End of February Check-in
And with that, we’re at the end of the shortest month! A lot has happened in the last 2 weeks and I’m excited to share my updates. The big update is that I moved into my first studio space outside of my apartment over the weekend! I’m subletting a corner of a larger studio space that is part of a group of studio spaces called Alameda Artworks in San Jose. I’m really excited to be a part of this artist community. I’ve been going into the studio the past few days and the other artists who have come in have been very welcoming. In addition to being my new workspace for my oil painting, I hope to use my studio as a place where people can come and visit me to see my paintings and what I’m working on. So if you’re in the Bay Area, send me a message so I can invite you into the studio to check it out!
What I’m working on:
I keep going back and forth on whether the 30”x40” seashell painting is actually done. I keep touching up parts of it. The 24”x18” seashell painting is in a similar stage; it’s almost done but I want to add in some finer details.
As I wait for parts of my seashell paintings to dry, I am going to work on my smaller flower paintings. I think I’m getting tired of seeing this painting not finished, so it’s time to work on it again. I’m reading my last blog post and I’m laughing at myself when I talk about trying to focus on fewer things at a time. I think this will always be something I work on.
I have done all 11 days of the “100 day project” since the start of the challenge on February 18th. I’ve been painting small watercolor paintings. It’s been a really fun opportunity for me to get back into watercolor painting and painting in a carefree way without expectations of the outcome.
Not directly related to painting, but I’m continuing to work on a lot of applications and art calls. I have been doing some grant writing for myself as well as applying to a number of art calls. I think I have three or four deadlines coming up, so that’s something else I have been trying to prioritize.
Outings:
This past weekend, I went on a gallery tour with a few artist friends to check out exhibitions at a number of gallery spaces in SF. I think it was a great way to talk about art with my artist friends as well as see the different types of gallery spaces in the city. I feel like I also got a lot of ideas from the different exhibits I saw, so it was an inspiring and motivating trip.
This weekend, I will be taking that trip to Point Reyes that I wasn’t able to do a few weekends ago. I’m looking forward to spending some time resting and recharging. I’m hoping to wrap up a number of things in the studio before I go so I won’t be thinking too much about the work I want to do.
I think that’s it for this update. I’m about to head to my new studio to go paint for a while. It’s kind of crazy to think that I have my own studio space a year and half after pursuing art full-time. It’s an exciting time!
