Thursday, December 30, 2010

Peering ahead: Not-Resolutions for 2011

I really don't like the practice of making New Year's resolutions.

They're too big, usually made with a lot of self-directed frustration, and mostly expected to fail--but to cause angst and guilt when they fail. Bleh.

So why would I write a post about 2011 now, when people are making New Year's resolutions next and right? Well, I've got so many ideas in my head for gently shifting my life and my art in a better direction, and I'm tired of keeping them in. But these aren't resolutions, I swear.

I've got a redesign in my head for purpleshiny.com--I want to turn the site inside-out. Rather than a portfolio site with a blog inside one section, I want the blog to be the focus, with a portfolio off to the side. I'm hoping to install Wordpress or something similar. It'll be awesome. I'm planning this because I think that I'll want to talk more about what I'm working on. I've got a phone that takes better pictures now, so showing as well as telling is going to be even easier.

In the past few months, I've been working on the whole work/art/life-balance thing. And while I'm not there yet, I can see a better sleep schedule--which means a better work schedule--which means more sanity and time for working with metal--shaping up on the horizon. I can't wait to get there :)

I've found a bunch of convention art shows and vending rooms to bring shiny things to during the first few months of 2011. And if I can get through my hangups about producing shiny things "just" to sell them--if I can be OK making things using skills I'm already comfortable using, in styles I know look good, rather than holding myself to the expectation to make something new at every turn--I think I'll be able to bring really amazing, beautiful artifacts to a lot of people. This is simultaneously scary and exciting, but I'm focusing on the exciting for now!

One of the most exciting things I'm looking forward to working on this upcoming month is making jewelry themed around the collection "Steam-Powered", a lesbian steampunk anthology coming out at the end of January! I have a digital ARC and it's full of awesome stories of copper and quartz and romance :)