The last 2 years kicked my butt.
In 2022, I overdid it, so I went into 2023 thinking I needed to take a step back and take on less. I booked fewer weddings, went to fewer markets and didn’t create as many collections. I just wasn’t feeling as much purpose in my work anymore, and I was exhausted. I tried some new things, and they just didn’t come together.
I think I needed a year of things that didn’t work so that I could really evaluate what I want this business to look like in the context of my life and purpose. It was unsettling. But in the uncertainty I found myself growing closer and closer to God. I was off-centered, and when I finally turned to Him He got a hold of me and started to straighten me back out. I ended 2023 with much lower numbers than I’d hoped for, but far more connection with God than I’d ever known.
So here’s where that shift started.
Back in July of 2023, I was deep in my season of, for lack of a better term, “What the heck am I doing?”. My identity was my work, and my work didn’t feel right. So I didn’t feel right. And of course, because it’s how God works, the week that I felt the most lost was the same week that Rockbridge Church started their series called “Abide” (Here’s the link to the first one, check it out). The whole message felt like it was created for me and the season I was in, and it made me both relieved and really uncomfy.
It called out where I had gone wrong. I’m 2022 I had worked myself to death to see numbers climb, which they did, but I’d often forgotten who made me an artist in the first place. I forgot WHY I was an artist. I’d detached my “why” from Jesus and burned myself out. It also showed me what I needed to do to start getting aligned with God, because when you’re detached from the vine, it isn’t going to work.
After hearing those sermons, my mind slowly shifted from “God, I can’t figure this out” to “I know you’re helping me figure this out”. It took a few months of releasing a LOT of control for me to feel confident in my art again. Being a self-employed 25 year old, ESPECIALLY in the arts AND in this economy isn't something anyone should try to take on alone.
Lesson learned. Thank you, Jesus, I get it now. Won’t be trying that again.
Having the peace that I’m following God’s guidance has given me back so much creative energy and excitement. It’s in the quieter moments that I’ll have these ideas that feel SO right and SO purposeful that I know they’re from Him. Imagery, logistics, timing, all of it pops right into my brain. This has happened a lot during my 6am lap-swims when there’s nothing in my ears, and my brain is still because my body is moving (hello, ADHD).
So what are some of these ideas? Where am I taking them?
Here’s where I’m starting. Beginning this Sunday, January 7th, I’ll be releasing a Print of the Week.
Every Sunday I’ll choose a brand new art print, which be highlighted until the following Saturday evening. At the end of the month, 25% of the sales from each week’s highlighted print will be donated to a cause doing good for people (and animals) in my community. I already have the first six weeks ready to roll, and WOW am I excited to start sharing.
Keep an eye out for the very first one this Sunday! You’ll be able to find it on my socials, and if you’re on my email list, I’ll tell ya about it there too. I’d love to learn more about where the needs are in this community, big or small, specific or broad, so please shoot me an email if a cause is on your heart.
Thank you for following along, encouraging me, and reading this far. Here’s to a year of alignment with God’s purpose for my life!
-M