With everything that happened last year, I needed to rethink how I approached my art and blogs. I realized I didn’t have enough time or energy to devote to the things I wanted to create or blogs I wanted to write. This is why I believe God put me into a time of research and experimenting last August.
Around August or September, I started to look into how to run a business and what I could do to improve my skills as an artist. I came across videos and classes that helped me organize my thoughts and create a plan. One of the classes was from Matt Tommey, an artist himself, who is training up Christian artists to thrive in the business world. From his master class I realized I needed to schedule my time that I had to devote to Eph210artstudio. I would also have to put my work out in the open and be strategic about applying for different local artist events.Nothing was going to happen on its own. I would have to work for it and if it was God’s will, hopefully He would bless my efforts.
After creating a schedule that allowed me to create more, I discovered a place in Arlington just for Artists. It is called Create Arlington and it is located in downtown Arlington across the street from the Arlington Museum of Art. It is a coworking community where artists can come and turn their hobbies into a business. Create holds an event once a month called Third Thursday. It is a pop up artist market where local artists can network and sell their products. I attended one in October and realized this was something I wanted to be apart of. So I go to Create a few times a week to work on my craft or update my website or take business classes in order to improve my skills. Create really is a game changer for me. I can now advertise art lessons because I have a place that isn’t in my own home to bring clients.
After joining Create, I spent the next two months finalizing my website and updating my business cards. I needed a fresh start for a relaunch of sorts. This is the mission I believe God has given me for this time. To spread the Gospel through my art. I wanted to put my best foot forward.
Once everything was in order, I was able to attend my first Third Thursday in December 2020. While I did not sell anything and felt slightly overlooked, it was a good experience for me. I have started to realize that while sales usually mean success and a growing business, that even if I never make a single penny from anytime create, if I am able to share the Gospel with people that I never would have met otherwise and I can love out God’s mission for my life, then it is all worth it.
As far as what I am creating now, I have a few things. One is a series of paintings on the seasons. I’ve done two so far. Both pieces feature a tree in the changing seasons. One features spring and fall while the other features fall and winter. You can see them both featured below.
I have also started to get back into digital art and expirementing with it. My husband bought me a digital art program for Christmas and it has been fun trying out different ideas. I mainly use it to get an idea for a physical piece out of my head but as I practice, my skills will improve. The pieces below were done digitally. Some on my computer and some on my phone.
The latest thing I’ve been working on is creating bottle lamps. I’ve had this idea to turn my art into practical things that people could use every day. I had the idea about lamps for nearly 2 years but wasn’t sure how to put them together. Around December God showed me how I could put them together. I’ve been experimenting with pouring paint for these bottles and hope to have two or three done soon to share with you.
I am excited about what God has placed in front of me and I pray that He enables me to continue in this new year.
Hope you’ve enjoyed this update on Ephesians 2:10 Art Studio.
Until next time,
God Bless.