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Ending 2017, Beginning 2018 Report
Ending 2017, Beginning 2018 Report
Normally at this time of year (well, earlier than this, I’m running a bit late!), I like to do a wrap up and reflect of all I did in the previous year, and look forward to plans for the next year. I’m going to keep it pretty concise this year.
Businessy Things and BIG changes
I ran sales and clear outs, closing down the Fairies and Fantasy store as it previously existed. That means no more multi-artist range, no more wholesaling, no more manufacturing from my studio, and no more dye sublimation printing. The Fairies and Fantasy store has been around for over ten years, so this was a big change for me, but will free up a lot of my time to create art again. Replaced the old Fairies and Fantasy store with a new range of products. All my art prints are still available, and products from this store are all managed and shipped by a third party, again, this is a huge time saving measure for me. Because 2018 is about CREATING ART AGAIN! My Printable Fantasy Etsy store was finally loaded with downloadables for all my colouring book designs, stationery, and more thanks to my super awesome designer assistant, Kim from KILA designs.
Publishing Things
I published-
- Faedorables Minis Colouring Book
- Faedorables Cute and Creepy Colouring Book
- Victorian Romance Memory’s Wake Colouring Book and Grayscale Edition
- Ponds and Flowers Colouring Book
- Fairy Magic Colouring Book
- Emotionally Charged audio book
- Fairy Inspiration Colouring Journal
- Grayscale Fairy Companions Colouring Book
My colouring designs were reprinted in/by- Colouring Heaven specials, Nemesis Now special editions, Spanish editions My art was licensed to products like- travel mugs, pillows, clocks, lamps, trinket boxes, jigsaws. I released the Memory’s Wake Omnibus edition in paperback, and Editions Du Chat Noir released the French edition of Hope’s Reign My art was published in- Magical History of Unicorns, Oracle of the Unicorns I wrote these blog posts- Let’s Talk Writing- The Promise of Genre, Defeating Procrastination, and when it Defeats You With the help of amazing fans I created this video about why colouring is awesome.
Art I did
Not much. This is pretty dismal really. This year will be different.
I DID start going to life drawing classes again which was wonderful and I’ll be doing more of in 2018.
Personal Stuff
I went to Japan! It was amazing.
My daughter started school! Also amazing.
What I didn’t do
I didn’t publish a calendar for 2018. I have done calendars every year for a long time, but with the dismay selection of new art created, and the wind down of the manufacturing I’m doing from my studio, I decided to skip this year. Instead we created digital printable calendar options.
No new Empaths books. Still. I KNOW. But I did write stuff. Secret project stuff. Stuff was written. Just not Empaths.
Attended
Books by the Bridge, Mind Body Spirit Festival in Sydney, Supanova Sydney, Sydney Comic-con, Central Coast Comicon.
And this year?
A lot of the bigger changes in 2017 were designed to make way for more creative time for myself. Having more help with my business, and cutting back on the non-creative side of my work was a big focus. 2018 is going to be all about writing and painting. I want to PAINT again. Colouring books have been fantastic, but I feel like I’ve done nothing but outlining art for two years straight and I need to PAINT. With value, and colour and shading and PAINT.
So there will be less colouring books. I’ll try and release something for colouring fans, but new paintings and writing will be my main focus.
After much soul searching, I’ve decided that writing is still really important to me too. I have stories I want to tell, and I enjoy the process of crafting a novel. I have a bunch of plans here, some secret projects, and some distant future ideas. You might not see much on the writing side for a while, but it will probably be happening behind the scenes.
What do you think I should be doing? Have your say in this super quick survey…
Create your own user feedback survey
Also at- https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RML6ZLT
If you have any more ideas about what I should be up to in 2018, leave me a comment 🙂 I’m really looking forward to getting stuck into creating things when summer school holidays end next week!
18 thoughts on “Ending 2017, Beginning 2018 Report”
My dearest Selina,
I was thrilled as I viewed some of your work available at your website. I am a bit of a fan of all things mermaid, However in the wearable artwork there were no shirts available in men’s sizes. It would be a bit of a fantasy come true for me if you were able to provide your “MER-ART” in men’s sizes and shirts. Yours from under the sea,Kevin
That’s definitely something we can look at adding to the range. I love that men love mermaids too!
REALLY excited for new art!!!!
Me too!
I really lovr your art, Selina. I love how you keep to your themes and really care about your fans. I haven’t been such a fan of an artist since Jessica Galbreth decided to, in my opinion, turn her back on the very fans that built her career up for her.
Please stay true to yourself in all things!
Thank you! I loved Jessica’s older works, and I can understand as an artist wanting to change things up… but I can’t understand burning all bridges as I’ve seen some do.
I love that you are going to paint more. I have admired your work since you started 🙂 It has been pure joy to follow your journey , I hope for many more years with creating . Love from Norway
Thank you! I’m nervous that I’ve forgotten so much about painting, but excited to see where it will develop next.
I’m so happy you’re painting more this year! I’d personally love to see more original art for sale, I don’t have much of a budget but I own a few of your sketches which are awesome (and in my price range!) also I do loooove your art competitions. I’m not even in it for the prizes (allthough the trophy was such an awesome prize I’ve never won a trophy before!) but I love having something to make me push myself and especially fantasy themed and judged by the one and only Selina 😀 Oh, oh, and wip vids/pics are so rad, they’re really helpful and inspiring!
I’ve thought about holding the art competition again. I liked doing that, but I need to find a better way for running it. Maybe I can bring in a few guest judges for the final round to help things be fairer.
It’s been a pleasure watching you flourish as a artist an I wish you well in everything you strive to achieve this year and beyond. I have loved your colouring books an as a keen hobbyist of art your work has greatly inspired me to try different mediums and experiment with my own style . My partner and are two daughters also love your work an my youngest tells me you novels are great to unfortunately am not a big reader more creative.
Thank you so much an am sure what ever you choose to do will be great this year and for many more .keep grounded stay true but above all enjoy
That’s so wonderful to hear- inspiring others is just, wow, such an amazing thing to be able to do. Also happy to hear your youngest enjoys my books!
I am really looking forward to seeing your new art this year. I absolutely love your art work. Something I would really love, although expect it would be very time consuming for you to produce, is an art instruction book, with tips and advice on how to paint fantasy art. I have found your tips in your blog posts, and your YouTube video on skin tones really helpful, but would love a “how to paint fairy and fantasy art book.
I’d love to do a book like that too. But I’m a very self doubting artist, and also not a very methodical artist either. I don’t think I’ve ever painted a painting the same way twice, lol! So I always worry I wouldn’t be able to teach properly. But I’ve got some ideas for some books along these lines. Or just some more blog posts and videos 🙂
Hello Selina, I am so excited that you are going to focus more on your art and your writing! Can’t wait to see what you create next!
I am slightly sad about the colouring books, they are a big comfort to me (I have PTSD and they help me to keep grounded) but I completely understand why they’re off the to do list. Thank you for sharing your wonderful gifts! Best wishes for you and yours for the new year!
I’ll see how things go, I might get to midyear and decide there’s another colouring book in me 🙂 And I’ve still got lots of grayscale I can release too.
It’s wonderful to hear my books can be a comfort to you. Being able to make a positive difference in other people’s lives is THE GOAL 🙂
Hi Selina, I’m on the Selina’s Sirens page but I thought I would reply here 🙂
I did your survey and I wanted to add a few things to the questions – I tried my best to answer as true as I could, and I wanted to add I really don’t mind how you spend your time as long as you are producing art now and then 🙂 and you can totally be a Pirate 🙂 I love your work
It would be nice to see some more men in your art, I liked the hierophant centaur picture.
I wanted to add on the note of your own website and purchasing things from the shop, I would love to be able to buy the limited editions and original art, but I am a poor stay at home mum with no income (but an indulgent partner that will buy me colouring books! bless him :)) So to be honest most of the time i buy from Amazon or from your etsy shop. I think you should still keep the shop though but it’s great to see that you will be spending more time painting!
Also wow on the trip to Japan and your daughter starting school. I bet there’s a few Japan inspired paintings coming up – I’d love to see a Kitsune! And my son has just started school so I know how it’s amazing but also stressful and time consuming to get everyone ready and out of the house!
Best Regards,
Anna
Hi Anna, thanks for your comments! School is a mixed bag like that, I agree. And you’ve reminded me I need to look back through my Japan photos for some ideas (in fact all my travel photos have some good inspiration in them!).