Well it's another year. Hope you all had a great holiday/break. The last month or so have been very busy for me.

I've just started a Patreon page/channel, which has been a big learning curve. Setting it up, finding out how it works and getting videos ready to put on it. But I got there in time and lauched on 1st January. 

I hope on Patreon to be able to build a community for anyone who has a love of wildlife painting, and would like to learn how to paint realistic and detailed paintings, in a supportive and encouraging environment. I do real time, full length videos on this platform.

I'm also continuing to do my You Tube videos. Those as previously these are speeded up videos. So the two combined are taking up a lot of my time.

I've also got a range of paintings and graphite drawings that I want to get done, which aren't part of the above, so it's trying to find time to do it all without burning myself out.

I did get a range of lovely art products for my Christmas and Birthday presents which I'm looking forward to try out. I've got a new watercolour paint set, thought I'm unfamiliar with the make (Rosa professional watercolours - a Ukrainian make) so I'll be swatching them out, perhaps as an extra video. I also got some waterbased oil paints that I'm hoping I can get along with, as I'd like to do some canvas painting.

The other main thing I was given was a sublimation printer, so I can print my artwork on blanks such as coasters, tote backs, mugs, etc. SO once I find the time to figure out how it works, I'll be adding to my range of products. 

The other art based stuff was mainly for my video creating (a new mic to try, some new lighting and camera stands, a light box to replace my broken one and a few other bits and bobs).

It's a good time to be trying new things out as the art/crafts group I sell with don't start their season until the end of March, so I have time to get myself organised.

I also have some new paintings I need to get mocked up to put on my shop here and that I will  alsobe selling in the coming new season with the art group.

On a personal note, I had a lovely Christmas break, though the last week was spent fixing the ceiling in one of the bedrooms, as I accidently put my foot through it when getting some stuff down from the loft. I don't think my husband's going to let me forget that one in a hurry!

I don't do New Year's resolutions but I do set myself aims for the coming year. Most of which are around getting my Patreon page established and promoting it to gain new members. So part of that will be trying to get more active on Social Media (Instagram, Facebook and You Tube community page). Which isn't one of my strengths as in the past I've got quickly bored of posting on these site. But I'm going to set myself a three month target of persistantly posting to see if it's worth the effort. 

My other aim is to find new places to sell my work in around the local area. So I'll be looking at and approaching places that I think might be suitable.

Well I think that's all, I'll let you know how I'm getting on with it all in my next blog! 

Bye for now, Carol

It's been a while since I've written one of these blogs as I've been very busy and whilst it's been on my list of to dos for quite a while, I've only just found the time to sit down and write. 

I've just completed a shop update, putting on some of the work I've been doing on You Tube: The donkey and Mouse on Pinecones. But also some not on You Tube: Make a Wish, Raven in Moonlight, Owl's moonlit flight, Rooks in moonlight and Seals and Sea.

The season with the Pembrokeshire Craft Group has just finished (They run from end of March until the beginning of November), so I'm due to collect all my work this week. Unfortunately I wasn't able to commit this year to some of the Winter shows due to family commitments, as I couldn't guarentee being available for them but I'm really hoping to take part in some of the winter and Christmas fayres next year. I'm also going to be looking for other venues to sell my work through, as well as The Pembrokeshire Craft Group, as I'm ready to establish myself more as a full time working artist this coming year.

I've been really busy with You Tube and have managed to get videos up most weeks, and have got some news coming in the next few weeks, so if you watch my videos, then look out for it.

I'm moving onto painting more Christmas pictures for You Tube and will hopefully have some suitable for cards or prints next Christmas. I always love doing Christmas pictures and usually experiment painting some Christmas toys or decorations.

Then it's onto more wintery pictures, although I can't say I'm looking forward to January/February as I find the short, dark days, hard going and will be looking forward to the Spring.