Just do things (or don't)
two opposing experiences of pressing myself to show up more often.
Dear reader,
This month I had a book event in a small, independent bookstore in a mall in White Rock. Not many people showed up, but some came just to see me. I always say yes to small bookstores because it is good to be in real places meeting real people, and because I love small bookstores.
Last week I was at a kiosk in a packed mall in North Vancouver, with many new prints for sale. Very few people showed even passing interest, and I made only 3 sales all day. I learned that even though it is good to be in real places meeting real people, I need to identify which places are not good for me.
So, the idea of this month is to just do things without always obsessing over returns, but also sometimes not do that. I hope that makes perfect sense.
I was so bothered by the pop-up experience that I skipped the next day, even though I had already paid for the spot, to join an urban sketch meetup instead.
I sat under a tree by the side of the road with a cool, sweet coffee-thing and let the sketchbook heal me.
Does your sketchbook have healing powers too?
What do you do all day at a pop-up when you don’t make any sales? You bring a zine to read, of course.
This month’s zine - that is going in the mail to all paying subscribers who have signed up for it - is based on The New Yorker magazine for a couple of reasons:
I was in New York last month and this zine is full of those drawings.
Someone asked why I don’t submit my work to the New Yorker and I did not have the heart to admit that I am terrified of rejection, so terrified that I would rather make my own DIY version of the New Yorker than submit work for them to inevitably turn down. I just responded, “Oh wow that’s a great idea!” and left it at that.
In case this is the first you are hearing about The SneakyArt Mail Club:
❤️ I am making monthly zines for paying subscribers
❤️ I am sending it all over the world
❤️ You can sign up to get The SneakyArt Post in your physical mail too.
All you have to do is become a paying subscriber and email me your mailing address!
A Few Good Links
💻 [Course Waitlist] My courses are reopening for registration this week. Sign up to the waitlist to get a special offer and all the relevant info in your email.
📚 [Buy the book] Every now and again, someone reaches out to share that they have my book, and I am reminded how good it is to have a book out in the world. Do you have a copy yet?
🖼️ [Teaching in Edmonds] I am leading two workshops in Edmonds (WA) this August. If you live around the area, sign up and join me!
Thank you for reading. I am so glad to have a space in your inbox this week.
I did my first ever tabling event with an eye towards selling my work...at the 2nd annual zine fair in my town. I didnt sell any zines, but sold a hefty handful of postcards and business-card-sized mini prints of my work. I'd most hoped to sell some framed art I made in previous lifetimes that really needs to not be filling a whole closet anymore! But this was not the crowd for that. All that to say, I feel you on mixed feelings that swing between the bummer of sitting somewhere for hours while people walk past, and then the highs of talking about art and ideas with the people who stop!
I did an author visit at a library once and no one came. So instead had the best visit with the librarian & it was lovely! It was the last in a week of school visits & honestly I just needed a break. I still got paid & got to go home early so I didn’t feel too bad.