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Art

The Studio Project

January 8, 2014

Last week I mentioned that I wanted to start painting again. The first 6 months of last year, I was working on commissions and selling paintings and prints out of my Etsy shop almost daily and it was everything I imagined myself doing while I studied art in college. More, even. I had my own studio--an entire room dedicated to art! Most days, Greta worked beside me and while she has kept up her own recreational painting/coloring, etc., life hit us hard in July of last year and when I packed up my studio with the rest of our house that month, I also put the Etsy shop in "vacation mode" indefinitely.

Life hasn't really slowed down and I don't suspect it will with us welcoming a new baby in just a few months, but I realized as we were talking about our goals for this year--I really wanted to start painting again. It relaxes me. It's my "me" time. Even when Greta is right next to me. Even when she is on my lap while I'm painting (!!), it is my me time. Chris cooks. I paint.

With that said, I am not at a point where I can pump out the paintings, but I've made it a goal to produce one painting a week. Every Friday, that one (or occasionally more than one if I work on smaller canvases that week) will be posted here and available to purchase in the Etsy shop. The premium canvases are ordered and I am setting up a desk...somewhere. This decision did come with one caveat--I wouldn't be selling chalkboard or other prints anymore. I want to focus my "spare" time, that me time that I've been craving on paintings. Maybe exploring different styles over the year.

I'm selling the last 15 prints I have in stock at 40% off. I just re-activated the Etsy shop, so head over there and enter code MAKEWAY to snatch the last of the prints. Next Friday, the first painting will be up!

Are there any hobbies you are getting back into this year or want to? I feel just so, so excited about this new project and can't wait to share with you progress on a weekly basis.

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  1. This is really very good. Proud of you girl. Very happy you'll be back to doing what you love though :) it's nice to return to the activities that give us flow. I was such a fun of your art studio---beautiful!. I love it when people resolve to do something fun or relaxing in the new year.

    Regards,
    Diaper Bags

  2. Ooh, I can't wait to watch your art evolve! I get this way too, with photography. I'll present an idea for a photo project with Scott, then I'll get all giddy again like I was in college - hardly being able to sleep at night because I was SO excited to wake up and go to the dark room.

  3. Way to go!

    My husband and I are both writers and work from home with our little girl. There are days when I dream of building a creative studio on our land- just a little room for me with space for our daughter.

    For now that studio is the drawer in a dresser that our daughter has yet to figure out how to open (it's only a matter of time...). For now, too, I cherish my portable studio (aka a bag with supplies) that I take with me out of the house. There's something about stepping away for a bit, out of the space, that helps me reconnect to my incredibly independent self that can get lost in the midst of cloth diapers, screenplays, dutch ovens, and the people I love.

  4. Good for you for getting back into something you love! This year, we want to get more into furniture building and we're also venturing into the land of designing invitations for special occasions.

    Just grabbed one of the etsy prints that I know my husband will love (and I love, too!). Can't wait to surprise him with it :)

  5. I'm so happy for you that you've decided to make time for your painting, once again. I'm sure it will be even more important once Baby #2 arrives to have that "me time". Looking forward to seeing your future paintings!

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