In a week, we serenade!

MERRY CHRISTMAS HAPPY HOLIDAYS

SEASON’S GREETINGS FROM TEXAS

Initially, I started this month dreading all the holiday work stuff lined up for me (honestly, yes, I lined it up for myself. I’m such a demanding CEO). I was on my post-Thanksgiving flight back to Savannah and the woman next to me on my flight asked if I was “sad and anxious”. Nothing like strangers even noticing the stress swirling in your head.

But after all the pop ups, some fatigue, and the yearly holiday sinus infection- I packed up my desert paintings and hopped onto another flight back to Dallas for Christmas with the family, which will be followed by my art show on the 29th. I really thought I’d be grinding it out on the projects and having a horrible time working through the season, but honesty it’s been pretty blissful over here.

On Monday I kicked off the week painting a bathroom mural at a residence outside of Dallas and I’m not kidding you… I didn’t once leave this room from 9 AM to 4 PM. The job was an hour and a half drive from my parent’s house and I really didn’t want to commute a second day so I willingly entered the vortex. I would also like to contribute my success to Audible and protein-packed snacks. I kept the bathroom vent on the whole time because I had a fear of passing out from paint fumes in this random house in Celeste, Texas. A notch up from my irrational fear of fainting in public.

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A Quick Update on Show Prep

After that aggressive start to my working holiday, things leveled out nicely the rest of this week as I’ve established a rhythm of walking to the local YMCA, working on puzzles with my sister, and letting my mom feed me warm dinners. Oh yes, and prepping for my art show that’s a week from today (Thursday). Here are some reasons why I’m not as stressed about this show as I thought I’d be:

1. I forgot how secretly chill landscape paintings are. Since landscapes are full of organic shapes, I am free to paint them without photo references and I can mindlessly work from memory. With my still life paintings, I was truly working from observation and working hard to paint specific objects. Landscape paintings just don’t take as long to paint.

2. I showed up to Texas with already 10 completed pieces! Half of these works I painted months ago before I even knew this show was happening. I also ordered frames ahead of time to be delivered to my parent’s house so I got to frame pieces all week and feel accomplished.

3. The remaining pieces that I’m working on this week are mostly smaller. During this show I’d like to sell more affordable pieces so more people can leave with art. I’d also like to end the night without taking home a dozen paintings.

4. Since I’m collaborating with other folks who grew up in my hometown community, I feel less stressed about advertising this show. The first round (Catchall Show) I was the queen of the night, but also it fell on me to make sure people actually showed up. This time it’ll be fun to share this night with other amazing artists and their circles!

5. Honestly, getting sick a couple of weeks ago forced me to rest and realize that I’m not a little workhorse. God-given limits can be so annoying, but a gift as well. I’m not the little art machine I think I am sometimes. I’d love to figure out how to do the holidays as a small business artist without all this pressure to have a financially amazing month. We’ll get it right one day.

So yes, if you’re in Dallas on Thursday, December 29th- please join me at Southwest Serenade at Sova Hospitality at 2105 Commerce Street anytime from 5-10 PM. We’ll have music from the marvelous Story Slaughter and Lait Fitzpatrick at 7 PM! There will also be margaritas.

Thanks for subscribing friends, hope your holiday season involves ambiance, peace, and time with loved ones. I’ll catch you in the New Year!

Allison “Not a Workhorse but a Real Woman” Hall