New Year Overwhelm

Are you experiencing it? It's February 2nd and January has come and gone. You ended December full of hope and aspirations so excited to start the new year and plan out your goals. The first week of January you felt no guilt devoting your time to making lists, brainstorm and dreaming up big things. As the weeks went on the joy faded. The lists seemed daunting instead of exhilarating. You had setbacks in January and before you knew it you started February so overwhelmed. Is this you? Because it's me right now.

I'm going to be super real right now. This quote above is how I felt for the month of January. I was so lost so confused so deflated. Each year as an artist new opportunities arise with new directions to try. I will admit many of the directions I took I'm no longer loving. It's hard to admit that but even harder to admit I have no idea what direction to really take now. There are things I'm certainly not doing any more and things I will be doing more. One of those things is to revaluate how I sell my art. I love festivals and will be doing bigger ones this year *fingers crossed*. Small festivals are inexpensive but the time and energy aren't worth the small rewards that come from them. Bigger festivals last several days vs one day and that makes it much easier for setting up and taking down a tent especially if I'm on my own. I won't be consigning any more because the energy to produce work that hopefully sells is again time I feel is wasted that I could be painting or promoting or doing something else that gives me a bigger return. I'll be focusing on wholesaling and getting into the licensing world as well as pushing my own art series while making a few larger complete series during the year.

Most of January I spent pondering about my career. I'm scared to travel in this new direction but that is because it is a direction I haven't traveled yet. It is frightening to try new things that aren't guaranteed to be right for me. Mainly it's going to take a lot of work to start on these new ventures. I'm beginning February off with goals, fears, worry, anxiety, but also excitement. Tell me about your January! Did you suffer from New Year Overwhelm?