Sue Pownall: Artist & illustrator
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2013 in review and resolutions

5/1/2014

 
Degas
DoorAl Minsefah Doorway. 2013. SOLD

2013 was a rollercoaster year with very high highs and very low dips both personally and professionally. The best was rescuing a street pup, Degas, who 8 months later has grown into a beautiful young dog with a lovely friendly temperment. Due to her, I have moved to a house with a garden, 30 seconds from the beach. The low has been seeing my mother after she had a massive stroke in May and helping her move into residential care after a long spell in hospital, whilst making sure my father (along with his dog Nelson) is cared for with his developing dementia.

For 2013 I had 3 words to guide my art: inspiring, happiness and dream. Plus my resolution, as written in last year's review post was "throughout 2013 my resolution and goal will be on getting my finances in order, so I can move to Barcelona as soon as possible. ... my sketchbook will remain with me throughout 2013, I already have 2 commissions for drawings and further illustrations to do for The Story Shack... obviously my art passion will not be totally neglected." Well, due to having to take 3 trips to UK to help my parents, my finances are still not in order, though they are a little better then a year ago and I am still not in Barcelona. However, my art passion was certainly not neglected.

Sketch
Burj Al Arab from Souq Madinate Jumeriah, UAE. 2013
Sagrada FamiliaInspired by Norberto Dorantes
Inspiring: The biggest inspiration I found was attending the Urban Sketchers' Symposium in Barcelona. Four days of sketching and talking about sketching with amazing arty people. I met artists there who I have been in awe of and following for years like Luiz Ruiz and Norberto Dorantes. I was especially pleased to finally meet Pete Scully , Omar, and Liz Steel and to sketch with Alissa. I got to catch up with the Barcelona sketchers and Nina Johansson who I'd sketched with in 2012.  Then, there were all the new artists I had the pleasure to meet and sketch with such as Simone and Chris, who I can't wait to sketch with again.


Other inspiration came from attending Art Dubai and the Global Art Forums in UAE, in March. It was great to see the contemporary art and attend the talks.

Picture
Illustrations and drawings from 2013.
Happiness: Whilst Degas has brought love, laughter and fun in my life, happiness within my art is hard to measure:- my biggest year end profit, 3 commissions, only half as many drawings 6 compared with 2012's 14, illustration work, or a solo exhibition - which brings me to ...
Picture
The Blind House. 2013 SOLD. One of my favourite drawings from the year.
Dream: I'm not sure when the dream to have my first solo show became more than a dream, but it was realised in December where I exhibited 30 pieces at the Beach House, Seeb. The exhibition exceeded all my expectations when I sold 12 of  the 28 available for sale.
Picture
A wall of portraits. Another dot was later added to Still Celebrating by Mary (left)
*****

Resolutions for 2014

The last three years, I have used three words to guide my life throughout the year, but cannot fix on any this year. 
  • I wish to be single-minded with my art by which I mean I will be selfish with my art time and not let people nor events cut into it. The obvious exception is Degas. 
  • I still want to move Degas and I to Barcelona, so will continue to organise my finances, whilst helping my parents.

In order for these to be goals rather than wishes, I have an amount to achieve by October. Also, I am setting aside a minimum 8 hours each weekend for art production. Finally, I want to produce a minimum of 6 ink drawings within the year.

*****

May 2014 see you produce lots of art, laughter, and bring peace & happiness.


What do you think? Please leave me a comment by clicking comment below the title. Thank you.
Sue link
5/1/2014 00:50:24

Sending encouraging thoughts & I hope your ambitions are realised for 2014. I'm feeling sad & guilty, because I've just seen your instruction NOT to pin your work. As a marketer, I pinned one drawing to a board "Doors" (with due copyright & credit) as I know it is a great way to spread the word about your art, which I like very much. I will reluctantly comply, although you should perhaps check to see how much traffic Pinterest is driving to your website - you might be pleasantly surprised! Pinterest is a great additional shop window for your lovely work. Incidentally, you should protect your images by disabling downloads, if you don't want them 'borrowed' in any way. Kind regards, Sue

Sue
5/1/2014 01:16:35

Thanks Sue for your long comment.

This site provider doesn't stop downloads- hence watermarks - besides it's easy enough to download if someone really wants to even if it is disabled.

Pre-anti-pinterest 0.5% traffic and whilst you may copyright/credit correctly it doesn't carry forward if others take it from your board. Doors? Would that be Blue Doors?Thank you for removing it.

Kim Colquhoun
6/1/2014 06:27:42

You have created some amazing work and I'm sure you will continue to do so, congratulations on your solo exhibition. I wish you all the very best for 2014.

Alissa link
10/1/2014 01:16:58

Sue, this was lovely to read. You have taken time to reflect and review and plan. I wish you all the best in your resolutions. As long as have that passion for art it will guide you I am sure.

It was a pleasure to meet you and I hope we will again. Not in Brazil for USK. I had hoped to get to the UK for a sketching holiday, but that has been put on hold. But I can sketch anywhere, so I am happy


Comments are closed.

    About me

    I am a nomadic artist travelling the world for inspiration. Here, I publish my sketchbook work alongside my new finished pieces.

    All posted artwork/images and text are ©Sue Pownall. All rights reserved.

    Email for permission if you want to use them using the contact form.

    It is ok to quote images or text on your non-commercial blog or website as long as you give a credit and link back. It is not okay to pin images.


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    Sue Pownall

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