Lift Off!
While looking forward to the shiny new year that lies before me, Iʼd like to take a brief moment to think back and absorb the past 365 days of my life. These recently bygone days have been so incredible, I have to pinch myself that they really happened!
For a quick refresher, I lost my job at the end of 2015. So in 2016, with the support of my partner Alex Koss, I decided to embark on this amazing journey that is called Rebekah Nordstrom Artworks. During 2016, I focused on setting up my business as an oil painter, and building my website and social media platforms.I set up a LLC, developed a mission statement, etc. Creatively, I participated in a couple of “30 Paintings in 30 Days” challenges offered by Lisa Saeta and Strada Easel. Because of these challenges, with the support of my dear friend Suzanne Stiebla, owner of 12.12 Studio in downtown Flagstaff, I was incredibly, able to have 2 one- woman exhibitions of my work.
In 2017 I decided to complete an oil painting every day of the year. This challenge is the root of many “firsts” in 2017, it was incredible!! Early in the year, I was in the first exhibition outside my immediate area by being juried into The Art of Planetary Science in Tucson, AZ. I painted my first exhibition piece called “Language of the Land” for the powerful
show Hope and Trauma in a Poisoned Land at the Coconino Center for the Arts. This exhibition is important to me because it mashed up my passion for plein air painting and environmental activism. I competed in my first plein air competition at the Grand Staircase Escalante Plein Air Festival, and though I didnʼt win any prizes, I met some awesome people, and learned a ton. I also got into my first gallery The Artists Gallery in downtown Flagstaff, AZ. Plus I completed over 378 original oil paintings. What a year!
So, whatʼs in store for 2019? How do I better the amazing 2017 you ask? I proudly proclaim that 2019 is my year of refinement. I am going to start the refinement process by completing a sketch everyday this year, while continuing to paint everyday. As I have not been painting for very long, neither have I been drawing for very long. I want to focus on improving my draftsmanship, and face my subject matter fears straight on. I have also joined a year long online workshop taught by Kenn Backhaus through Tucson Art Academy Online. This workshop will guide me to a deeper understanding of the act of painting. 365 days of instruction is thrilling and scary as it is the first time that my work is being looked at with a critical eye.
Iʼll be delving into some of the ideas for 2019 that I have touched on in this blog, in future blogs. As Rebekah Nordstrom Artworks evolves and grows, Iʼm glad that you are willing to come along for the ride. By reading and sharing my blog, visiting my website and social media platforms, and by receiving and pouring over my newsletter, you encourage me to keep going, to keep growing. For that I am eternally grateful! Thank you for supporting artists by buying original art!
Cheerio! Rebekah
