{Hey, 2023. Be nice.}

Happy New Year! Okay...a month late. I'm still trying to figure out the best schedule for posting new blogs to my website. My plan was to reflect once the month was over, but is it weird to talk about January on February 1st? Well...let's find out.

Anyway, this month was both faster than lighting and slower than molasses. At work, I feel like I can't catch a breath, but at home, I feel like I have more time on my hands than I ever have simply because I don't have things to distract me on my phone. Which is good because...half way through the month, my old phone finally kicked the bucket. Not a surprise. But when I got a new one and found out none of my contacts were saved and all of my pictures were gone? Now THAT was a surprise.

Frustrating, yes. But we made it through. I'm definitely feeling more and more like a ghost as the days progress. I can't tell if my friends have realized that I'm gone from their news feed or that they simply don't care. Either way, it's tough to make contact with people. Something I'm working on and I wish other people would meet me in the middle.

Though it's been a bit manic at times, I am feeling quite satisfied. I've managed to keep up with a bunch of my personal resolutions so far, and I am making art. I thought about posting my pieces here for the month, but I decided to share them for February since they are technically for the February ArtBar in two days. Are you on the edge of your seat?!

One of my artistic resolutions was to try a new medium: Ceramics. My town recently acquired a gorgeous ceramics studio that offers 4 week courses, 3 hour workshops, and studio time. It's something I've been curious about for the last few years, but I had a feeling it wouldn't be my favorite artistic outlet. I was kind of correct in that regard. I signed up with a couple of my coworkers for a random Saturday night in the beginning of January. I wore my overalls and prepared for a messy night. Was it awkward? Slightly. Did I have fun? Absolutely. Did I make something groundbreaking? No. Not even close. My thoughts are simply this: I am not a ceramics queen, but I respect the medium to my core. I had so much fun dipping my toes into something new and I cannot wait until my finished vase/bowl/who-knows-what-it-is has been fired and sits proudly (lopsidedly) on one of my shelves. I'm proud that I stretched my artistic muscle into very unknown territory. It makes me excited to try new things in my current art practice.

So that's really all I have for January. Lots and lots of work at my day job that's eating up a lot of my free time, trying something new, wondering how to fill my free time outside of work and outside of social media, maintaining some kind of balance while I try to fulfill my personal goals, and wishing it was spring. Every. Single. Day.

If you're curious, keep an eye on my website in the next few days. I will be posting a few updated sketchbook spreads and my February ArtBar paintings. They will be included in my February blog as well, but there's a nice chance you'll get a cheeky little sneak peek.

Hope you are well. Write again soon <3