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Gosh, where does the time go? I feel like I was just writing my 2022 year in review. If you look back, you'll see I never completed my 2023 report (oops!). It's tough running a small business and I'm here to say it's not for the faint of heart. This year I saw tremendous growth in my business: in wholesale, in-person shows, my email list, and in my online shop. I had a LOT of new products that debuted and were well-received, and you guys blew my mind in your support! Here is a detailed report of the past year:
January - Started off with a NYE trip to Dunes Village in Myrtle Beach. The boys love the indoor water slides! We also went to a Pirate-themed dinner theater, Night of a Thousand Candles at Brookgreen Gardens.
We wrapped up a home renovation that had been going on since September. Look out for another blog post about the renovation coming soon!
In late January, Mom and I took a trip to Beaufort, SC, to mourn a friend and fellow artist who lost her battle with cancer. Also this month, I worked on a large acrylic house portrait commission that, I admit, really hit the mark! This month I also hired a part-time assistant who helped me "up my game" in marketing online. I also chatted with an art business coach about my career and she was super fun and helpful!
A house portrait for a color-loving family!
February - I did my first Instagram giveaway with some other local artists. And I started experimenting with acrylic blocks with the company who I would go on to make my ornaments. Also this month, our family traveled to Raleigh to visit my college friend, and we found an injured quail in our yard and brought him to Skywatch Bird Rescue (where "Lightning" still resides today).
March - I had a show open at the Burgwin-Wright House downtown. Part of the Fourth Friday Art Walk, the solo show took a LOT of planning and preparation. It was a BIG turnout Opening Night and this helped encourage me to keep going. I also had my artwork used on a wedding invitation for the first time. And I helped repair a mural at my children's school.
April - The boys and I hosted a lemonade stand during the Azalea Festival. We toured the USS-NC Battleship. My BWHM show continued this whole month, so that gave me time to finish up a few house portraits and relax a bit. I went to Durham to visit with my college friends for a couple days, the boys had a joint Crossfire birthday bash, and we watched a nest of cardinals hatch and leave the nest. I took down my art show and boxed it up in the garage awaiting my next show in July! At the end of this month, Livingston and I got away for a few days in Bluffton, SC, at one of my favorite places--Montage Palmetto Bluff. A treasure trove of painting inspiration!
May - In early May, we went to Great Wolf Lodge for the first time. Our boys said it rivaled Disney and they can't wait to go back. Also this month, we took them to Camp Seagull for family camp and decided we had the BEST weekend as a family. Already signed up for 2025! I was working this month to restock my art since I had another show coming up in July at the WHQR gallery with Maya Murano.
June - This month was mostly filled with shuttling kids to camps, picking up paintings from the frame shop, and painting house portraits. I also developed my first Christmas ornament collection for Bald Head Island this month, releasing those in July. I had a collection release online with the Studio Collective this month, my first online show!
July - We headed to the TN mountains for a trip to see family. We took the boys to a cave for the first time, swam in the chilly river, and did some hiking together. My art opening at the MC Erny Gallery was in the middle of the month and lasted 2 months! At the end of July, we did an epic road trip to Ohio, Niagara Falls, and Toronto Canada! The boys are still talking about how cool that was.
August - I developed the Wrightsville Beach Christmas ornament collection this month. I began to take pre-orders for them in October. My offerings for the holidays began to take shape. School started back and so did the kids' afterschool activities: sports, tutoring, & music.
September - We spent a long weekend at Bald Head Island with friends. We went on a Church retreat that I had organized. Maya and I wrapped up the show at WHQR.
October - We went to a UNC football game, hiked in Carolina Beach State Park, went on a tour of homes at Wrightsville Beach, attended Boo in the Boondocks, and lots of WP Optimist baseball games. I had my second online show: this time with the Scouted Studio!
November- We did a weekend away in Atlantic Beach at a fun resort with an indoor pool. We toured Fort Macon and ate at the Sanitary restaurant. Livingston and I celebrated our 16 year anniversary. I had a Holiday Open House at my home and enjoyed connecting to collectors, friends, and neighbors at this annual event. My Holiday house portraits were in full-swing and ornaments were flying out the door faster than I could stock them. The boys discovered mountain biking, and now Blue Clay trails are on our activity list when there is a nice sunny day. During the day I was doing commissions and, in the evenings, I was shipping out orders.
December- We attended a show at the Wilson Center, did Enchanted Airlie Gardens, and the Bellamy Mansion Holiday Open House. I had two more holiday shows: one at Bald Head Island and one at Landfall Country Club. We headed to NY to see Liv's family for Christmas. We had a snow-filled chilly adventure that they loved.
Phew! When I look back at everything I did this year it becomes apparent why I'm so tired! I hope that this review helped provide a glimpse into my world and what goes into making the art that I create. Best wishes for a healthy, happy, and art-filled 2025!
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