Locking it in
Hello everyone,
I wrote a few weeks ago that I felt both like the year had started but also things weren’t really kicking off. I was planning a lot but not doing a lot, just as January is sort of a very quiet time.
Well! I can say, for certain, that this week has really kick started quite a bit and so much is getting clarified.
I want to keep this week’s entry somewhat brief, so I’ll share with you a few big dot points about what’s been happening.
I finished building my studio over the weekend! Big shout outs to my girlfriend for helping me move on a very hot day. It’s pretty impressive what two people and a van can get done. I should share a video or pictures soon.
I’ve started working as a substitute teacher for some extra cash. I’ve worked two days this week and am confirmed for two more next week. This is really good as my main complaint with casual work is the uncertainty of if I’ll be called. Sometimes I’ll be up, dressed and sitting on the couch wondering whether I’m going to get called to work, and I find that just a tremendous waste of time. So having some advance notice is great. It’s also good because it’s money in my hands and in my superannuation - which is a boring adult goal of mine this year. The best part? The school I’m working at is walking distance. Working as a sub is tiring - I find that I get home and I’m just spent, so the things I may usually do in the evening (some admin, design work, emails, exercise) I’m just a bit smashed! So I think 2-3x sub days a week is the sweet spot.
I have got confirmations galore: my exhibition in Broken Hill (June dates), attendance at a book fair (Melbourne Art Book Fair) in May, I’ve locked in my next road trip (April) and some other big things (travel to Europe and WA). This is really helpful in planning when workshops, printing, substitute teaching and down time is.
I have locked in: the book launch for our first book!
I have started the logistics of book making. Book making takes a lot of little steps. From agreeing to work together (and the terms of that), to making drafts of a book on the PC, through to getting quotes and changing things to be on budget it’s a fairly laborious process. However, I have been talking with printers and artists this week and we’re getting through the mess of decisions! I’m closeish to having the first three books of the year more or less locked in and the timelines sorted which, again, makes all the other things going on a lot more straightforward.
There are some new opportunities coming up. From Fellowships at the State Library of Victoria to planning my own book for 2026, to locking in public programs for the exhibitions I’m doing this year there’s lots going on.
I ran a promotion on my workshops and spent a weekend just smashing IG and newsletter marketing - which broadly ended up working. I sold something like 10 spots over that weekend, which is really great. It’s interesting seeing which workshops are popular, which are middling and which just aren’t popular at all. I hope to sell a few more spots over February but, even if I don’t, I’m bringing in some income and learning a ton :)
When I read these back it’s a bit simplistic sounding but I cannot tell you how much easier these things make my life. It’s a bit tricky to plan around constantly moving dates, so when I’m able to confirm things and block them out that makes the rest of the year so much easier indeed.
I hope you’re all well,
Matt