last january
Last year I wrote a new year's post about everything I was looking forward to. There was so much hope for a good year and so many plans I couldn't even share yet. And it was an amazing year.
the contrast of february: lots of snow and a trip to Ecuador
But the reality is that there were a lot of hard stretches. Personally, this was a hard year. From where I stand I can see the magnificent high points AND the very low points that no one else can see. I am glad to celebrate the high points but looking back I cannot ignore the hard stuff – the low points and all the work it took to get to the high points. The highs were amazing but I feel like the lows were pretty low.
Does it have to be that way, I wonder? If I want the peaks do I have to go so low in between? Maybe. I am looking forward starting Louise Gale's ecourse again next week and going through the exercises she has created to honor the past and look forward!
And where I am now feels hard. I am trying to be brave, but change is hard and stressful. I find solace in I knowing I am on the right path and I feel it promising a beautiful future.
ice climbing in march
So on to the celebrating. Looking back these are the mountains I climbed:
- Seek Your Course: idea to launch in 6 months! What a ride that was! And it continues to grow and evolve. Lots of exciting developments on the way in 2012.
- It was a beautiful winter full of snow and snow shoeing. Tried ice climbing and loved it. Planning on doing more this winter.
cape cod in june for the encaustic conference
- Finished my 5th year of teaching. It was a hard year, especially once I started Seek Your Course and spent all my extra time in that, but good.
- Applied for artist residencies and got into two. Chose Spain.
seek your course launch party in july
- Attended EncaustiCamp in Oregon in July. What an amazing group of people! So creative and uplifting.
- Asked to teach at EncaustiCamp 2012. So excited to be offering a class I really love and that is so personally fulfilling for me. Want to join me?
falling in love with oregon in july
colorado on the way home from oregon was lovely too
- Quit my job teaching with mixed feelings. But certainly not looking back.
- Kickstarter success. Raised over $2,200 for my residency in Spain. Supported by 39 people. Still feel blessed.
then there was that flooding in august
coastal trip in august (lauren with poppy on the beach)
- Lots of time spent with friends and family this year. As I looked through photos I realized just how awesome it has been.
- Finally climbed Mt. Washington and partially completed the Presidential Traverse in New Hampshire.
mt washington, nh in september
the summits of mt perdido and ben nevis
- Europe and my artist residency. Where to begin reccounting the exciting times and accomplishments? I guess climbing Ben Nevis in Scotland (highest peak in the UK) and the 11,000'+ Mt. Perdido in Spain tops the list. And my residency provided an infusion of time into my painting practice. An amazing experience. And I saw the Queen of England. Icing on the cake.
- UPDATE: How could I forget? My Shows! Seeing my art hanging in Spain, New York, Miami and here in my town.
spain in october
the queen in november
Looking ahead, this is what I am looking forward to in 2012:
- Teaching Encaustics: in-studio classes here in Western Massachusetts, East Coast workshops in February, April, & May, EncaustiCamp in July, and ...
- Headed to Artfest in Seattle in March. Ben and I will explore the northwest together too. His first time.
- Really hoping to make it to Texas (for the first time) in September for the International Encaustic Artists conference there.
- Participating in a couple of artist groups – one local, one virtual – to build community and have some accountability in this self-employment thing.
- Working on the house. This has to be the year of finishing this place or I WILL go crazy.
- SYC developments. Connecting more creative people with the learning opportunities out there!
our neighbors here in december