It’s been a while...
Hey there, it’s been a while...
First off, let me address the elephant in the room: yes, it’s been over seven months since my last newsletter. You might have been wondering, “What happened to Chris? Did he decide to stop writing? Did the newsletter disappear into the ether?”
Well, the short answer is: I needed a break. The longer answer? Let me explain.
You know, I’m always telling artists that I work with to step back and re-evaluate things – like going for a long drive to get out of their regular environment to gain new perspectives. Well, I had to take my own advice.
Between you and me? I was flat-out exhausted. Last year was a whirlwind. Five art fairs across the globe, constant travel, the energy it takes to be “on” all the time – it wears you out. Add to that, writing two newsletters a week, working on a book, running a gallery, coaching and mentoring artists, and trying to come up with fresh, valuable content for this newsletter... By the middle of January, I hit a wall.
I felt a huge lack of inspiration and creative energy. In other words, I ran out of steam and ideas. And for someone who usually has way too many ideas, that felt a little strange to say the least.
So, I hit pause on this newsletter. I needed it. But more than that, I wanted to use this time to work one-on-one with many artists, to support their careers and learn what they truly need. This break gave me time to evaluate the needs of each artist I worked with and to reassess the art world landscape in its current form.
Now, here’s something interesting. I thought that by not writing for the past 7 months, I’d lose subscribers and people would just drift away. What I realized, though, was that all the effort I put into creating content in the past helped to gain new subscribers and retain existing ones. It’s a powerful reminder that consistency pays off – the work you do today can continue to bear fruit long into the future.
During this hiatus, I’ve been working closely with individual artists, evaluating how the art world has evolved since the pandemic, making significant progress on my book, and developing a major program that I hope will support artists in the current climate, in the ways they actually need and want.
And you know what? This break reminded me just how much I love what I do. I love supporting the artists I work with on their journey. Sometimes I’m a mentor, other times a collaborator brainstorming ideas for exhibitions or other creative projects. Often, I’m a confidante. My focus is on working with artists who are struggling to realize their full potential. I offer insights to overcome the obstacles holding them back, all with the aim of helping them thrive and become the best version of themselves.
As we move into the final months of 2024, I’m excited to share with you the insights I’ve gained, the projects I’ve been working on, and the new ways I hope to support our creative community.
Thank you for your patience during this unexpected break. Your support means the world to me, and I’m looking forward to reconnecting with all of you in a more meaningful way.
Question: Have you ever hit a wall in your creative journey or needed to step back and re-evaluate? I'd love to hear how you navigated that challenge – leave a comment below and share your experience!
Stay tuned – there’s more coming your way, starting this Sunday!
Artfully yours,
Chris
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