You know what?

I feel like I really kicked some butt in October! I made some paintings with which I am quite pleased and I was consistently productive. I branched out to some different types of scenes and I feel that they were successful and also good learning experiences. I made four rather large (for me) paintings, as well as three smaller ones. So, I am going to celebrate for a moment. {cue the champagne bottles popping… ha ha ha}

In all seriousness, putting yourself out there all the time is hard, it’s vulnerable, and it can be discouraging. My artistic career depends on sales, so I have to do it, whether I like it or not. When people cheer me on, it’s definitely a source of energy, and I’m really thankful for all who do. It truly means a lot more to me than you realize.

I left my hometown, changed my life, and began re-focusing on my art more fully three years ago as of the final days of October. As of the last day of October 2019, I completed my 275th painting since embarking on that adventure. I’d say that’s also cause for celebration!

October in the Phoenix area was mostly beautiful, with high temperatures in the 80’s and 70’s. I did some hiking at South Mountain, which is the nearest spot to where we live, as well as in the Phoenix Mountains that lie just north of here. Aaron and I toured the “Mystery Castle,” an interesting home constructed mostly of found and salvaged materials in the 1930s located in the foothills of South Mountain. Kalisha and I attended a Día de los Muertos festival in Mesa, an event packed with color, art, people, music, and good food.

I also hung my art exhibition at Industrious Tempe, which opened on October 21. My art will remain on their walls for the next several months, and I was really pleased with how the display turned out. They have a beautiful space themed around the desert landscape and colors, and I think my art was a nice complement to it.

I’ll close with a couple of shameless plugs. My 2020 calendar pre-sale will close on November 3, and I don’t intend to order any extra to have on hand. So, if you would like one, please get your order in today! I also added some new designs to my Redbubble profile, and you can order my art on items such as t-shirts, pillows, notebooks, coasters, phone cases, mugs, tote bags, pouches, clocks, prints, and more! If you don't see an artwork of mine on the site that you would like to purchase in this manner, please let me know and I can easily add it. Thanks for considering supporting me - a real, live, actual human being - when you shop!

Shop for art on my website now ›

Shop for art on my website now ›