Welcoming in the New Year

Happy New Year everyone!!

I hope you all had a very happy and safe holiday, and I hope you're feeling as excited as I am about the coming year. I think it's the number 7 that has something to do with why I am so pumped up. It's my favorite number. I was born in '77, each of my names has seven letters (Jessica Chandra Torrant - not intentional, BTW), I was married on the 17th of June (couldn't wait for 7/7/o7 but I did reserve that space in the Artwanted.com calendar for my painting! There are some still available at www.artwanted.com) and I am constantly seeing the number appear everywhere when I need a sign. I know it sounds crazy, but it happens all the time. When I see 7, I know the universe is trying to tell me something. Also, I am a huge Prince fan and he understands the power of 7.... (wink wink Cynthia)...

I think this is going to be a good year for all of us self representing artists out there, trying to "make it" all on our own. One by one we came to the conclusion we HAD to do this, and the market found a place for us, just as much as we carved one out for ourselves. Etsy has been the golden answer, and I feel like as the last bugs of v2 get worked out, this site is going to take off even bigger than it already is.

So, as you know, I took a little break from blogging, and really from all business for about three weeks around the holidays. I had to transform our little house from a workshop to an accomodating and welcoming home for guests, and shopping/making presents, all of which I enjoyed. The time with family and friends was priceless, and is always the heart of what's important. I got to spend the weekend before Christmas as well as the weekend of New Years with my best friend, and when the two of us get together, the inspirational/creative/dream-the-biggest-dream tangents get going good. I am left with visions of living in lakehouses next door to one another, driving cross country in a van, and painting our way across Europe. I have been pushing the idea of Etsy on her as a side project, because she does have a full time job, but I know that her paintings would take the world by storm! So me lady, if you're reading this, I've called you out in public! Ha ha!

NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

ETSY: Speaking of Etsy..... one of my items was on the front page today!!!!! Check it out www.etsy.com - my username is livefunky and the listing says "FREE SHIPPING..." - it's a black and white drawing. I was so pleased to discover this and I feel like it's a good omen for what's to come! My thanks go out themusesjewels for including me in her Treasury. Her shop is at www.themusesjewels.etsy.com

MYSPACE: I've opened a MySpace account for my art. www.myspace.com/livefunky

CREATIVE CONNECTIONS: I've created a new blog for artists called Creative Connections at www.ourcreativeconnections.blogspot.com . I created this for artists at any level that have questions about making, marketing, and selling art. This all came about because I've had artists at varying levels contact me with questions and I am always happy to help. In fact, I usually get so into it that I write reply emails a mile long. I decided a blog would be an interesting way to share all of the various answers to questions I've been asked before, as well as generally speaking on the process of being an artist today. I would like fellow artists to participate by sharing their comments, and experiences, and I welcome artists to contribute their own articles which I will publish on the blog along with links to your sites. Ideally this will be a resource for artists that will cover every issue under the sun.


Ahhhh, it's been a long day, my first real hardcore day "back to work", and there's much more to do tomorrow. Time for bed. Sweet dreams. :)