'Focus' 8"x12" art journal page © 2010 Klair Scattergood

The page above was created using one of the Twisted Sketches. I was going to apply for the design team, but that would have been going against my word for the year! I decided to use it for inspiration instead.

Focus

Last year my word was ‘Start‘. And I did. I intended to begin selling my art as a sideline to my main teaching career, adding art journaling courses this year, but the plan was not to be. By the end of February my teaching role was made redundant and I ended up working a short contract as a consulting artist for a local charity. At that point I thought I might as well set up my business and start selling art part time since I was only working 3 days a wekk. By July I’d moved to 9 hours a week and been invited by Willowing to teach an art journaling course while she was on maternity leave, and the offers have been rolling in ever since.

What I have found, though, is that there was a little too much ‘starting’ all at once. This year I want to focus more. I’ve already been invited to teach  two art journaling workshops and I intend to work more on Rosie and Marmalade. I have other things in the works that I want to concentrate my efforts on as well, so it’s time to cut out all the extras that aren’t going anywhere and focus on the important things, the ones that are working. Afterall, we live in the real world and in the real world there are real bills and real rent to be paid and we don’t have the luxury of sitting around ‘being creative’ on a whim. This ties in with my affiormations idea of continuing to do more of what I’m doing right.

Other things need to change this year and one of those is getting a proper schedule together. Nothing too strict, but a little more planning each week wouldn’t go amiss. Anam gave me both of Ricë’s books for Christmas, so I’ve been working through them to see where I can make changes that won’t feel restrictive. Technically I’m still on holiday until 11th January although I do have a few arty bits and bobs I need to work on and it’s given me time to think and relax. It’s the first block of time I’ve had off since last Christmas and it was much needed. I’m beginning to feel like I’ve cleared my head a little bit, which is the whole point of a holiday, isn’t it?