You Can Do Hard Things
Good Progress Good Progress Good Progress
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Check me out at Do Division May 29th!
This week, I ran around the City of Chicago to small businesses to share my portrait drawing services.
I left the house (after doing my makeup for about 3 hours) with a stack of these cutesy cards I made myself
and decided I wouldn’t go home until I had no cards left. I was pleasantly surprised by how many individuals appreciated my card! I would’ve enjoyed graphic design.
GETTING THE REPS IN
I got rejected for another residency today, which hurt, but did not hurt as bad as the first several times. With each application, I notice I’m more willing to take a wider leap of faith than the last. I think that’s an important perspective to have.
The first time I applied for a residency, I wasn’t ready. I had ideas of activities, but felt a level of reliance on the judges’ interests. There tends to be a pattern in the types of projects or work that is selected. Sometimes there’s a “token”, but there’s still a “particular voice” that I wondered if I did not have.
As I continue my practice, I sometimes step back and realize I developed the technical element I was convinced I did not posses. Plenty of times I passed on applications because of my “lack” of work, until I noticed that I had gradually saved the 5-10 painting examples to a folder on my desktop. I thought I did not have the technical skill to apply for opportunities until, in the middle of a project, I realized I painted and drew how I wanted to growing up. I thought I wouldn’t be able to vend my work until I realized I had the savings for a printer and plenty of high res photographs. I thought no one would want prints from me, that my work wasn’t the type to “sell”, until I began to pay attention to the support I would receive in passing.
My point is, sometimes it is simply about being seen trying. Other times, it’s about trying so you have something to build upon.
I do still consider that I am not necessarily what juries are looking for. But I’ve noticed my applications improve the more I’ve chosen to pursue what I enjoy doing, and discuss what it is that I enjoy in these applications. I’m losing the part of me that felt it important to fit in and only sprinkle in parts of myself. I have more to say about that, but that’s a story for another day.
LIVE DRAWING
Each live drawing session has been valuable experience. I have to think of things i never considered, like how do I expect people to walk around with a photo of themselves? Should I give them a paper bag with my logo on it? Someday.
But this Saturday, I provided everyone who sat down for a portrait a sheet of foam board and a cellophane sheet!
I hosted a live-drawing session for West Town Physical Therapy’s opening. It was so fun and energetic. I truly love events.
Upcoming Updates:
I took the time to flesh out my website and add a few more pieces. I plan to take photos of the prints I have stocked up. I’ll make sure to add titles, years, and dimensions for each of my paintings, along with a link to purchase each print. My landing page is a bit more of a “services” page rather than a broad overview of what I create.
I’m considering trading the Patreon multi-tier system for one single tier-ed print club. I want to draw lesbian post cards for my Patreon. This week’s update is more of my ideation for future progress. Like I can’t help but to reaffirm to myself in this trying, tension building time…
ALL PROGRESS IS GOOD PROGRESS
Please give a Like or add to your story the work I’ve shared on Insta this week:
