Happy 2024!

bewbob

3 years ago

Happy New Year!!!

I hope you have all had a fabulous festive break and are feeling fit, healthy and positive about 2024. Our Christmas break was somewhat subdued. I tested positive for COVID on the Saturday before Christmas, so that scuppered our plans to see family and friends. To top it off my husband then caught the virus and was positive for New Year’s Eve. The whole break was a bit of wash out but on a positive note it did give me some focused time to start my new year planning and also enforced some rest and recuperation. Instead of entertaining and eating out we lounged around on the sofa and watched lots of TV and films and generally had a relaxing break.

Closing Down 2023

When you’re feeling a bit icky it’s easy to just focus on the negative I started my review of 2023 and my first thoughts were that it wasn’t the best year I have damaged my knee,Christmas was cancelled and in the latter half of the year I’ve painted less. But looking at the Top Nine of other artists got me thinking. I decided to post my top nine. The first was based on the algorithm and what people have liked the most.

The second are my favourites for the year.

I also created a new reel which you can watch on my Instagram feed. I added a few photos of holidays and trips as well as paintings. Having completed this my mindset changed completely.

Successes of 2023

In 2023 my work was exhibited in five galleries/exhibitions

Gallagher and Turner’s In Our Elements, Encounters with the Coast
Nadia Waterfield Fine Art Hampshire Autumn Art Fair
Tarpey Gallery’s Open 23
Newcastle Arts Centre’s, Northern Summer Exhibition
Outspoken Art’s The Big Art Show

Resolutions or Intentions

I’m not one for new year’s resolutions, mainly because I have zero will power so end up beating myself up when I fail midway through January. They always seem to result in really negative thoughts an what needs to change. Resolutions tend to be very rigid so you either succeed or fail. There is no wiggle room So instead of resolutions I have set myself an intention which will hopefully give me that sense of commitment but in a more motivational and positive way.

For the past few years I have been living between places When home the next trip into the office was always on the horizon. The ever present suitcase in the corner of the bedroom was a visual reminder that in a few days I’d be back on a train, living in a hotel box room. When at work I would be counting down the days until I returned home so I never felt fully present. My rain was always focused on what would be happening the following week.

For 2024 my intention is to “Be Present”!

Present in my art, present with my family and friends and present with myself. Let me know if you have any interesting resolutions or intentions

Staying the Course

And just to make sure that I don’t slip into bad habits I have started to leave myself little notes.

On my annual wall planner – this will replace the usual corporate planning cycle that kicks off at this time of year.

In my new pith sketchbook, bought especially for Insight Creative’s 30day sketchbook challenge. This starts on 15th January and if you love sketchbooking then I’d thoroughly recommend it!