2018 In Review

3 questions I’ve asked myself as I look back on the year that was 2018. True-to-form for this blog, and the purpose of #artistlife, I’m doing it where you can see, and perhaps use. You don’t have to share if you don’t want to, but feel free to leave some comments.

What did I do, create, or experience this year that I’m really proud of?

This year was my most active as an artist. Between daily challenges, 5 new works, four regular weekly markets, commissions, and more holiday shows than I’ve ever done before. I’ve also continued to push my comfort zone with social interactions both professionally and personally. All of this allowed me to experience a better and closer camaraderie with other vendors, some of whom have become friends, which I wasn’t sure I wanted or would happen when I started doing this a few years ago. I’m discovering myself again through those friendships.

I also discovered some incredible, smart, brave, thoughtful, funny, beautiful human beings within my social circles, and I’m so grateful for them!

I also experienced financial hardship due to Hurrican Florence, like many other local vendors. It underlined the need to diversify more of my income to sources not based within the local economy.

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What mistakes did I make that taught me something? What lessons did I learn that I can leverage?

Since becoming a full-time artist, I’ve left some of the lessons of my ‘previous life’ behind, chalking them up to an overabundance of cynism, but as it turns out, even when not dealing with “secret squirrels”, there are people who are not honest up front and keep a hidden agenda. The lesson is one I learned a while back, but thought I didn’t need to heed any longer: trust, but verify. As it turns out, there are some ugly, self-serving people in this business, too. I will never not be disappointed when I discover people acting this way, out of ego, at the expense of something greater, for themselves as well as those around them.

Another lesson I learned is that I’m far too dependent on income that is subject to good weather. That means that it isn’t in my control, and that’s just silly. I must adjust things so that I generate more income from sources which have nothing to do with how nice the local weather is. Now that I know/understand this, I can pivot some of my focus on wholesale/online sales/licensing.

What am I willing to let go of?

I’m willing to let go of links with “toxic” or, at the very least, dishonest professional groups, even at the expense of acceptance to some events.

I’m willing to let go of more distractions and tangents to refocus on those things that move me closer to my goals and life I want to live. If that means paring down the scope of my business “empire” then so be it.

I’ve been willing to let for of toxic relationships (personal and professional), despite it being very hard sometimes, but I thought I should mention it here so that you know that when you read this, you also have permission to do the same. (Sometimes hearing that you have permission, even when I’m not an authority to give it in your life, is all you need to figure out that you are the one with that authority, and that you should ditch those relationships).

Spoiler: I got these from Marie Forleo years ago. Clever woman, that one.