November was mainly spent collecting Christmas greetings for The Chautauqua Christmas insert. Even though I started the beginning of September, I still felt like I needed a totally free month between October and November to get everything together! Partly because this year the Christmas issue is December 15th, which is early for the 3rd Friday of the month. On the other hand, that means I'm officially on Christmas holidays on December 16th as there are 5 Fridays in December.
I had my annual visit and picture with Santa on December 2nd. The tradition continues.
- on November 12th, I completed my 1,500th ipad sky drawing since April 27, 2022!
- My commissioned Christmas header went live on Wondercafe2 on November 25th, and was very well received.
- I entered the UK Wraptious Fall Artist Contest November 1st and they will announce the winners around December 19th. There were over 1,600 entries so fingers crossed.
Recently Completed:
Since the last newsletter, I've completed...
- JOY painting (watercolour pencils, acrylics, Posca paint pens on 9x12 mixed media paper) based on a process by Whitney Freya
- Watercolour play (on 9x12 mixed media paper)
- REST painting (watercolour pencils, acrylics, Posca paint pens on 9x12 mixed media paper) based on a process by Whitney Freya
- LOVE painting (watercolour pencils, acrylics, Posca paint pens on 9x12 mixed media paper) based on a process by Whitney Freya
- November 10th I made a baked oatmeal and on November 26th I made another. They are so quick and easy to make, I should be able to make lots and have some in the freezer for future, but some days, I just don't have the energy to do any baking.
UFO (UnFinished Object) Update:
For the past month, I've been tackling a different type of UFO in my life - all of the numerous website tabs I have open on my computer and ipad - I won't tell you the exact number, just know it's a ridiculous amount. Some are websites that have been recommended to me and I opened so I wouldn't lose them, but then never looked at again (cause we all know "life happens"), and some are ones where I needed to do something (subscribe, download, save, do the class, etc) and didn't think I had time so left it open to "deal with later." Now one bonus about leaving things undone a long time is that by the time you return, sometimes it isn't relevant to you any more, or sometimes the site no longer exists - those ones are quick and easy to close. There are some that I still need to access so they are remaining open, and there are a bunch that are online classes (art, yoga, Qigong, drumming, Ayurveda, etc) that I still want to do so they too will remain open for now.
Works in progress:
Currently, I'm working on...
- a 9x12 page of watercolour play
- based on Whitney Freya classes, I'm working on a BODY painting and a Laughing Buddha painting (in my personal smashbook)
- Heart Cards in watercolour pencil/Posca paint pen on mixed media paper
- an 8x10 acrylic painting (definitely a UFO) + a 16x20 acrylic painting (2022/23 Hawaii virtual painting retreat - I am prepared to move forward on this soon)
- I really need a better "studio" setup, but I managed to get the easel off the kitchen floor so I can at least walk around the room without tripping.
- On November 18th I signed up for Laura Rose's Honey Pot (embodiment) self-paced online class. It was originally a year-long class with monthly live Zoom sessions and was unfortunately out of my price range. After the year was complete, she offered it as an online course, that was still out of my price range. As she's currently on maternity leave, she offered her programs at dramatically reduced prices and I was able to sign up this time. I am really looking forward to diving into the course.
- I'm practicing my drum playing daily, and hope to view the next lesson before the end of the month (fingers crossed).
- Recipes, Remedies, and Rituals Ayurveda course - it's been so long since I did anything on it, I will have to start over for a refresher when I get back to it!
- I had Ember do another set of scans for me and now I have a few to work with and get up on the Art of Where site, and on different products.
Featured Artworks for Sale:
It's time to create some space, and raise some much-needed funds, for future art projects! For the month of December, I have the following items for sale (prices include GST) that would make great gifts:
Books:
"The View from My Window" by (Peeping) Thomasina (2020) $10
"Exploring My Artist Voice: a journey without a map" (2022) $15
Card Decks:
"Traditional Wisdom: proverbs for everyday guidance" (2020) $25
"Daily Wisdom: proverbs for living life to the fullest" (2020) $25
"BEEing" (2021) $20
"Deep Truths for Remembering and Reclaiming Yourself" (2021) $40
"TEA for the Heart & Soul" (2021) $75
"May I" (2022) $25
"TEA for the Bitter Times" (2022) $45
Planners and Journals:
"Creative Daily Planner: for the unconventional, non-conformists, creatives, rebels, and other out of the box personalities" (2022) $30 or from Amazon https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0BMJM1SD3
"Magical Moments in my Day Journal: for the extra special moments all around me" 6x9 lined journal (2022/2023) $15 or from Amazon https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0CJLKZ3KB
Music Albums:
"Just Show Up" (fall 2022) https://linktr.ee/beth.richardson CDs $15
Tea towels: $20 each
Please contact me at thechautauqua@gmail.com or phone 403-352-3837 to make an addition to your collection.
"This book, Exploring My Artist Voice, is a journey of discovery, inspiration and overcoming adversities. Beth illustrates her journey with examples of her art throughout. What makes it powerful is that while Beth is working through her own personal issues, it is easy for the reader to identify with the problems and obstacles that she encounters. For me it was truly inspiring and beautiful." - JaneAnn Settergren, MFA, MDiv
I have a number of pairs of knitted and crocheted fingerless gloves for sale (prices range from $20 - $25 with GST included) First come, first serve for colour choices.
Upcoming Projects:
- I offer Pay-What-You-Can Distance Reiki/Energy Healing sessions. Energy healing works great from any distance and I've sent Reiki healing as far away as Queensland, Australia. Please, contact me to set up your healing session.
"I have been suffering with Long COVID for over a year and have tried every healing modality in the book to get my energy back. Beth has been gifting me with healing Reiki energy for quite some time now and I have, for the first time in over a year, started to feel like myself again. Much of my weakness has dissipated, and the dark cloud that I have been stewing under has lifted. Thank you Beth. ♥️" - Carla, Esthetician, Nova Scotia
As I will be making some dramatic changes to The Chautauqua in the new year, as printing costs continue to rise, I decided to try something new and bring my cartoon/comic drawings out of the closet (so to speak) and publish some in the paper. My first strip (below) will appear in the Christmas issue as an experiment. Drawing on the ipad is quite different from drawing with a ball-point pen on paper, but I think I figured out how to make it work for me.
Thanks for reading, and as always, feel free to share with anyone you think might enjoy it.
I wish you all the merriest of Christmases, and I'll see you in the new year!
Beth
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Thank you so much for your support, and again, if you would like to receive this newsletter directly via email please email: thechautauqua@gmail.com and ask to be added to the mailing list. Thank you!
Back issues of this newsletter can be found here: https://thechautauquanewspaper.blogspot.com/ under the category "Artist Newsletter"
If you would like to support my artistic journey, please consider purchasing my artwork, items available in person at 4910-47 St, Mirror, AB
or by making a donation via
Mail a cheque or money order (made out to Beth Richardson – Chautauqua) to Box 261 Mirror, AB T0B 3C0
E-transfer to thechautauqua@gmail.com
PayPal at https://paypal.me/thechautauqua (note: you will need to sign into PayPal first, and then specify the amount)
Your support and kindness are always greatly appreciated, and I look forward to continuing to bring joy and inspiration! Thank you so much and have a marvellous day!
