So I'm halfway through the year and find myself needing to make some changes to the way I work. Firstly, I've decided my Patreon just isn't sustainable enough and I'm putting in far too many hours for the amount I'm getting out of it, so with reluctance I'm in the process of ending my Patreon page, not to say I won't restart it, but I've other things I want to put those hours into. 

For the last couple of years I've been working primarily in watercolours but have got to a point where I'm finding limitations to it for the way that I work. So over the next few months I've going to be exploring working in mixed media, acrylics and pencil/pastels, to see which I can achieve the best results using, for the particular type of wildlife art I like to do. I'm particularly looking forward to exploring adding backgrounds to my subjects and creating depth and form using layering and tone. 

The other thing I'm going to be exploring is working on a larger scale. I'm going to be working more often at A3 and A2 size and occasionally A1. This obviously has it's challenges as pieces take will far longer, there's more chance of making mistakes along the way and it'll be more costly, as it'll take more resouces to create. 

I'm still intending on painting in watercolours though as I want to maintain the skills I've developed in this area.

Once produced I'll be reassessing how I promote and sell my work. So a lot of work to do in the coming year but I'm looking forward to some new challenges.

I intend to go back to trying to do a couple of You Tube videos each month, but will but haven' t yet worked out what I want to post going forward.

So watch this space as new work will be coming out over the next few months!

Well it's another year. Hope you all had a great holiday/break. The last month or so have been very busy for me.

I've just started a Patreon page/channel, which has been a big learning curve. Setting it up, finding out how it works and getting videos ready to put on it. But I got there in time and lauched on 1st January. 

I hope on Patreon to be able to build a community for anyone who has a love of wildlife painting, and would like to learn how to paint realistic and detailed paintings, in a supportive and encouraging environment. I do real time, full length videos on this platform.

I'm also continuing to do my You Tube videos. Those as previously these are speeded up videos. So the two combined are taking up a lot of my time.

I've also got a range of paintings and graphite drawings that I want to get done, which aren't part of the above, so it's trying to find time to do it all without burning myself out.

I did get a range of lovely art products for my Christmas and Birthday presents which I'm looking forward to try out. I've got a new watercolour paint set, thought I'm unfamiliar with the make (Rosa professional watercolours - a Ukrainian make) so I'll be swatching them out, perhaps as an extra video. I also got some waterbased oil paints that I'm hoping I can get along with, as I'd like to do some canvas painting.

The other main thing I was given was a sublimation printer, so I can print my artwork on blanks such as coasters, tote backs, mugs, etc. SO once I find the time to figure out how it works, I'll be adding to my range of products. 

The other art based stuff was mainly for my video creating (a new mic to try, some new lighting and camera stands, a light box to replace my broken one and a few other bits and bobs).

It's a good time to be trying new things out as the art/crafts group I sell with don't start their season until the end of March, so I have time to get myself organised.

I also have some new paintings I need to get mocked up to put on my shop here and that I will  alsobe selling in the coming new season with the art group.

On a personal note, I had a lovely Christmas break, though the last week was spent fixing the ceiling in one of the bedrooms, as I accidently put my foot through it when getting some stuff down from the loft. I don't think my husband's going to let me forget that one in a hurry!

I don't do New Year's resolutions but I do set myself aims for the coming year. Most of which are around getting my Patreon page established and promoting it to gain new members. So part of that will be trying to get more active on Social Media (Instagram, Facebook and You Tube community page). Which isn't one of my strengths as in the past I've got quickly bored of posting on these site. But I'm going to set myself a three month target of persistantly posting to see if it's worth the effort. 

My other aim is to find new places to sell my work in around the local area. So I'll be looking at and approaching places that I think might be suitable.

Well I think that's all, I'll let you know how I'm getting on with it all in my next blog! 

Bye for now, Carol