2012 Rocked

Happy New Year!  As usual, 2012 had it's ups and downs, but overall it was amazing and for my art business, 2012 kicked ass.  My business has grown so much since 2011.  I thought I would share my professional accomplishments for 2012 so you can also revel in the gloriousness.

2012 Art Accomplishments:

• Solo Exhibit "I Cut Paper" at Studio b. in Alys Beach
• Solo Art Showing at private residence
• Participated in the following exhibits: 

1. "Heather, Heather, Heather" (3 woman show) at CityArts, Panama City, FL
2. "Clothing Optional" (4 woman show) at CityArts, Panama City, FL
3. "Top of the Class" Juried Exhibit at Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County, FL
4. "Dia de los Muertos" Chimmaya Art Gallery in Los Angeles, California
5. "Fizz" at A&M Theater, Panama City, FL
6. "New Beginnings" Panama City Artist Exhibit at Bay County Library, Panama City, FL
7. "7th Annual Half Off Sale" at CityArts, Panama City, FL

• First time showing in Los Angeles, CA, sold one piece in LA
• Created most expensive portrait commission to date
• Sold most expensive painting to date
• Finished art studio (insulation, walls, floors, shelves, paint, etc.)
• Taught Panama City Artists Workshop with 15 students
• Went to Italy and Austria - gained inspiration from amazing art
• 259 Facebook fans (99 as of 2011, 162% increase)
• 118 Twitter followers (27 as of 2011, - 337% increase)
• Created an art bra as donation for Battle of the Bras for breast cancer
• Won $250 Merit Award at 'Top of the Class' Juried art exhibit for "Ecocide VI" paper cut
• Had my art featured on 'Discover Paper' blog
• Became a member of the Guild of American Papercutters
• Licensed an image of my art for a music album cover and merchandise for the band "HoneyLark"
• Created a paper cut for an upcoming album by "The Silent Few"
• Sold 47 pieces of art (39 pieces of my art, 8 commissions)
• Created 48+ paper cuts
• Taught Figure Drawing Classes, Kids Art Classes, Guided Open Studio Classes, and Private Lessons
• Guest speaker at River Readings at Gulf Coast State College
• Increased profits from 2011 by 70%

2011 Income

Art Sold                                             46%

(Commissions 39%, My art 11%)

Classes                                            39%

Graphic Design                                11%

Other                                                  4%

2012 Income

Art Sold                                             70%

(Commissions 38%, My art 32%)

Classes                                             26%

Other                                                   4%

I'm lovin' the 2012 percentages!  My goal was to make the vast majority of my money from art, instead of classes or graphic design, and I did that by a lot!  I've sold more of my art this year than any other year!

Of course, I couldn't have done it all without YOU.  Yes, you!  You have either bought my art, shared it with others, come to my art events, or simply added to the number of blog visitors, which is always encouraging.  So a big THANK YOU to you, for helping me fulfill my passion for art in my every-day life.  Because of people like you, I can make a living doing what I love.

Inspiration Source #10: SNOW.  Recently, I went with my husband, my step-daughter, and my dog, Charlie, to my parents' house in Northern Virginia.  My step-daughter, Madeline, got the most special treat of all: she saw her first snow ever on her 9th birthday!  Best birthday gift ever.  I also enjoyed the snow, thoroughly, it's always so beautiful how the entire landscape is so quickly transformed, appealing differently to all the senses.

Waterford, VA.  Cows, before the snow.

View from my parents' house in Waterford, VA.

Madeline, shortly after stepping outside to see her first snow ever!

First snowman ever!

First snow angel ever!

Charlie LOVES having so much space to run!

Madeline in the snow again!

Happy 2013!

-Heather

Oooh Pretty New Camera

For the winter holidays this year I got a very big present: a new camera.  A Nikon D3100 to be precise.  A big thank-you to my parents for this much needed and also very fun gift!

Somehow I got through the craziness that was last week.  It went straight from over-worked stress to non-stop celebrations!  December 24th was Madeline's (my step-daughter) birthday, complete with cake, presents, and a dance party!  The next day was spent in Wewahitchka with Mat's (my boyfriend/ life-partner/ I need a better name for this) parents.  My favorite moment was when Betsy (Madeline's Grandmother) opened the present I got her.  I made her a drawing of Madeline:

Then Sunday I flew out first thing to see my parents in Virginia.  Luckily, some of my other family was able to stay until Sunday to see me for a few hours.  I was very grateful and happy to see everyone!

Once I got my new camera I played around with it plenty.  Here are some shots of around my parents' house.

Here is one of the portraits I was commissioned to do that I finished last week:

And as if I haven't already posted enough images, here are a few sketches from last week's figure drawing class:

gestures- 1 or 2 minutes

I suppose that's enough for now.  Happy New Year everyone!

In Virginia in Memory...

My grandmother passed Tuesday night.  She was 96, almost 97.  She was really an inspirational woman in her warmth, humor and kindness.  She really almost always had a smile on her face.  While she will be greatly missed, it was her time, that she and her family both accepted.

I flew up to Virginia yesterday morning for her funeral which is today.  While I was here I decided to draw her portrait to give to my father.

Here it is:

On another note, here are a couple drawings from earlier this week.  They are in 4"x6" box frames: