Don't Forget to Start

1/17/2024: The scariest thing that I don’t even think I realized I was scared of was starting.  Taking that product photo.  Making that social media post, deciding what hashtags will bring visitors in, will those visitors convert to followers, TAXES????  I almost feel like I don’t want to do any of this because I am scared of the IRS arresting me.  However, this is something I have been wanting to do and I have the resources to learn how to do it and I have the skills to make the product.

This blog post was started on 1/17 and I plan to write in it whenever I take a new step in starting Artistically Intoxicated.  It may turn out to be super long, but I hope this post gives you a good glimpse into what you may not normally see behind the scenes starting an business.  This blog post is intended to take you through the steps of launching Artistically Intoxicated.  It will be posted on the launch of the website.  If you want to read more on the history of Artistically Intoxicated, please visit the About/History Page

1/18/2024: Thinking about everything that goes into building a business—a successful one at that—can be intimidating.  Putting everything into a to-do list, and spreading the tasks out into a calendar helps visualize what needs to be done and gives specific goals to accomplish.

Today I would like to introduce: Moleskine Studio!  Yes, the same company that makes journals makes a family of applications that has become my second brain. In my opinion, the most important part of getting started is getting organized and the Moleskine Studio family has helped me do exactly that. I do pay $24.99/year for the bundle, but for me it is worth it.

The two main apps I use are Timepage and Actions.  What I like the best about these apps is the integration factor.  I can schedule to-do items in Actions and they will show up in my Timepage Calendar.  I will include a screenshot of my sample day, with my personal items redacted.

I will make another blog post dedicated to the tools/software I use, but if you have more questions about this app, please do not hesitate to send me a note on the Contact page!

2/15/2024: To keep myself transparent, mental health is a bitch.  Tackling it head on is hard.  Not letting the bad days win is hard!  I have been working on some digital art, but I neglected this blog post and what I designed it for: to take you along for the journey of opening my art business.  As you can see, it is SO easy to get off track!  However, it is time to put my foot forward and not stopping taking steps to start this adventure.

3/12/2024: Seeing these dates on this blog are making me feel defeated, however, I am excited to begin again.  If I want to stop having to “begin again,” I have to keep going.  As I said in the previous entry, I have been dealing with some mental health struggles.  Unfortunately, my art is always the first thing to go to the back-burner when I am dealing with them.  Though, I am learning to let the art take over when I am feeling down.  In order to keep myself accountable, here are my goals I would like to achieve within the next month(by 4/12/2024)

1. Create at least one piece of art every day.  This one may seem difficult, however, I think it is doable.

2. Add in taking photos and uploading them

3. Write a week-in-review on this post every week

4. Get website completed

5. Build financial plan

6. Sign up for at least one summer market

7. Organize basement studio room

If I am able to do those 6 things within the next month, I think I will be on a good track.  I wish I had more to write for you guys, however, I don’t right now.

3/19/2024 (3/28/2024): It is now 3/28/2024 and the only goal I have really accomplished is 3. Get website completed.  The website will always be a work in progress with keeping it up to date, making sure everything stays working, keeping my art uploaded.  I have had this website since January 14, 2014.  Holy cow!  That is a long time.  It has been 6 years of this journey and I still feel like it is only just the beginning.  Sure, I am just now getting confident to put the work in to submit to art shows/galleries.  I am just now getting comfortable with different techniques other than alcohol ink.  I am constantly figuring it out.  Maybe that is why I like this so much, is that I never feel stagnant.  There is always more to achieve/experiment/experience.  Thank you for coming along on this journey to publishing my website again.  Below, I will include some screenshots of the different iterations of Artistically Intoxicated:

1/14/2018

4/18/2018

2/21/2019

1/9/2020

5/11/2020

8/29/2020

4/3/2024: It is 2 more days until the re-launch of my website and I am so excited. Time to crunch down and get everything ready to show everyone. I hope this website brings joy and inspiration to create your own pieces. Thank you again for being here! I will be posting a new blog every other week on different topics. If you are already subscribed, you'll get email alerts when a new blog is published. If you haven't subscribed yet, please do so on the home page. I promise I won't bog your inbox!!