back to blogWelcome to my weekly blog posts documenting my first 100 days of being a full time artist. I am running a daily diary on my instagram stories and this weekly blog post of what I've been up to, what have been the challenges, the surprises, what I've learned / discovered etc.
This is my ninth week which has involved lots of packing up orders and finalising some of my paintings for the Northern Lights exhibition.
So what's happened?
So this week I released my demo paintings to my subscribers and boy what a response. Nearly 40 paintings have left the studio and are now winging their way around the world to their new homes. Thank you so much!
Painting for the solo exhibition with Northern Lights Gallery in Keswick has continued this week with a number of paintings being finalised including this particularly colourful one.
The week then finished off with my open studio on Saturday which gave me the opportunity to clear my workbench, pack up my paints and hang my Northern Lights paintings up to give them a bit of breathing space so I can show people the collection. It also meant I could get some Christmas lights up and a beautiful wreath created by Pink Ginger up on my studio door.
Out and about
Wow what a misty start to the week it has been. It has been absolutely gorgeous walking into the studio in these misty conditions and Hirst Woods are looking splendid but bare.
I love my walks to the studio as they really give me that head space to chew things over and before I know it my 45 min walk is done!
The challenges
So last week I mentioned how having so many paintings in the "not quite complete" stage was really difficult. So this week I changed my plans and focused on completing some paintings. This felt much better and I started feeling all excited about this collection again. There's nothing like the finishing off process when the varnish goes on and the sides of the paintings are tidied up. It is a great feeling!
What I've discovered
Well I already knew this but this week reminded me what a lovely bunch my subscribers are. Since leaving my job at the University my online sales and my gallery sales have been slower than normal. There are so many challenges out there for everyone at the moment so I am always grateful when people spend their hard earned cash on my work.
I am so amazed by the response to my demo painting collection this week so a really big thank you to all of my subscribers for your support.
What next?
I am out of the studio for most of next week as I have a trip to Reykjavik planned but will be back to deliver workshops in Bingley and Newcastle at the end of the week.
Check out my daily posts on my instagram stories for some sneak peeks.
