March Bulletin: Inspiration through conversation

4 Apr

MY 26th TRIP AROUND THE SUN

My March newsletter comes a few days into April this time! Haha, well done me. But no matter - it was always like this, my birth month keeps flying by every year, I know it well. There never seems to be enough time for some reason. It’s my aunt’s birthday and the birth of spring as well (purple crocuses started appearing everywhere, I loved it!), so many exciting things to do and celebrate! I dare say I did more celebrating with various family members than art for a while - and sometimes that’s okay. After all, it wasn’t only a time for joy, it was a challenging few weeks, too.

For my birthday my mum gifted me this beautifully arranged flower bouquet. Sketch done in ink and colored pencils.

At the beginning of March I doodled in my sketchbook a lot and then I wrote into my diary every day to process what I heard and read as the world held its breath. Doing various creative tasks kept me grounded. There is something calming about letting ink flow on paper.

RECREATING A SENSE OF COMMUNITY

Just recently several choirs from my hometown of Potsdam came together to sing for peace. We all gathered to let our emotions flow, make music together and perhaps a little difference, too. It most certainly helped in one way: In doing this and talking to one another, we got a more hopeful outlook on the future. It was then that I decided there had been far too little conversation and community in my life lately and what my next steps ought to be. I know we can’t help everyone who’s suffering, as much as we want to. But we can live our lives and still make grand plans as long as we are able, to help ourselves out of a less than ideal situation and not let ourselves fall apart completely. After all, what good would that do?

At some point in March I finally gathered my wits again and started calling my friends from all over the world who I hadn’t spoken to in a while, almost annoying them, getting them to tell me everything I had missed lately. We talked for hours and it left me refreshed and full of engery - inspired, even. Longing to move to the UK once more and wanting to be part of a team again, I looked for business opportunities and applied to some of my dream jobs in the creative industry, putting together slightly varying portfolios with my best work and sending them out. Even though when you do that kind of thing the answer is usually a lot of silence, it still felt good to have tried and put in the work. I did get some positive response and was grateful for it. Something may come of it yet! 🇬🇧 ♥️

MY FIRST ART BOOTH

When I learned that art markets are open and booths can be booked once more over in our bustling capital city (which is „right next door“ to Potsdam), I phoned different organizers and did just that. I almost couldn’t believe how fast things were moving all of a sudden after months of slow progress! For three days in a row I packed all the products I usually sell in my Etsy shop up to protect them against rain etc., reprinted missing prints, designed two mini posters, planned my table setup and organized my products as to transport them in a suitcase in just the right size (thanks for allowing me to borrow it, mum, after convincing you my business depended on it! :P You rock.)

So off I was to Berlin on a a fine Sunday morning, 27th March, having gotten up at 5AM as I NEVER do... which was hard but very much worth it. Rays of sunlight broke the mist floating through the forest as I let the train carry me there and it was beautiful to watch, full of promice. Said promise was kept: It was a warm day full of light throughout, perfect to venture out and do something like this for the first time - as I had wanted for so long. My booth was at the far end of the market at Straße des 17. Juni, Charlottenburg, and I had some lovely neighbors, one selling their own T-Shirts and one handmade gorgeous wooden chess and cutting boards as well as tiny „dollhouse“ chests of drawers. They welcomed me into the market community with open arms and asked me questions in a motherly manner while giving me beginners advice. It was rather heartwarming and I felt well looked after. They even brought me blankets against the cold even before I could potentially start shivering! That made me believe in humanity once more.

*Impressions from the market, including an exert of my Instagram story that day. It was a sunny spring day.*

Chance bypassers stopped and looked at my work, curious to learn more. I sold lots more than I thought I would and even covered the booth fees, so I was quite enthusiastic about doing this again by the end of the day. And oh, such lovely conversations were had! Again, I felt less alone, more...involved in the world’s ways, you could say. My stickers and prints brought a smile to people’s face and I was able to experience it! „A whole new world...a hundred thousand things to see...“ (from Disney Aladdin) came to mind. Speaking of, that particular market I started out at actually was what we call a „Trödelmarkt“ in Germany, so lots of carpets with oriental patterns and arabic as well as turkish street food was sold there (I love a good Baklava - so delicious!). I did enjoy it, but it wasn’t a „proper“ art market. Some other artists approached me and told me about where to book my next booth though, so I’m all set. I think after the loosened restrictions everyone is ready to get out there again and talk to people!

FYI: I'll be at the market on the Museumsinel, Zeughaus 1-2, 10117 Berlin, on 25th and 26th My 2022.

FINAL WORDS (of the day, don't worry!)

No matter how much of a lone wolf you think you may be - I feel like most creatives are in a way -, there is a simple truth: People are herd animals, as we say in Germany. We do need other people, we do need communication and feedback. And on that Sunday, I learned how much it is worth indeed. You can be the greatest artist in the world, but your motivation as well as quality of work will stagnate if you don’t go out there and show people in real life from time to time. Sounds reasonable enough, I know. The joy you will feel when telling others your story and explaining your vision for them to give an appreciative nod and say „Keep going, this is amazing“ or give you in-depth advice...well, it’s priceless, it’s heart-warming, it’s entirely human. 10/10 would recommend.

Some tips from me to you at the end (here is what I learned!:)

1.) People are crazy for business cards in all sizes and forms! I know it's an investment, as you pay for them and then everyone just keeps taking these mini artworks home without giving you anything in return...only that's not true! ;) Someone may come back and find you online, buy something later, or tell a friend. So give them to interested folks, but when someone wishes to take 5 designs all at once: do stop them. Haha.

2.) Not every day at an open air market will be the same. My first experience was amazing, but obviously the mood and possibilites of the day depend almost entirely on the weather. Some days you sell well, on others you may not sell a single thing. The key here is to do it often and get a routine. Keep your expectations low and your spirit up. It's the added sum of events that matters.

Good luck!

Work corner

Where I share my current projects & progress

The new logo for my Girfoo Instagram account as well as the first colored draft of my characters.

This month I finally set some time aside to not only write down my many ideas for short comics featuring my family of "Girfoos" but also lay down their colors and work on their designs a bit more. Here are some first sneak peeks which you can also view on my seperate Instagram account @thegirfoos (give me a follow if you want to see more!) Girfoo mama is getting a new hairstyle than the one shown here behind the scenes as we speak. I want the characters to compliment one another, to make each other complete!

Monthly treasures

My favorite things. Collected, discovered or experienced.

*Digital and physical chessboard at the ready!*

I vowed to teach myself some chess strategies this year, or at least get a proper feeling and understanding of the game. Playing against yourself is kind of pointless and I don't always have my granddad around to be my teacher. But now I found this wonderful app which I installed to my iPad and every second morning I set aside half an hour to practice. It's called chess.com and I love how you can choose different strengths of virtual oponents or even play against a real person who has their own account there. Moving the physical chess pieces alongside the digital game is an added bonus and activates one's brain cells in more way than one. I find that I'm more inspired to do art afterwards!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5) out of five stars!

Other things I loved:

Watching two new movies that recently came out by Disney and Pixar over and over: „Encanto“ & „Turning Red“.

Did you notice both of these movies evolve around the topic of generational trauma / anxiety in some way (Encanto in a more serious manner)? I find it an important topic to talk about. But they're not all about that of course, it's only what's creating the main conflict.