2018 wasn’t one of my best years – I feel I’ve been relatively unproductive. I chose not to do the open studio art trail because I didn’t know how my father would be and I also was getting burnt out producing things to sell, even contemplating retirement!
My father is now in aged care after a period in hospital when illness caused a fall and deterioration in his condition. I will have more time now for my work but I feel sad for him as he wanted to stay in his own home. The nursing home we found for him is not far for us to visit & very nice with caring staff but he is getting more confused & forgetful. I am glad we managed to look after him in his home for so long.
My 2018 intention was to develop some new work – maybe do some workshops in painting or mixed media. This only partially happened because I found I was fed up with everything & it was an real effort to work. I have realised that I’m not a business person – I hate all the promotion, networking, social media, business planning & paperwork that goes with an art business. I have found social media very distracting so I’ve been concentrating on Instagram and reducing my engagement with Facebook. I’ve closed my artist page on FB – can’t really close my personal page although I was tempted.
My work for the year was mostly dabbling – small pieces to keep doing something. I started doing a monthly art project, MAP, but only managed to keep it up half the year. I did submit a small quilt for the Berry Quilt exhibition & the SAQA auction. One online workshop I enjoyed was Accessible Screen printing with Dionne Swift (pics below) and I’ve signed up to print some scarves for her next student exhibition. I also tutored a workshop, Painting & Printing with Dye, for a local textile group in October, my first for a couple of years. Towards the end of the year I enrolled in Dijanne Cevaal’s Travellers Blanket online workshop and have been enjoying some hand stitching – something I have tended to avoid until recently. I managed to get back to some dressmaking in 2018 and intend to keep it up this year. I now have some of my work for sale at the Nest Gallery in Darlington – its closed at the moment but will re-open in February.
I wish everyone a Happy New Year, hope its healthy, peaceful, creative & everything you wish for. My goals for the year are at the end of this post.
My aims for 2019:
- the big studio clean out. I feel overwhelmed by stuff & need to reduce.
- I will probably open my studio for the Arts trail this year but will change my approach to it.
- continue with my recent commitment to a fitness program.
- further reduce my time on social media but increase my blog posts.
- not worry about the business side of my art practice – just work.
- finish some of my work in progress & maybe even submit some for juried exhibitions – I haven’t managed to do this for quite a while.
Below: my best nine, most popular posts on Instagram.
I’m so sorry about your Dad. It’s hard to watch a loved one age and deteriorate. I agree that the business of art is not something I want to deal with and now don’t. I give my pieces away, as I must continue to work or there is no point in getting up in the morning.
Good luck this year-may it be better.
Thank you Sandy. Yes, I agree, its great to have something you love doing that keeps you going. All the best for 2019.
Hi Linda, Thank you for sharing. I haven’t managed to get the indigo dyepot re-charged, too busy over Xmas/New Year but hope to get a start on the traveller’s blanket next week. I always enjoy reading your blog and what you are up to. Cheers Jo.
Thanks Jo. Hope you’ve managed to get your dyeing started – I haven’t got very far, still stitching my sample piece & its on hold for a couple of weeks while I get my scarves printed. Seems most of us are slow to start! Xx
hello Linda, sorry to hear about your dad, it’s a distressing event for anyone. Having encountered some personal issues myself and have learned that letting go if you havent the energy for me, is useful, then I can concentrate on what really get me. By the way I have a printing press if you want to use it, for dry point etching or lino. went mad in winter!.
Contemporary Quilters is always looking for a professional to give a lecture or a short demonstration if you want a fun distraction.
I have to say the traveller’s blanket sounds interesting. What is it? I’m stitching randomly on small cut up blanket squares when I need hand sewing, very soothing. Goodness knows what it will end up as. Anyway all the best with your work this year. Cheers Virginia O’K
Thanks Virginia. If you google Dijanne Cevaal, you should find lots, also on Pinterest. It’s basically stitching a journey – she uses muslin or kadi cloth front % back with a layer of flannel between because its soft & light & easy to stitch through. I’ll post my progress sometimes but busy printing silk scarves for the next couple of weeks.
Wow, how great to have a printing press! Might take you up on that! A long time since I did etching but do Lino sometimes. What do you do with it, would love to see.
I would be happy to do something for CQG if you think they’d be interested. They seem to have already done most things & you have a lot of talented members.
Hope you have a creative 2019 too.
Happy New Year, Linda. I hope that 2019 is more satisfying for you in all ways. The travellers blanket workshop was very relaxing for me & allowed me to spend time working through issues that were worrying me at the time. There have been 3 more blankets made since then.
Kind regards Rae
Thanks Rae, I think my blanket is going to take a very long time, although I am enjoying the stitching! Well done on getting 4 done & hope 2019 is great for you too.
Happy New Year to you Linda!
I’m looking forward to reading your blogposts and seeing your new work.
Regards.
Thanks Francoise, hope you have a great 2019!