Grayson Studios Blog

2009 Wins and What Inspired me this Year

For the last three years I have made a point of stopping to celebrate my accomplishments or wins for the year.  I got the idea from Alyson Stansfield who writes the Art Biz blog.  As Alyson points out

There will always be more to do--more than you have time for. Instead of thinking about what you still want to achieve, focus on acknowledging all you have done.

You can find the original posts about my wins for 2008 and my goals for 2009 here.  I have copied part of the post below with updates and a few hand claps for the year!

Goals for 2009

I did a little research on the number nine.  I learned that some believe that 9 holds the energy of attainment and completion and that with closure we are faced with renewal. We all know that there is no ending without a beginning.  As I mentioned on the UrbanWildflowerBlog here is to a renewed passion for art and creativity.

• Get out there and enter more shows!      DONE! I entered 4 juried exhibitions and got into 4 juried exhibitions!
• Complete the big blog and website move      DONE!  Thanks to my wonderful designer at VisualVoz I now have a new logo, new website and blog THAT I LOVE. I trust them for all of my graphic design needs. As a visual artist I felt like it would be criminal for me to have a raggedy web site.  Yes, I have some design skills. I also know when to step back and let the professionals take over LOL. In addition to websites they can also help you customize your blog.
• update my mailing list Kinda done.  I met many wonderful people who became collectors this year.  I still haven’t decided on a formall system to keep in touch with everyone.  This is on the top of my 2010 Goals.
• get new post cards made of my work  DONE!  You will start to see the post cards in January.
• meet more fun artists!   I did! I did!  Through workshops at the Atlanta Printmaker’s Studio, various openings I participated in and random conversations through the blog and Facebook (become a FAN!) I have met some wonderful folks.  I also joined PAQA-South and SAQA. I plan to become more active in both organizations in 2010.
• Draw everyday DONE! This was too easy.  To paraphrase brother James Brown — I just can’t hep myself .
• Continue to work on printmaking (this is the year of experimental screenprinting and monoprinting for me) In addition to monoprinting I became addicted to block printing.  I took a fun class from Jerushia Graham over at the Atlanta Printmakers Studio. Found some wonderful wood carving tools that I love (it’s Jerushia’s fault that I bought them!!) I didn’t do much screen printing.  Still have plans to do this.
• Continue to play with encaustic and in acrylics (though not necessarily in the same piece!!!) DONE! I did a lot more painting on my quilts and dolls this year.  Looking forward to doing more in the coming year. The hubster bought me several cakes of wax paint.  Guess what I am doing this weekend .

Okay, as for what inspired me this year:

• All of you with your wonderful comments, notes and visits to the blog, facebook and websites.  THANK YOU!  I am so grateful and humbled by your support.
• I have a wonderful circle of talented and creative friends. If I start naming people I will leave someone out.  You all know who you are. Big hugs and a fist bump!
• Art/Design/Book blogs that inspired me  this year: BrownGirl Speaks, Devourer of Books, Artists who Blog, Atelier, Apartment Therapy, Simply Robin and last but definitely not least, Seamless Skin.

Next post: Goals for 2010 and my color obsessions for the year! Peace and blessings for a BEAUTIFUL love-filled new year.  Deborah

This entry was posted on Thursday, December 31st, 2009 at 4:34 pm and is filed under Announcements, Art Quilts, Books, Quilting, UrbanWildFlowerDolls. The entry is tagged under Accomplishments and Goals. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.