Welcome back printmakers! In this week’s issue:

• How I am Fighting Creative Block

• Future of 36 Views of Yosemite Series

• Holiday Update

• Trivia Answer

Let's dive in…

Creative Block

Right now I am blocked. Congested. Artistically constipated. I did not choose this load, but I can decide how to carry it.

I can be a schmuck sometimes, especially when I start overthinking and obsessing over something. Hitting a creative block is a superfood for my overthinking.  My work sucks, why is my engagement down? That artist is better than me. I should probably get new tools. Why can't I draw a circle anymore?

In previous articles I have talked about creative blocks, and even shared how other artists deal with it. However, I had not presented that information to you while currently suffering from a creative block. Ah, plot twist!

I sort of started sliding into the block in late October just as Printober was about to wrap up. The benefit of joining challenges like Printober is that you don't have to do a lot of thinking. As I transferred the final lines of my Fat Man sketch, I told myself this would most likely be my last ‘original’ idea until the new year.

Much of November I spent preparing and promoting my work in order to push sales. This time of the year is always hectic and awkward for me. I want to make sure I push sales because, honestly, the holiday sales account for about 70% of my yearly art revenue. I also don’t want to come off as annoying for those of you who already know of my work. It’s a tricky balance for sure.

As I mentioned before, peak productivity isn't infinite, there comes a time when everything slows down and that's ok. Being completely transparent, in my personal experience periods of creative block are always correlated to my mental health status. Without diving too much into the details, this aspect of my life is very much a work in progress.

Last February I started going to therapy and taking care of myself. That decision, I feel, was part of the reason I was able to accomplish so many goals and step out of my comfort zone so often.

Outside of therapy and treatment one of the things that always helps get out of a funk is reading. I read a minimum of 30 minutes a day typically in the mornings. Reading is a childhood passion, plus I love making trips to Narnia or Westeros.

Most recently I picked up drawing with a pen. This is something that the Wondertruck Printmaker mentioned she does. One of my favorite artists, Steve Huston, also does this regularly on YouTube. So I picked up a cheap fountain pen, because I wanted to feel fancy doing it and low key wanted to copy Huston.

The first couple days it was just super stressful getting started. I would freeze for a couple minutes, pen in hand, staring at the sheet of paper. Visualizing the gliding of the pen and the scratching of the nib. I could literally feel my heartbeat while holding the pen, so weird. I kept getting the same feeling in the pit of my stomach, that you feel when you have to present to the class for the first time.

Once I got over this mental freeze, I just went with the flow figuratively and literally. Sometimes the pen would leak, sometimes it would splatter when I moved it up too quickly, but I didn't stop. Just like when carving, I accepted the mistake and tried to incorporate it to the drawing as a whole.

Upon finishing I was left with a string of lines not really resembling much of anything. Yet they made me feel so good. I did not have to please anyone here, I did not matter how many likes each drawing got, for the most part no one else besides me will even get to see these drawings.

I am getting close to half a sketchbook worth of these drawings. I have also made a few breakthrough ideas regarding future pieces, and although I have not envisioned them completely they are a great starting point. On the other hand, I do believe I have landed on a perfect little recipe for the next time I find myself in a creative block or emotional stump.

36 Views of Yosemite Update

For the two years I have been running a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds and awareness for my 36 Views of Yosemite series. This coming year I decided to skip the Kickstarter and instead focus on the series itself. Thanks to this series I was able to partner with not only the Haggin Museum, who bought some of my pieces, but also with Yosemite National Park. I have also met so many art and Yosemite lovers like myself.

I am super proud to share that I have been invited to return to the Obata Art Weekend next summer. With that in mind, I want to make sure that I share new work and new things this coming summer. I anticipate 2023 being more 36 Views focused.

I currently have two pieces carved, which I have yet to print. I will be working on these prints during January and expect to release them by February.

Thank you so much to all the amazing collectors who have been following the development of this series since day one!. Bruce, Emily, Jedediah, Antoinette, Kim, Troy, Shelby, David, Eddy, Keren, Brandon thank you so, so much!

Holiday Update

It is not too late to get something from my shop! I am still running a sale on the store where certain items have up to 60% off. This will continue until the end of the month.

I will also be releasing a second sale. These are the prints that are perfectly imperfect, ghost prints or prints that slide while being pulled. Prices on these prints will be dramatically reduced, so if you are ok with happy little accidents then these are for you!

Thank you for your continued support!

Hey Hold Up!

The answer to last week’s trivia is: The Duct Taped Banana.

Do you have a printmaking or artist-related question you want me to answer?

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Thanks for reading. See ya next week.

-Daniel