Wow I had no idea how time would fly....I kinda disappeared for a bit! *Long post alert ~ scroll for the pictures below if thats all you want to see lol! * 

    I will admit life was a bit of a wreck for awhile ~ I was so wrapped up with Breyerfest (which was awesome however!) and working with commission work that took up most of my time. I was also working a lot with my colt after his gelding that required lots of walking and vet bills...so that was quite stressful for a month where I was on stress mode 24\7 physically and mentally. Now he is okay and bills are paid. Life kept happening however with losing a good community friend suddenly, when the same day I was dumped by someone who I was getting to know, so that was actually a crushing day. Then family came visiting for two weeks so I put social media and such out of the way to spend time with them and heal a bit. It was wonderful to be honest, and just what I needed. 

  I also have been making some hard decisions concerning my studio where I feel....lost somehow. Not sure what direction I want to go...not sure what to do....not sure what I can do when I want to learn and do so much. So many projects and things I want to paint and sculpt. Don't get me wrong ~ I absolutely LOVE painting and delivering painted ponies for people as commissions because I get so much joy and satisfaction doing that, honestly. I feel like I'm someone needed, and someone special when people trust me and want me to paint for them. But my problem is sometimes I try too hard. To the point I am on the brink of burnout almost. I don't step back to enjoy painting for myself much, and other projects get neglected. I rarely have time to enter photo shows or take pictures, or pursue new big ideas. But a big problem is that it doesn't pay what I need it to, and I can only paint so much so fast. I don't feel comfortable charging more than I do for my work as I feel its not worth it, and I don't want to be big for my britches. 

  So where does that leave me? I've been in the process of thinking and possibly will be applying for a local job and stepping back from the full scale commissions I've been doing for nearly 3 years. It has nothing to do with my wonderful clients or their amazing ideas ~ its none of their fault and if I had to, I'd do it all again anyways because they are been so awesome to me. It truly means a lot, but its the grand scheme of things that have put a damper on WHY I do this.  I may still keep taking on 1-3 commissions to keep me happy that I can still paint the way I love to do, but can still leave time to focus on things I want to do that doesn't involve keeping a schedule. Kind've scale it down to a hobby supporting a hobby instead of a monetized hobby to pay bills. Don't get me wrong, doing this full time has NOT been terrible 99% of the time, and I truly believe people can do what they like whether they put their foot out to make it more than just a fun hobby and make it their livelihood. But we don't HAVE to, and NO ONE is obligated to. :) 

I view it as a chapter that was bright and wonderful, but some things change and its okay to change. Not all the way that I leave the hobby or stop collecting, which I won't be doing. :) Just bring it down to a lower scale than what I've been doing, and not worry or struggle to make end meet like I have the last few months. That way I don't hit serious burn out and will loathe picking up a brush or view it as a chore later in the future.

I more see myself painting commissions on a smaller scale of volume if people will continue to want my work, and painting for myself and friends. Mustang Girl Artworks is super special to me, always will be, and so is my logo by Tara that I am so blessed with. It stands for something, and I honestly want to have it so people can see that to. But I also want to start making time and room to do art trades like I have with a few friends ~ because honestly I LOVE doing that because we both benefit, and no serious money is involved. Its just fun and a way to share different talents with each other. 

So today I picked out my new tack and a couple new OF models that have entered my collection this afternoon to take some fun pictures. Not for showing, but just to have fun, just let my hair down with perfection. My new tack from Breyerfest is a saddle by Three Pines Tack that is just AMAZING and so sturdy, so full of beautiful details! Rachel seriously delivered and is a wonderful tack maker. I highly recommend her! Then I was SO excited to have gotten a fun bareback pad and hackamore set by Jennifer Buxton from her BF sale ~ I just love it so much. It is so well made and is my favourite colours. Jennifer is a legend and an inspiration to me with her photos and her tack making (and painting to!) so yes, this gal is so happy to have some of her tack in my humble herd. :) 


So that is the news of lately why I disappeared and whats going on now with my studio. I hope its not too boring, I think I also felt I didn't need to write here as folks wouldn't exactly miss it, so I just....didn't. I will be getting back into Artist of the Week spotlights soon because I feel its important and encouraging to do. :) My problem is that there are SO many of you wonderful creators out there ~ keep doing your beautiful work!!! 

Enjoy the pictures for now, I know they are not perfect but thats almost of the point of them. Just for fun, not driving perfection right now. Big hugs, and thank you for bearing with me. :) 









By the way, this lovely bridle is by Danielle Hart ~ it will remain my favourite bridle I have! XD 




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Image
Hello hello. Hope everyone made it through their Monday! I've had a time of it lately with motivation in the studio. I always go by my mother's quote "An effort a day keeps failure away."  But its a time where I can't push myself. Just focus on little things in the studio like "Sculpt just a muzzle on the commission." Just get the magnets in on one drastic project, as its been waiting awhile. Just paint a layer on one or two of the mini resins in house. Why not start painting a medallion that will be in the Breyerfest sale? (Ooops...;)  Little by little motivation happens and as you think about things, suddenly its not so hard to just sit down and work with your hands. It can be tough when a hobby turns into something else, but you have to keep the joy within it, otherwise there is no point in continuing. So its important to take breaks. I get overwhelmed easily, especially since it is my very first Breyerfest with the studio participating, and all the p...
Read more
Image
  *photo credit to Janilyn Kooy*  Friends! Last night was a special moment for me. It became official that a dream I have had since a little girl was to come true ~ to have a pony of my very own. Chance, aka LadyLuck Hero, is now part of the family. 💕 Its one thing to work with horses and ponies (and long ears) that belong to others when their owners are generous and kind to share. It was as close as I could get, and I learned a ton of what goes on in horse life that way. I've ridden many different horses and handled and pet many more, and I was happy with that. I still have two very specific horses I am very attached to in the way of sentimental value. 💜 God provides, and I knew my time would come one day. But it didn't stop me from always praying for a pony for my own.  Fast forward those years and times and many prayers. Last spring a friend and neighbour had a gorgeous Canadian mare, and she was not sure if the mare was pregnant or not. Well it turned out the mare w...
Read more
Image
  For awhile now I have been wanting to do something about featuring an artist every week. There are SO many wonderful artists in the model horse hobby, and all I want to do pretty much is share some of their work, with links to their social media ,and basically give a shout out to them! Sometimes we all just need a boost and a lil support from others where there are no obligations and just to simply share because we want to. This goes for both to the professional, accomplished studios who have worked hard to achieve their artistry, and to the new and starting out studios, learning and growing with every horse they paint. :) We all are at our own pace and journey with different goals. We can paint for fun or personal enjoyment, or as some who paint as a side hobby or even for a few of us, it is our full time work! But we all think the same : we love to create and we love to paint horses...both in 2D and 3D scale.  This week's Artist of the Week goes to.... Elżbieta Zarzecka of...
Read more