A Year's Worth of Reflections

Ok, not really.  Don't run away yet at the thought that I'm going to completely unload a full year's worth of verbiage.  Instead, I want to pull out some pointers, special moments, and what has really driven me to become the artist I am today.  So buckle up and strap yourselves in folks!

First, I am so grateful for everyone who's been supportive in my endeavors and my passion with art.  I genuinely had no idea that paper was going to be what triggered my most creative juices, but here we are.  My husband has been the most supportive, enthusiastic and inspiring muse.  Without him, I honestly don't know if I would have taken the plunge and thrown myself into the world of freelance art.  So thank you husband for being who you are and loving me like you do :)

I originally started working with paper and had a particular "look" so to speak.  But art is fickle and changes quickly as you grow, and I've seen myself develop more and more into the artist I am today.  My style is unique - I genuinely believe that.  I find inspiration in patterns, colors, and textures and I even amaze myself at some of the visions that I come up with just by looking at a piece of paper.  Believe me when I say that I can spend HOURS looking online at several different paper retailers to find all of the beautiful handmade and decorative papers that I use everyday in my pieces.  Some women collect shoes and clothing, this woman collects papers.  Go figure.  

One new creative outlet that I recently started has been with Puppy Portraits in Paper.  This is a unique style that I use to create a gorgeous portrait of your loveable little furball completely out of paper.  No this is not traditional, but I love all of the challenges, and overall look when I've finished.  I love the dimension and the textures that come through with paper that you do not get with traditional mediums such as paint and pencil.  Paper is such a delicate, intricate medium to use because it's so fickle and reacts IMMEDIATELY to whatever gluing agents I use.  So I have had a lot of time to test and practice and I feel that I have found a permanent, positive method for sticking paper to paper.  Puppy Portraits are very affordable and something that you can keep with you for a very long time (I hesitated in wanting to say "forever" because honestly, nothing lasts forever, but this could be a close ringer!) If you are curious and would like more information, or perhaps hear from past clients who have received puppy portraits in paper, please reach out! I will gladly chat with you, reminisce about your loveable furbaby and maybe toast a glass of wine in their honor.  Because a lot of clients have commissioned me to do memorial pieces so that they can keep their special little furbaby in their hearts and in their sights forever.  

Another positive notch in my artistic career has been a recent article in a local newspaper, detailing my art and my style for the community.  This was beyond anything I could imagine - I've never been in a newspaper or had any exposure at a larger scale by any means.  I appreciate so much everyone's reactions and genuine positive exclamations when they see my artwork.  It's one thing to view it on a computer screen, but it's a completely different experience to see it in person, touch it and truly see all of the depths and textures that each paper has to offer.  Again, when I say I'm obsessed with paper, that is not putting it lightly.  :)

So moving into 2017 - I have some big ideas.  VERY big ideas.  I want to push myself artistically, put myself in situations that make me uncomfortable (with regard to my art of course) and really continue to develop myself as an artist.  I know I can always learn, and I want to make sure that I'm doing that not only for myself, but for my viewers and admirers.  I want everyone who is fortunate enough to own one of my pieces to think that they own a treasure, because you do.  It's a piece of me that I put into all of my pieces and it's truly very special.  

Thank you for an amazing year for 2016 and I can't wait to see what 2017 brings!

Happy Papering :)