A Real Step

I've taken a lot of time off from my art business. Sure, I've done a bit here and there, but in truth I haven't been pouring myself into it. I have to be honest; I think I've been spinning in my own circle. I'd say I was chasing my own tail, but that would mean I was chasing something and that isn't true. Instead, what I've been doing is a lot of internal arguing with myself.

I have an art business. I have a photography business. I have opportunities to write (in addition to freelance, I've had the "I could write a book about this... or that... I should write a book" going on in my head for years.) I could do any of these things. I could be successful (most likely) at any of those things, with the right amount of effort and planning and dedication. Persistence.

But I cannot be successful at all of them. I'm not even sure I could be successful at more than one at the same time, much less three. The reality is that I have a lot of opportunity in front of me,  many choices. Sometimes choices are freeing, and exciting, and sometimes they're just too much. I made my career opportunities into too much to think about, and an overwhelming experience. Again, a choice - my own, but one I let bog me down out of fear.

It's taken a lot of talking with myself and others to start to figure this out. I'm not there all the way yet, either. What I do know is that it's time I face my fear and start doing something, rather than sitting and doing nothing with a whole lot of excuses. I've had people tell me their version of what is successful, or what they think must happen, and let that be my only vision of what could be - which I subsequently ran from because it wasn't who I am. However, I know very well that it doesn't have to be that way. In both art and business, there is ample room for creativity and success via new channels. One person's vision does not have to be someone else's. There is no road, only the path you make for yourself.

This whole art business is going to change. I have figured out that if I were suddenly wildly successful, bringing in money at any of the three choices I have, I would be most satisfied with my art because it's about more than selling something. Art is who I am, and I'm finally preparing myself to move forward. My time away was not a loss, as I have a much better understanding of who I want to be, and what I want my business to become without losing sight of who I am.

I'm letting some things go, embracing others, and preparing to take the risk. Big changes are ahead, and they're going to take a lot of work. I know deep down I can, and will make them happen.

Here goes something...

In The Details

As I said before, I've been spending a lot of time with my camera. My paint brushes have been rather shamefully ignored. The county fair that I participated in last year is actually right around the corner, and I realize that minus charity donations, I have spent very little time painting at all!

Part of the reason is that I desperately need to fix my website. But what was supposed to be an easy sort of "flip" of my site has turned into a massively daunting task. Of course, I know better... No matter how big a job, it all starts by taking tiny steps, until one day you're closer to the end than the beginning. I'm torn between using an actual designer (two of them, actually - each telling me they should do it) or going with something like Yola.com which seems to have all the little details I want (but I am told might make everything more complicated.)

Makes my head numb.

Still, I've used my overwhelmed ambivalence over my site to get in the way of most everything else. It was so much easier to focus on the photography. But running two businesses (paintings are still selling, and prints, even if I'm not actively working on them right now) is a lot more work than one would expect, even when I'm my own boss!

I've come to realize I'm a wee bit lost on the art front. Almost a year without any significant painting on my part is just... weird. The positive spin on all of this is that I have rekindled my desire to paint. As a matter of fact, I've been contemplating playing with a goal of a painting a day (probably five per week, as with a family and other obligations all seven days would be tough.) Doing this would get me back into gear, and actually produce a lot of affordable art if people were interested in picking up something quick.

I'm also looking at a new direction for my paintings as well, and there's no better way to find that direction than diving into something like trying to paint a painting a day!

I'm still toying with the Alice in Wonderland idea (I posted about it on my art Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kyra-Wilson-K-Wilson-Studio/86614894469) and I also recently discovered metallic wall paint in the local Home Depot store, which has me hunting for a place to do a wall mural in my Enchanted Forest series style. Normally, I charge for wall murals - but as this is one looking for a home from my mind (and me without a wall to do it on), I just want the wall volunteered. Anyone want a mural?

I'm also pulling out my watercolors. It has been a VERY long time since I pulled them out, my masking has completely gone on me. But, I'm teasing a bit with the idea of fairies, and I don't know if oil, acrylic, or watercolor would suit it best.

And that's where I'm at! Lots of details, very little action... but all of that is about to change!

Boo!

I realize it's been a while since I have posted. Far too long, really. The truth is that what energy I have had, I've spent putting towards Kyra Wilson Photography. I haven't had a lot of desire to paint. However, that is changing.

Lately, I've had a few intriguing ideas and I plan on exploring them. I sketched out one canvas, a representation of Gemini. This is really for a business where the imagery of women and hair swirling (because, let's face it - I do enjoy a hair swirling moment on canvas!) fits rather nicely. But once I sketched it out, I lost interest in it.

Instead, I've been dreaming of a sort of Alice in Wonderland theme. Not very Disney-like, and not quite like what was recently on the screen either (although it definitely leans in that direction.) So, I'm going to give a little painting a shot, and see how I feel about it. Normally I work big, but I think this one will be much heavier on the details, I'm also going back to my oils for a while. I work in acrylics solely for the reflective paints that are available, but my heart is in oil. So let's see where it takes us!

It could tip off a whole new painting jag, which I alternately look forward to and dread. It's good, because I produce a lot of work at once. It's bad, because I end up working 20 hours a day, for weeks on end, and get a bit frazzled... but it's time, I'm due!

Off to find my brushes...

Blah

It's been a while since I did any painting at all... really, since the fair. I have projects I need to get started on, but right now my heart really isn't in it. Instead, I'm investing lots of time into my photography (in between the insane bouts of life, including a flooded basement, refinancing the house and more. It's enough to make you pull all your hair out. Literally.)

Still, with Halloween around the corner, I have the urge to work on a couple silly projects. I think I want to paint a really nice Halloween painting. I haven't quite figured out the composition yet, but I love holiday stuff, and it's long past the point that I should indulge myself with it a bit!

So, look for that soon!