Hello, from the Sketchy Traveler newsletter. A mostly twice monthly newsletter on drawing and life design. Excited to have you join us! If you are enjoying this newsletter consider becoming a patron to help keep this newsletter financially sustainable.

At the moment, I am working on organizing an event at the Corvallis Foundry Gallery and this has put me in a reflective mood about my experience with the gallery. Along the way there have been some challenges and also some exciting breakthroughs. So, I wanted to share some insights from my experience running the gallery that might support you on your own creative journey.

It Takes Time to Get the Word Out

The first 6 months were rough as I worked to spread the word that we were even looking for art. I showed my work and had the same artist in the gallery for 3 months. One issue was that the gallery was a side project that I worked on as I was able to. So, for my initial open call I only posted it at the local art center. As I started posting the open call at other art centers in the Willamette Valley and with the local universities, I started to see a swell in interest from the art community to the point that I needed to start a waitlist.

As I have shown the gallery, it is always great to see the amazing talent we have in our local area. Along the way I have met artists ranging from students developing their artistic voice to professional artists who have shown internationally. I now have the gallery regularly booked for 6 to 9 months into the future and have been receiving lots of praise from the members and staff in the co-working space for the artwork we are exhibiting.

Along the way I have had some people turn down shown in the gallery. If you are out there looking for spaces to show your work, know that it is important to know what you are looking for from a space and have the confidence in the future to say no to a space that is not right for you. Often it is our no’s that open the door to the right opportunity for us. When someone decides the gallery is not right for them, I am always happy to share suggestions and referrals to spaces that might be a better fit for what they are looking for.

Your Systems Are Important, Eventually

When you are starting out it is easy to forget about the systems you are setting up to support your practice like tracking conversations or taking payment. When the wave of interest arrives though you will be glad for the systems you set up. They can make managing the sudden volume of interest much easier.

With the gallery, I was particularly glad for my spreadsheet and newsletter tool I had set up. While a bit simplistic, I have a spreadsheet for tracking who has reached out to me and who is showing. Honestly, without the spreadsheet I would be lost in terms of keeping track of conversations and scheduling. I also really appreciate the newsletter tool I switched to in December as it gave me the ability to create segments for groups like the artists on the waitlist and made it easy to stay in touch with the growing pool of artists involved with or interested in the gallery.

Looking for a place to share your work? I am recruiting artists to show in the Corvallis Foundry Gallery for winter 2027. Send me a message if you would like to learn more:

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Flaneur Corner

Magick Grey Theatre

June 18^th, 4pm-8pm

Corvallis Foundry Gallery, 257 SW Madison Ave, Suite 210

This month I am excited to feature Kim Gatherum’s work in the Corvallis Foundry Gallery. Kim upcycles discarded mirrors into works of art that ask the viewer to question who the mirror is showing. Come see Kim’s work at the Corvallis Art Walk on June 18^th from 4pm to 8pm at 257 SW Madison Ave, Suite 210. The stairs and elevator to the second floor are between Guardian Games and Precision Martial Arts.

Summer 2026 On Site Drawing Workshop

July 2026 – September 2026

$15 per session

In the Corvallis area and want to jump start your on site drawing practice? I’m planning an on site drawing workshop series this summer starting in July and running through September. We will meet up around the Corvallis area for an hour-long lesson every two weeks with an email series introducing techniques and tools prior to the class. Let me know if you would like to receive updates on the class and I will add you to the class email list.

The End is Only the Beginning

Wow, you read all the way to the end of the newsletter. This is the end of the newsletter, but only the beginning of your journey. Here are some potential next steps:

• Become a newsletter patron and help keep this newsletter financially sustainable

• Register for a 1:1 coaching session

• Purchase a print or commission me to do a drawing for you