The finish is the start

My long holiday in the USA is nearly over, heading towards the finish. And towards that new start I blogged about earlier. July 2009 is my 2009 New Year. (bad/stressful things took over my January to May really, no more, I'm reclaiming my year)

So...
HAPPY NEW YEAR!

3 aspects to the new year:

1. New plans. Looking forward to drafting a whole new snazzy business plan (yes again, but going way outside the box this time), reading books I've set aside for too long, listening to podcasts and conferences I subscribed to but couldn't face. A general overhaul and catch-up on "deskwork".
   
   
2. New studio. Finally settling in! The studio has been the light of my year so far, but the first months involved building, arranging, moving, and just getting some new stuff done for the more urgent events (like open studios). I actually finished the last gallery work, which went to the Yorkshire show at Calder Gallery, in my old studio so as not to disrupt the flow. So new studio hasn't been the place for big work yet. NOW! hooray!
   
   
3. New work. As well as finishing the Dorset coast series (still a few places I want to do paintings of), I'm inspired to start that new 4th of July Lake Michigan series. The Lake Michigan/Chicago sets come up far less frequently (there have been 2 previously) but then become quite obsessive subjects for a while. It will be a good focus right now while I seem to be at a creative borderline - constant pondering of the if/how/why behind my imagery and technique. It's ready to shift, but shift towards what I'm not sure yet. A Chicago series might find that direction.

I land on Monday, UK time. See you then!

In fact, the new year starts straight off with Urban Art on the weekend (18-19th July) so I'll be there. Stop by and say hi, and see my spring paintings of Greenwich Park.

(Photo from Race 6 at Arlington Racetrack last Thursday. 1 1/6 mile race so the starting block was set up by the finish post - this is my mom's great photo of the start!)