New Year

     It's 2013 which means a few things: 1)We survived the apocolypse! (Sorry Mayans and Doomsdayers). 2) New Art listings to compete 3) A goal to increase etsy activity. A new year is a time for new goals. Look through the old, constructively review and honestly de-clutter with beneficial targets in sight. Honestly it should be "New Year Cleaning" instead of spring cleaning as there is nothing of monumental change with a gradual waning of seasons opposed to a definitive alteration in the calendar year.

     The Mayan calendar needs not to be dwelled upon as it clearly never came to be . If you wish to argue this thought simply look scientifically at the translation from the Mayan calendar to the Gregorian Calendar and you will see your error. However I would like to speak for my upcoming year, the goals and some serious hopes. When it comes to showing my artwork there are always galleries, competitions, publications and shows. They are always out there it is just a matter of finding them which I intend to do. I think it is ultimately important to weigh out the options between which shows are the most beneficial; which competitions best showcase my work; which publications create the greatest opportunities. There are already some dates penciled into my calendar. One seemingly perfect for my style and medium is the LA Printmakers show which is just as the title would suggest : an art competition based in LA specifically designed for printmakers. It would be a phenomenal opportunity as it could gain recognition in my field and it is moderately local. The other competition I am eagerly awaiting is a 2nd Skin Competition where the goal is to create a mask of which describes your "2nd Skin" . My mask is in the works as we speak but I will wait and speak more of it later as I believe it will be so spectacular that it deserves its own due.

     The other aspect of this upcoming year focuses on my Etsy shop ArdentPrints. Within the past year it has done quite well, especially for just starting. In the latter half of the year it became clear there was an increase in views, favorites and sales. I want to keep this momentum rolling into this year. I'd like to at least double my sales this year and it seems to be an obtainable goal. I have focused on all aspects of my shop and have even considered other areas such as button but expanding to that venue still seems questionable. Regardless of the new materials I may consider I will still always stay with my tried and true. Though mostly I want to expand my exposure and my followers because they are the ones who promote my doings and make the sales. It's a goal to find new, captivating ways to generate followers and increase marketing.

      This year holds new opportunities and I intended to seize them with a ferocity. It has the chance for growth and the next step. There is so much potential that exists in the world and I can't see any plausible reason why not to attempt to gain such notification. As time goes on I will post of what new opportunities I have came across and I can only hope you spread the word of my activity and of ArdentPrints.