I'm taking a sabbatical.

I've been reflecting a lot on the art business I've built and how I feel about it, and what I've found is that something's out of alignment.

Over time, I've changed and scaled back a lot. I used to offer pet portraits. I used to have a Patreon. I used to spend nearly every weekend schlepping my art at craft fairs. I thought removing those pressures would be enough to feel better, but it's not. I want to enjoy being an artist more than I am right now. I can't really describe what's wrong, but I need to take some time to find out and make it right.

So, with the help of a friend (ok, it was my therapist) I drafted a plan to take a break in 2027, although I'm not waiting for the new year to implement this. We created two columns: things to keep and things to let go of, at least for a while.

What I'll do in the next year:

• Paint what I want.
• See what my artistic voice is now, without all the noise.
• Vend at my two single biggest markets... maybe.
• Keep selling my existing inventory with retail partners.
• Keep my website up. Though I won't update it very much.
• Finish grad school.
• Reflect on what I make, what other artists I relate to, and how they're making it work as a career.

Taking a break from:

• Painting to make products I think could sell.
• Trying so hard to sell prints and wrestle with my [insert swear word] printer.
• Doing craft fairs all the time.
• Any regular cadence for social media or newsletters. (I'll say something when I have something to say, and that's it.) If that sounds nice, join my newsletter here. 
• Pushing myself so much.

This is really scary. I spent a lot of time, money, and energy making my business what it is. But I'm at the point where all that work is not contributing to something I'd rather be doing than a "regular" job. (Which I still have, anyway--this will not ruin me.) I need to rediscover what it is that makes being an artist my dream, and then come back to it.

I'll still be around when I've got something to show you, but I'm not going to approach it like a business so much. 

TLDR: I'm taking a sabbatical, and I hope to see you on the other side :)