congrats! that's a cool trajectory. it's often said in the arts that luck/just the right moment/opportunity plays a ton in careers.

Thanks for sharing these resources! I'm in the west now, so may find some good options. will start my combing! Time to get out there

thank you Rugose. I spent quite a bit in my early art life paying to enter. I've very little spare money now anyways, but it does seem tough to find opps. Looking and looking. beginning all over again far as connections etc.... long road ahead afraid. appreciate the encouragement though :)

🫂

yes the "fine art world" is fully of gross practices, filthy rich, laundering, etc etc. I'm aware...it's gross in many ways, but I've little to no other skills, don't want to be retail again, and a new degree/career is intimidating as hell (& $$$) so anyway, if you follow me on here, wish me luck :)

and yes, if one makes stuff b/c they want/need to, then they are technically an artist. However, I've decided to embrace the "ambition" of trying to "make it" (at least to some degree in that world.)

For many years, from art school until about pre-covid, I wanted to be an artist. A "professional" one, that was able to make some money from it, have shows, hopefully not starve my family. Never figured it out. too timid, embarrassed etc etc. I'm going to give it a shot, for real this time

Been living with and working with my small paintings and drawings recently, that have very little to do with my "illustrative" work. This 8x10 gouache on paper is from last year.

Fjord Dream Color Pencil on paper 8x10

morning drawing underway! working with color pencils this time :)

a morning drawing! ink on paper

drawing from this morning ink on paper

sometimes i like to pull my "other art" all out of its box and see it together. A growing world. the dialog between the pieces is nice for me to see. Hoping some day for a gallery to want to show them :)

2nd drawing today Fox Friend 8x10 graphite on paper

another piece on the drawing board! decided pencils sounded like fun :)

from the morning studio session - ink on paper

afternoon bump

hey thanks!!