Pausing for reflection
This year I celebrated my 10th anniversary since my first solo art exhibition, and I loved looking back over everything that has happened over the decade. It really is so easy to get caught up in everything that is happening and what is coming next that we often forget to hit the pause button and reflect on the good that has happened too.
It really has been an amazing year at studio flow both for me as an artist and also as a guide to help others unlock the fantastic world of mixed media art through my online classes and workshops.
Challenging myself as an artist
I have made sure to nurture my own artist within as well. I used the wonderful 100 day challenge to give me some focus and created 100 beautiful small cradle boards that became my 100 feelings.
There really is something so powerful in just letting your heart and soul do the painting. For this challenge I had no thought for what they would become, I just picked up a board each day and worked in my flow.
These paintings proved popular and I have sold many at exhibitions and auctions as well as through my online shop.
I have also spent time in my studio creating art on a massive scale which I love to do. I created the piece below for this incredible gallery space and am thrilled that it sold and will soon be in the home of a collector (they are building a new house and are creating a specific wall for this piece) – as an artist there really is something magical and heart warming to know your work has resonated with someone on a deep level and that they are enjoying it every day.
Art exhibitions
This past year I have also exhibited my work at 9 different exhibitions throughout 2022, covering online auctions, a special open gallery at my own Studio Flow and at galleries and exhibitions throughout Sweden including Art Show, Galleri Zeitgeist, Uppsala, Galleri Sjöhästen, Nyköping, By Carima, Täby, Hägernässtrands Galleri, Täby, Galleri Roddarhuset, Vaxholm, Zeitgeist Art Show, and Galleri Sjöhästen, Nyköping.
For me, exhibitions are a wonderful part of the process. I love meeting people and discussing what feelings my work conjures. From every exhibition I take away new ideas and inspiration and this is so important as it helps keep me excited and connected to my work.
Mixed Media Art Classes
I love guiding others on how to find their flow and really enjoy the process of making mixed media art. Giving ourselves the time and permission to indulge our inner creativity is often what holds us back. This year has been super exciting for me as, for a long time, I have been wanting to find a way to help you develop a regular creative practice, and this year I launched Café Flow – the Art Club!
Just like a daily yoga or meditation practice helps you to relax, a regular creative practice helps you work through your emotions – both good and bad, Café Flow was designed to give monthly inspiration in the form of a project to complete over the month, a live Q&A session packed with tips and tricks and a resource library filled with inspiration and guidance to help you find your flow and work with new mediums. So far, I have added 9 full mixed media projects from start to finish, 40 video lessons in the Resource Library in areas such as Mixed Media Art supplies, techniques, and processes, and I have big plans for next year. If you would like to be part of this incredibly supportive community simply click here and join the club.
“Creativity is contagious, pass it on.”
The online classes have continued to grow and the feedback from all the students has been amazing. I am so honoured and grateful for the response. In 2022 I have had more than 13000 students joining my courses on my class platform… a kind of daunting number. On top of that I have created lessons for 8 collaborations and through them I have reached a huge number of people. The number of people that have been watching my lessons 2022 could be close to 100 000 people. That is pretty amazing!!
Enjoying life
This year we took a wonderful trip through Europe by train. The views were spectacular and, although the journey took longer by train than by plane, it felt like there was more time to enjoy things and we were more relaxed. There was time to get out my art materials and journal as we made our way from country to country. Sometimes slowing down really gives you the opportunity to see things differently.
This is what I will take with me into 2023.
There are so many amazing projects that I want to share with you, and I am so excited for the year ahead.
Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season and I look forward to seeing you in 2023.