2024 Year in Review
The kids are officially back to school and I'm so ready to get this renewed creative energy back to work. But first, let's look back on 2024.
You might remember at the beginning of the year when I declared 2024 to be the year of Brave Exploration. The need to introduce play into my creative work, releasing self-imposed pressure was heavy on my heart. I had the desire to explore new mediums and new ways of sharing my work with the world. I also introduced seasonal releases into my business which I was somewhat successful at preserving.
I started the year off creating my first collection of 8 desert paintings inspired by Joshua Tree National Park. I created original work in watercolours, oil pastels, and larger oil paintings. Offering a collection in multiple mediums was refreshing, something I had never really done before.
In March my work was accepted into Bliss101 in Encinitas, CA. This was a new way for me to sell my originals, and relieved some of the pressure I had previously felt to find the right audience for each of my paintings. My work was well received and a flourishing relationship was born. I created 17 new Coastal originals and fine art prints this year. I returned to Southern California in May for some live outdoor painting.
Throughout the Spring, Summer and Fall I created a collection of Mountain Sketches inspired by my favourite places around Alberta in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Many of these 12 gouache sketches were sold to tourists at the Banff Market during the summer, but the ones that remain will be offered on my website very soon! I meant to create a calendar from these 12 paintings, but instead chose to create a new collection of fine art prints out of these beautiful little paintings.
I participated in more markets this year than I ever have in years past. I had a goal to be more involved the local community, and was grateful for your support. I shared my work (including originals) with more people in person in new places that aligned with my creative vision. It requires a lot of energy, but it’s always so rewarding to see you connect with my art.
For this year’s holiday offerings I created a collection of coastal ceramic ornaments painted in gouache for Bliss101, I created a small collection of ceramic ornaments for my website, and I painted more custom ornaments than I ever have before. This was a special honour to be part of creating something so sentimental for the people you love. Your support over the holiday season is so heartwarming to me and my family, especially during the crazy shipping fiasco during Christmas
2024 was the year of Brave Exploration for my work, I explored new mediums and new ways of sharing my work with the world, which brought me just a little bit closer to my goals.
Going forward in 2025, I would like to add a more transparency and long term sustainability to my creative work as an artist. I'll talk more about this in another blog post soon.
None of this progress would be possible without you and your support! I can't tell you how grateful I am that you choose to be here to share in my creative journey and my heartfelt work. This space feels so special to me.
Thank you for being here. Thank you for loving the work I create. Thank you for every single purchase and encouragement. It honestly makes such a difference to me and my family!
WISHING YOU ALL THE BEST THIS NEW YEAR!
xo, Rebecca