October 21, 2024
Good evening everyone! It’s been a while since I’ve last written my Studio Notes. It’s been a crazy summer, full of traveling, sketchbooking, and lots of new opportunities. I know I usually send these out of Sunday mornings, but this one took a bit longer, and I didn’t want to wait until next Sunday to send it out.
I’ll start out these notes with talking a bit about what’s been going on these last few months I’ve been gone. Then, I’ll explain this idea that I’ve been loving in regards to art and life: obsessing over quality. (This phrase comes from Slow Productivity by Cal Newport.) Next, I’ll talk about what I’m working on moving forwards! And finally, as always, what I’ve been listening to and reading in the studio.
So settle in, maybe grab a cup of tea, and let’s get into it!
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I was in Southeast Alaska for the months of July and August! I was staying in our off-the-grid cabin on Colt Island, and it was incredible. I was not working on whale-watching boats this year, instead just spending time with my family, friends, and trying to fit in some sketchbook time.
It was such an amazing summer, and just the break I needed to jump back into my creativity.
A couple weeks after returning from Alaska, I set out on another adventure: all the way over to Croatia! This was such a trip of a lifetime. I spent a week traveling with 15 other artists and learning from one of my favorite artists and biggest inspirations: Jess Karp. It was honestly surreal, and thinking back on it I can’t believe it really happened. I made some true friendships with people from all over the world. Not to mention, returning to Europe again! I cannot wait to go back.
Our focus was on sketchbooks and plein air painting. I gathered so much inspiration and knowledge from this trip, and I feel like I’m still riding off the creativity high we were all on!
We were in such a beautiful country. I shared some photos and videos over on my Instagram profile if you want to go check that out!
A couple weeks after flying home from Croatia, I had my first ever art market!!! This just happened a couple days ago, and it was such an incredible experience. I got to meet and talk with so many amazing people and artists.
It was a strange and incredible thing to see people I didn’t know walk up, look at my art, and connect with it. And even buy it. I’ve never experienced that before in person, and it was the most magical experience.
I learned so much about what worked, and what didn’t. What I’m going to focus on, and what I can let go of in future markets. Because if one thing’s for certain, it’s that I’m going to do more of these!
I’ve been reading Slow Productivity by Cal Newport this last week, and I did not expect the impact it would have on how I view my work (and even my life). He outlines three major ideas in this book, and the one that’s hit me the hardest is his final one: obsess over quality.
There’s this pressure as an artist these days, heavily influenced by social media and “content creation”, that artists need to produce a lot of work, and post a lot about it. But this idea challenges that. It takes the focus off the results, and into the work and the process itself. Obsessing over quality means not only creating the best work you can, but cultivating what that means to you. Adapting your tastes, expanding your idea of what you want your work to be and why. When you focus on your work and your process, putting your effort into it, paying attention to the details, and slowing down and taking your time: that’s when you start to make your masterpieces. Not whipping out pieces that you think will get a lot of likes on Instagram.
I’m incorporating this idea not only in my creative work, but in the way I live my life, the things I surround myself with, and how I go about my days.
To read authentic, meaningful words. To eat real, delicious food out of handmade, beautiful dishes. To drink fresh, delicious coffee every morning out of my favorite mug. To listen to music that feeds the soul. To hang art on my walls that mean something to me, not just “looks good”. To love my animals with unconditional love, and give them the best lives I can. To travel to incredible places and be fully present when doing so. To fill my wardrobe with clothes I love wearing and will last a long time. To surround myself with people I love, and that I love myself when I’m around them.
Something about this idea just sings to my soul and makes me so excited about life. So yes, these days, I’m obsessing over quality. In my creative work, and in all other areas of my life.
I highly recommend reading Slow Productivity.
I am so excited to say that I’ve been accepted into another 33 Artists Market! This one is on Saturday November 16 at The Women’s Club in Spokane, WA. I have learned so much from this last one, and I can’t wait to improve my booth design and hopefully create some new work to showcase.
I’ve also applied to another market, this one a little further away from home. I hear back this week if I’m in or not, so I will keep you all updated!
Now, in regards to my work: I am ready to develop a balance between my bigger paintings and my sketchbook practice. After Croatia and all that entailed, I am so happy to say that I’ve fallen in love with my sketchbook practice again. I’m working on cultivating a habit of a daily (or almost daily, at least) sketchbook practice. There are so many benefits to working in a sketchbook, and I’ve been missing them without even realizing it these last couple of years. When I started my art practice, I mainly used sketchbooks, so in many ways this feels like returning to my roots.
So, all in all, I’m working on cultivating new work for upcoming market(s), developing my sketchbook practice, and getting back in the studio after lots of travels. I have to say, it feels so good to be back home and into a more normal routine.
Alright, here’s what I’m enjoying recently in the studio! I’m not sure if anyone’s interested, but if anything, it’ll be fun for me to look back on it the future.
Beautifully Broken - an album by Jelly Roll
American Son - an album by Colby Acuff
The Otherside - an album by Cam
Slow Productivity by Cal Newport
The Creative Act: A Way of Being - I am rereading this already, this time with a new artist friend I made in Croatia (hi Claudia!!)
Wow, that was a lot. If you’ve read all the way to the end, thank you so much! I’ve missed writing these so much. It feels great to come back to this.
If you have any thoughts on what I’ve said in here, please reach out to me! I’d love to discuss anything and everything regarding the creative process.
Thanks for reading, and I hope you have a creative, wonderful rest of your week!
-Anna
