2025: The Year to Thrive
The holidays always leave me with renewed creative energy. I imagine that it must be made available from time spent in deep rest, (something I should probably do more often). I've refreshed my studio after being filled with a big burst of creativity over the holidays. I have a desire to endlessly paint with the insane optimism that I can create whole collections in a matter of weeks.
I have a collection that has not left my mind since I abandoned it six months ago. I'm so excited to dive into its creation this month. The initial plan was to create 6 large watercolor paintings, 24x36 inches in size, which has since evolved into creating mini paintings, large watercolours, and maybe even a few oil paintings. There's something about the depths of winter that always makes me crave the slow nature of brush strokes in oil paint.
Here's what you can look forward to this year:
Mountain Sketches - original gouache paintings to be released ASAP (I'll share more soon).
The Pacific Collection - inspired by Tofino, BC.
A collection inspired by Glacier National Park in Montana
I'm sure I'll also return to creating more coastal paintings inspired by Southern California and hopefully much more!
I'm inspired to add more ease into the way I release original work on my website. In the past I have released art on a specific day providing anticipation and excitement for the time each piece will be available. I've expressed multiple times that I find releasing collections exhausting, and often disappointing.
If you've been here for awhile you know that I really shook things up in 2024 when I began to sell my originals more in person than on my website, so I can understand if there is some confusion in my process at this point, but the bottom line is, nothing makes me happier than the connection you feel to a piece of my artwork!
My plan last year was to release 4 new collections in seasons, which for the most part, I was successful at. However, because I released my work in so many different ways this year, through other retail stores and at in-person markets, it may not have felt like I accomplished this goal to you.
Moving forward, if there is a piece of art that you see either through Instagram or that I share in an email that you simply must have, please just send me a message. I will GLADLY sell you my original work anytime. You do not need to wait for me to release it. Paintings that I choose to sell online will be listed for a limited time before I find other venues to sell them.
I have a desire to bring more transparency into my creative work this year, including the business side of things that I typically don't share here. I've had a goal to increase the earnings of my business each year. Yet, for the last 3 years, my sales have hovered around the same amount with very little growth.
I would love to create a more sustainable practice for my business and the ever-increasing cost of living. I love this job and plan to continue to be an artist until I'm at least 80 years old!
While attending some markets this year I noticed that I placed my work in line with hobby artists, and while being a hobby artist is a wonderful place to start and enjoy the world of art, I am no longer a hobby artist. The price that my work demands and the attention it requires does not fall in line in these spaces. This is when I realized it is up to me to provide the right space, audience, and attention that will allow my work to grow. I am responsible to elevate my work to the level of growth I seek. This includes the price I charge, the space where it is seen, and the level of work that surrounds it. In order for my work to Thrive I must give it the attention it seeks.
That is why I am declaring 2025: The Year to Thrive! I am done playing small and hiding my work in the shadows. My work deserves to be seen, big and bold.
xo,
Rebecca