Friday Thoughts Ep. 8

Hello again Patrons, and Happy FRIDAY!

This week went by at super speeds, because now I am back in Seattle super excited to get this art train rolling again!

My travels to Mexico and Colorado (and Utah) have partially satisfied my traveling desires, partially stoked the deep joys of mine that I haven’t pulled up in years. It’s like I forgot how much I love to see new places, to hike and explore the natural world, to move and exercise and sweat, to be active and connected. I haven’t felt this energized or inspired in a while. It’s like I re-found myself.

That being said, I return from this trip even more confident in my career decision. I’ve spent my young adult life wondering if I am going in the right direction with my work life, and I finally feel like I found the “JOB” that is completely me. Now, to just wade in and see what part of art and illustration is right for me right now. 

In business-y terms, I have to find my specific market and niche. For more information on these concepts check out the Creative Career Path Series from Andy J. Pizza’s Creative Peptalk! As part of this month of exploration and SELF-exploration I’ve been following his niche research exercise of creating a “You on a Plate” Pinterest board: a collection of images that represent the unique aspects of me. a Collection of images that someone who knows me would be able to look at and say: oh, that’s Ragon. Favorite movies, guilty pleasures, things that make me cry, laugh, things that I have deeply loved for years. The idea is that something about these things are deeply important to me and I am supposed to harness those to determine my niche in my market. Bizarrely I felt myself getting choked up while putting this together. I guess it’s starting to work. Digging deeper.

When I returned home Zach and I took a few hours to do some significant planning and goal setting for our future and daily routines. We both use Passion Planner techniques for goal setting, check out this company for some awesome planners. (Not sponsored, of course, I’m still small potatoes, I just love them.) 

The gist of my current goal is to up my product range to increase my revenue, including different commission options! I also plan to adjust my rewards tiers here on Patreon soon, so don’t hesitate to let me know if there’s anything you worry about losing or would like as a reward tier.

I want to work very very hard this summer.

One project I’m currently working on is a submission to the absolutely lovely third edition of the Hazel zine from Cottonbook Press (a zine is a self-published independent magazine.) The zine is witch-themed, very peaceful and beautiful, inspired by Hayao Miyazaki’s Kiki’s Delivery Service among other things. My piece is on Rituals for Self-Confidence, which actually comes at a very important time for me. I’m working first digitally on my iPad, then I’ll transfer the sketches to paper and finish them in watercolor.

Non-Art Life:

During the remainder of my time in Colorado, I played cards with my sister, we visited gorgeous Boulder, and there found delicious food at Native Foods Cafe. I have some weird love of 90s style Vegan hippie food, and I found that there.

Back in Seattle Zach and I discovered that down our street the year-old construction is going to be a new two block park! The city took half of the road to become a park and extra wide sidewalk, four blocks from our house! It’s still just dirt patches but they’ve put in a few benches already. I can’t tell you how excited I am to soon have a little piece of nature to sit in within 5 minutes from my house. 

I’ll take and share pictures when it’s finished!

So now I’ll close with a plein air watercolor I painted while visiting Delicate Arch in Arches National Park that I don’t plan to share on any other platforms! Just for you!!

As always thank you so much for your support, it fortifies me every day!

xoxo

Ragon