I haven’t updated this blog since the beginning of the year, and I apologize for that – and for the super-lengthy title! I have completed a couple of art pieces so far this year: a private commission piece for a client and my 78Tarot Mythical card, “Ace of Cups”. I am working on a couple of paintings at the moment, one of which is very nearly complete, but this year is running away from me.
The Mythical deck Kickstarter launched quietly, and funded quickly, back in March. I’m sure Kayti Welsh Stewart will have opportunities to pre-order 78Tarot Mythical decks through the official Etsy shop if you missed the Kickstarter campaign. If you are interested in the 78Tarot Project, the best way to be kept in the loop is to follow their Facebook Page here. :)
The 78Tarot team will be building a new deck with an Elemental theme sometime within the next few months, with the artwork slated to be finished before Thanksgiving, but I have opted not to participate this time around. I’ve been blessed to have been involved since its inception, and I love the artistic community that has grown around our previous five decks… but I need to spend the rest of my year getting caught up on personal projects. The autumn season is pretty busy around here, as I will be launching my own Kickstarter later this summer; this will be my 5th year publishing The Literary Cats Calendar! I have a crazy amount of work to do!
Berkeley Springs Cat Cafe and Ice House Gallery
Earlier this year, I decided to also take a break from the Rabbit Hole Artist Collective, which is a Facebook group that hosts bi-monthly art auctions. I am incredibly grateful for the friendships I’ve made since joining the group back in 2014, but I wanted to try a different approach to my career in 2018: focusing my attention off-line and developing relationships in my local communities.
Back in January, I was given space to display and sell my artwork at Give Purrs a Chance, a cat cafe and adoption center in Berkeley Springs, WV. That partnership has been working really well; I’ve been selling my prints and magnets, and plan to add a line of greeting cards soon. A portion of each sale benefits the amazing work that George and his team of volunteers are doing to help stray and abandoned cats. Less than one year after their grand opening, they’ve already found furr-ever homes for over 200 cats!!
This past Friday, I was invited to jury for the Morgan Arts Council’s Artist Co-Op. There was one opening for a 2-D painter, and I was thrilled to be selected after an interview and peer evaluation. I will be selling many of my original paintings through their Co-Op Gallery, at the Ice House Art Center in downtown Berkeley Springs. I have four pieces currently on display – “Page of Swords”, “Six of Cups”, “Bastet”, and “Little Women” – and I am working on painting more for the gallery. I also have a series of tiny originals in the works, that I plan to display at the cat cafe this summer. :)
If you are in the area, you should visit Give Purrs a Chance and the Ice House! Purrs is open every day from 11am – 5pm. The Ice House galleries are open on weekends from 11am – 5pm. There is currently a quilt show being hosted by the Delectable Mountains Quilt Guild. I have posted an album on my Facebook Page to share the beautiful paintings, sculptures, glass-works, pottery, jewelry, and fiber arts, handcrafted by area artists belonging to the Co-Op.
Upcoming Show Schedule
In a little over two weeks, I will be setting up for my fourth year at the Winchester Apple Blossom Festival. The dates will be May 5th & 6th, from 10am – 5pm. The “Weekend in the Park” art & craft show (which wraps up the week-long Apple Blossom celebration) is held in Jim Barnett Park, Winchester VA.
The following Saturday, May 12th, is the Westminster Flower & Jazz Festival, in downtown Westminster, MD. I will be there in my booth on Main Street, from 10am – 4pm.
I have two appearances scheduled in June so far: the Maryland Faerie Festival, June 9th & 10th, in Darlington, MD ~ and back to Westminster for “Quilt Day” at the Carroll County Farmer’s Market on June 23rd. **I will only be appearing at six of the summer markets this year: June 23rd, July 7th, and the four Saturdays in August (4th, 11th, 18th, and 25th).**
Etsy Clearance Sale
I am now offering 11″x14″ archival prints of several paintings, such as Greenman Cat, Bastet, and Little Women… and I’ve been doing a bit of spring cleaning as well! Several dozen prints and cards have put on clearance, which means they likely won’t be restocked in the future – so grab them here while you can! Quantities are limited to my current inventory.
My 5″x7″ archival prints and greeting cards have also been reduced. I am looking into having my cards printed by an outside company going forward. The designs listed in my shop are all that are left of the handmade cards I’ve been printing in-house since 2011.
New Patreon Reward Tiers
Have you heard about Patreon? :D
Patreon is a website where artists, musicians, pod-casters, filmmakers, and other creatives can share their creative process to followers pledging a monthly subscription. I’ve been quietly posting to Patreon since 2015, so my inner circle has been following along with me for a long time. Like a premium blog, my Patreon channel is half “Behind the Scenes” with progress pics and time lapse videos, and half a rambling journal of my thoughts on my art and life. :)
Up until now, the “rewards” for a $1+ monthly subscription have been to get a closer peek at what I’m doing, and planning to do next, and the ability to offer feedback or just chat!
I also subscribe to several friends’ Patreon blogs, and noticed that they are all offering cool perks for higher pledges. So I’ve added a few “goodies” tiers to my own channel.
- the $15 per/month “Magnet Collector” Tier
- the $25 per/month “Mystery Cat Box” Tier
- the $35 per/month “Cat Print of the Month” Tier
- the $50 per/month combined “Magnet Collector” AND “Cat Print of the Month” Tier
- the $100 per/month “Original Art Credit/Commission” Tier
The Tiers Explained
The “Magnet Collector” Tier is for folks who enjoy collecting my cat art magnets! You know who you are! ;) With this subscription, you will receive a magnet of each new painting I complete – and if I don’t finish at least one painting during the month, you can select a magnet from my earlier works, until you have the entire collection! US Shipping is included.
The “Mystery Cat Box” Tier is a monthly package of assorted cat art merchandise (there will be prints, and maybe a magnet, cards, or bookmarks) that will retail at least $30. US shipping is included.
The “Cat Print of the Month” Tier is like the magnet tier, except you receive an archival reproduction print of each new painting that I complete, in the same size as the original (up to 11″x14″). If I don’t finish at least one painting during a given month, you can choose from one of my earlier paintings to receive as your print of the month. US shipping is included.
The combined “Magnet” and “Cat Print” Tier is for serious collectors who want every magnet and print as they are released. US shipping included.
The “Original Art Credit/Commission” Tier is for you, if you would like to purchase one of my originals, or commission me to do a special cat portrait just for you! Consider this Tier like a “Lay-away” payment option: You decide which painting you’d like (and message me to reserve it for you!), and your monthly pledge will be held as credit towards the painting until it is 100% paid… and then I will ship it you!
Please know that with Patreon, your pledges can be cancelled at any time! There is no long-term commitment. You can switch between Tiers, or pause your pledges, too. It is a very convenient, flexible, and fun way to support your favorite creators. Each Tier comes with exclusive “Behind the Scenes” access, and Tiers $5 and up receive a discount code to use in my shop. :)
Thank you for your continued support and encouragement!
I hope to see you soon!
~ Tara =^,,^=