Another "season" is pretty much drawing to a close, as we come into Christmas week and up to the New Year.
I am still painting a bit, mostly as a "diversion" while being busy with holiday preparations. There's actually something very comforting about that, as a sort of reminder that my original love for painting (and before that, drawing) mandalas was related to it being a meditative practice, as much as anything.
In truth, I never really thought of what I do as actual art, until my wife pointed out that it very much is.
When I look back towards the end of 2023, I actually did some of my best work for the year between Christmas and New Year's, perhaps because I didn't feel under any sort of pressure to "produce" for some kind of event or so.
It's also a good time of the year to be thinking about what I want to do — and do differently — in 2025. Hard to believe we are already a quarter-century into the new millennium!
Having completed an "inventory" of sorts — and sadly "losing" a few more items to theft during recent holiday events — I think I'm going to restructure my online stores a bit.
I will definitely continue using Amazon Handmade to continue "good items," just based on the broadness of exposure Amazon offers, regardless of whether or not I am in alignment with what I think about their general practices.
I'm going to put all my "current" and specialized items on Etsy, because they probably do have the best reputation for artisan made products, and they have made an effort this year to clean our resellers of "cheap crap from China."
eBay will be my "clearing house" where I will keep all the old and unsold, and somewhat dodgy experiments that didn't work. I can keep a presence there, without having to pay a monthly fee for an actual "store," and that works out pretty well.
The biggest challenge will the same as this year... somehow "training" myself and finding the discipline to constantly pound social media.
We are also going to look for some different show venues, likely "alternative health" fairs and New Age type stuff... and the UFO/Paranormal demographic remains one of our strongest.
Just thinking out loud, for the moment... more to come, as it comes to me!
I appreciate you coming to visit and please do leave a comment if you feel so inclined!
Thank You!
If you enjoy painted rocks, do check out The Hive Rocks Project and help spread the word about Hive, while also being creative!
Because I am trying to make some semblance of income — a part time living, even — I now add this footer to all my posts, in the hope that someone, somewhere, might decide to take a further look at my work, and perhaps consider supporting independent art.
Thank you, in advance, for your consideration and support!
My Alchemy Stones Patreon appeal
Alchemy Stones web site and blog
Regardless, your upvotes and comments are always appreciated!
Thank you for supporting independent art & creativity!
2024.12.22 AS-TXT-301/271