Thursday, December 31, 2020

2020: A dumpster fire for society, but it wasn't all bad...

I was watching a YouTube video the other day, made by a comedian, about making plans in 2020. It was actually a series of 4, and I sat down and watched all 4, because holy crap, a lot has happened. So much that I'd actually forgotten some of it. 

When all around you, people are sick and dying, hospitals are overloaded, friends losing their jobs, need for food banks and homeless shelters at record levels, we can't visit with our friends and family, and yet government officials ignore travel directives because the rules apparently don't apply to them, it's easy to feel like this shit-show of a year is best forgotten. But some good will come of this, of that I'm certain.

As an artist, one positive thing I've noticed is that people are starting to realize that it's artists that make all the good stuff we were able to enjoy while being stuck in our homes. Writers, film makers, musicians, actors all have taken new prominence in our lives. What would we do without books, TV and music? And because they are in the spotlight, their financial situation is getting a bit more attention (if you haven't read about the dismal situation for musicians now that streaming is our main form of music consumption, you really should, because once they can't afford to be musicians anymore, there will be considerably less to choose from). 

For many visual artists, this has been a decent year. I think with people being stuck home, they are looking for something they have a bit more of a connection with than a generic, mass produced print. Most of the artists I know have sold enough to stay afloat, even with galleries having to be closed. I've done quite a few large commission pieces this year, which is a totally new thing for me. It's been fun being able to work in a large format without being concerned about where I'm going to put it when I'm finished. I have also sold a couple older, larger pieces (not commissions), so I have a couple empty spots on my walls, giving me space to do more. Yay! I've spent the last few years pretty fixated on smaller works, mainly because they are easier and cheaper to ship.... but maybe that is something I should rethink. If someone is purchasing a large painting online, they understand shipping is a part of that purchase. It's just part of our lives these days. 

I'm hoping with the vaccine now being administered, there is hope that 2021 will look a bit brighter. It may be a year until enough people have had the shot that we can resume world-wide travel and other, riskier situations, but what is a year when measured against people's lives? In my own region we have already started to vaccinate health-care workers, so at least we won't have to worry about having staffing shortages in hospitals and long-term care homes due to illness. I look forward to being able to resume showing my work and talking to art-lovers face-to-face. 

Until then, I'm doing video calls with people interested in have a peek in my studio, and seeing what work I have available. If you're interested in setting up a time, just shoot me an email or message me on social. I've also created a downloadable 2021 calendar, so you can print your own copy and have something nice to look at all year.  

Happy 2021 to you all. Talk soon.  🙂