Wow. One month in the books already, and what a month it has been.
I can whole-heartedly say that this is the best decision I could have made for myself and for my family. In my first post (linked here), I alluded to the many, many, many frustrations that the last last six months brought, and how pushing through what felt like rock bottom gave me the courage and opportunity to claim my creative, and follow my dream. Fueled by Caribou Coffee (my favorite, seriously check it out), my mornings have been full of rebranding, digital design, blogging, marketing, trips to FedEx, and content strategy. I eat lunch with my husband-to-be, snuggle my cat, and then lock myself into my studio for the rest of the day, painting, sketching, packaging, and dreaming. As a "night owl" I paint, and paint, and paint to my heart's content, sometimes through dinner and sometimes into the wee hours.
Here are just a few of the accomplishments of month one, from creative to personal, I smiled every single day:
Successfully rolled out my rebrand
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Completed 9 commissions
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Booked 9 more
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Released the Vote 4 Women Pin Collection
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Relesased the ARTcuterie collection
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Began the work on my third annual Badass Ladies Calendar
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Was asked to be a guest artist for a high school art class
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Spent a long weekend in Connecticut, painting in front of Bear Mountain
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Spent another long weekend in New Hampshire, painting while overlooking Rattlesnake Island on Lake Winnepesaukee
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Got back on my bike (something I haven't done since postponing our wedding)
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Became a dog-aunt
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2020 Badass Lady, Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, reached out because she loved my work
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Learned how to make pasta from scratch
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Started this blog
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and have so many other fun things in the works that I can't wait to share.
I am absolutely still learning how to do this, and even more-so how to do this the way I hope to. I am incredibly privileged to be able to follow this dream, and while it will be challenging for us financially and every step is premeditated and planned for, I have privileges that still make this possible. While the uproar has quieted, I am still dedicating my time towards learning and bettering myself/my community to be a greater ally to all people, to be anti-racist, to be intersectional. I don't have the largest platform, but I am still committed to using it for this purpose, and amplifying others work alongside my own.
Here are a few educators, makers, books, etc. that I hope you take the time to look into, watch, and/or support if you're able:
Britt Hawthorne | Anti-Bias Educator
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Reyna Noriega | Digital Artist
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Natalie Hinds | Tapestry Maker
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Hair Love | Oscar-Winning Short Film by Matthew A. Chery
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Antiracist Baby | Children's Book by Ibram X. Kendi, illustrated by Ashley Lukashevsky
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Nice White Parents | Podcast
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House of GG | Miss Major Griffin-Gracy led Transgender Educational Retreat and Historical Center
Thanks for joining me on this adventure, I can't wait to see where we go! Cheers to month two!
