might have to let that one go.  We worry that we will never have another idea like it, that was it - our moment of genius - gone!  But know this: there will be others, there will always be others.

I accept that there will be days when it doesn't flow - it's the natural order of a creative mind to ebb and flow like the tides, there will be rich, flourishing times and there will be barren ones too.  On these days I take to other work, like writing or going for a walk - or both.  Walking proves to be a wonderful tonic for times when I feel stuck, it is very rare that I return from a walk in the woods or over the hills without a new spark of an idea on how to move forward again and that's when I grab my journal and write things down, make a note, do a sketch.  It's there in black and white then, a solid reminder of a new beginning.

It's really important to notice when the natural ebb and flow is turning into procrastination though. This is when we decide that we need to be online shopping, cleaning up or doing something else rather than our creative work.  It is a sly, and devious companion to a creative soul, wandering in the wake of our despair and seductively teasing us away from what calls us, delaying us, stealing our joy.

I am now more aware of these times, and guide myself back to what I truly need, rather than vacuous pursuits like spending money on Stuff or idling away the hours on Facebook.  When I relent and give in to procrastination, I know that I am coming from a place of fear.  Fear is what stops us, it's what makes us ignore the call to create - it's most likely deeply ingrained within our subconscious, and we don't realise that while we waste hours on our devices or wandering around the shops, we are simply covering up the fear of failing, of not being good enough.

I know now, that I can only create if I surrender and accept.

I have to accept the roller coaster of emotions, the quiet spells when I have no ideas, the times when procrastination calls, the times when I wonder if it's good enough.

The secret is to keep challenging it all though, to keep moving forward.  If you don't accept and surrender, and keep moving forward you will never begin.  You will never learn what it feels like to be in that almost celestial space of creating from your soul, to be completely in the moment where time doesn't exist.
Allow yourself to be vulnerable, to make a start.  Allow yourself to begin, despite the fear and the difficulties.  Imagine where you will be this time next year if you start now - imagine where you will be if you don't.

Making a Dream Real

A couple of weeks ago, I was sitting outside a pub with a cold glass of white wine in Saltburn up in the North East, looking out to sea.  It was early evening and the sun was beginning to set in spectacular fashion over the water.  There was a line of surfers waiting to catch a peach tinged wave and on the horizon the maritime lights of ships twinkled.

I sat with my hands wrapped around my glass, and looked out, drinking it all in.

I want this, I thought.  This is my happy place, by the sea.  I want to be able to come down to the shore in the evening and watch the boats, listen to the waves and the cry of the gulls.  I want this to be my life.

My mind began to wander, as it often does at times like this and I began to ask myself some questions.

How can I get from where I am to where I want to be?

It suddenly struck me, like the proverbial brick at the back of the head - I needed to focus on my passion and my purpose in order to move my life forward.  I was suddenly acutely aware that I had been drifting along in life for quite a long time and this gave me the jolt that I needed.

Although I am already living one of my biggest dreams in being an artist, I knew that there was more in life for me than just creating art.  I saw how over the last few years, despite enjoying my work enormously a small dark hole had begun to emerge inside, and it had grown bigger turning into a depression.  Although I live in a nice corner of the world, it wasn't where I truly wanted to be, and I knew it.  I cried often, I felt trapped and stuck, and didn't know what to do to change.  I saw a doctor during that time and took medication for a few years because I was at such a loss as to what to do, only knowing I couldn't stand another day feeling so bloody lost and wretched.  I eventually went to see an herbalist, who helped me wean off the strong medication with soothing herbs and tonics, I went back to yoga, started to walk and cycle, swim and meditate.  I made changes and felt better, but still I knew I wasn't 100% fulfilled and now I know why. 

Outside that pub, watching the surfers that evening I realised what I wanted to do and I realised what had been holding me back for so long.  I wanted to teach art, I wanted to share what I do with other people, it was only fear of course that was standing in my way.  In that moment, the desire to have the life of my dreams was stronger than it had ever been and I knew it was time to take action instead of sitting back and wistfully hoping for something magic to happen.  I knew I would have to do the work, I knew I would have to invest my time, my heart and my soul into it, and I'd have to look fear in the face and tell it squarely where to go.  I knew I would not be able to move forward and achieve what I wanted if I played it small.

We came home from Saltburn and my head was bursting with ideas...for classes, workshops, online courses...as well as blog posts and emails sharing what I know...I felt so fired up and excited but also a little nervous - this is new territory for me, but nerves are good, it means I'm stepping out of my comfort zone and moving forward.

It was the night after we came home that I was lying in bed unable to sleep, my mind still full of new ideas when I had a light bulb moment:

A Christmas workshop, an afternoon of painting Christmas heart decorations with a small group of people in a lovely location...I envisaged fairy lights and mince pies, laughter, fun and conversation and everyone going home with a wonderful decoration that they had created in a creative and inspiring environment.

I'm so, so pleased to tell you that I have booked a venue and will be releasing the booking information for my very first workshop soon!  I am so excited to share this with you, and  hope you will be able to join me in Yorkshire, in November for a really special afternoon.

If you would like to be on the waiting list you can sign up very easily on my homepage - just scroll to the bottom and fill in the last sign up form, I will be sending more information out in the next week or two all about where, when and how much etc.

This is just the beginning of a very exciting new journey for me.  I now have plans to host online classes and possibly local weekly art classes too, as well as sharing heaps of content with you online here.  I am fired up and feeling happy like I haven't in a long time and I know that I'm heading in the right direction, on the path to my dream life.  It won't happen overnight, there will be some tough obstacles to overcome no doubt but for the first time in years I now have a purpose, and a vision.  I know where I'm headed.