She's Alive, Everyone

and it's SUMMER!!

Hello from my little vortex

My dear friend and fellow Girl Scout (and subscriber), Charlotte Showalter Gregor, has told me before that my newsletter gives her a similar comfort to receiving an American Girl Magazine issue in the mail. This is probably one of the highest compliments I could ever receive about this little Substack venture of mine. Writing has always been a comfort for me… it’s a treat for me to take the time to untangle my thoughts and have them organized in front of me with a flair of nice adjectives and sentence structure.

The same coziness an American Girl Magazine gave me in 2005 is what I can only dream about sharing with you, subscriber (But also, let’s be practical… this is a creative business newsletter that gives y’all the raw entrepreneurial UPDATES). With all thus being said, I’ve missed you- I hope you’ve missed me, and I’m excited at the idea that this latest issue could reach your mailbox with that new-comforting-magazine-issue feeling.

In April I was in Texas

Late April and early May (and who are we kidding… the rest of May) was a blur full of exciting work opportunities and life changes. I had the privilege of teaching a workshop at the Paper Craft Pantry in Austin, Texas, I saw my best friend Taylor Swift perform in Houston, my beloved Toyota RAV4 of 10 years got totaled in an injury-free pileup right near SMU in Dallas, my sister Margaret married a wonderful guy at our family fishing club, I painted a mural at Guess Family Barbecue in Waco, and I also got to teach workshop at Bloom Waco. Oh! I also bought a new car and chaotically adopted a small kitten and then drove back to Georgia with both.

The rest of May was full of recovering from my April, a quick trip to Chicago for a graduation, and then a girls trip to NYC during Memorial Day weekend. I know I worked in May, but I really couldn’t tell you what I actually did that month.

This summer I’m in Savannah, but my art is everywhere.

I’m also a teacher??

I suppose in May I prepared for what I’ll call my summer of art camps and galleries- probably the two most opposite factors of my complex creative livelihood. One day I could be flushing the acrylic paint out of a third grader’s teary eye, and the next I’m converting my American painting prices to British Pounds for a gallery across the pond. This summer has been a different one for me, to say the least :)

Here’s what’s been crackin’ :

Works on Paper at the Brick Lane Gallery in London

My paintings made an international debut this summer! I had the opportunity to ship some paintings to London for a brief showing. I learned a lot about DHL courier shipping and how expensive international calls are :)

Walk a Mile at Blue Print in Dallas

One of my large landscape paintings is on display (and for sale) until July 31 at Blue Print Gallery in Dallas. Blue Print has sold my paintings since 2020, and I adore working with them. I need someone to volunteer to pay a visit and send me a selfie with my piece!

My work is for sale at Courtland and Co in Savannah

I’m thrilled to have my fine art for sale in Downtown Savannah at Courtland and Co. If you’re needing some art, pay a visit to the dreamy location on Bull Street- or you can even shop online here.

Our first Dreamhouse Camp

My studio-mate Lauren and I joined forces to host our first kids camp at Dreamhouse Studios! The week in June included a kids camp in the morning and a teen camp in the afternoon. The week was sweet, silly, tiring, and so rewarding. It was a treat to share the space with some youths… and by the end of the week one of the Gen Z students told ME that I had good music taste :’)

My summer with Urban Hope Camp

To add to my summer art teacher kick, I’ve been teaching art every Monday and Wednesday this summer at Urban Hope- a non-profit in Savannah that provides after school programs and day camps to neighborhood kids. We’ve been creating art pieces for the kids to sell and make their own $$ at the end of July!! If you’d like to support these kids and buy some art, I’ll include some more information below.

What’s on the upcoming queue?

Foodies and Friends is up until Saturday

My April Savannah show, Foodies and Friends, has been up all summer and will be at Colleagues and Lovers in Habersham Village until THIS Saturday (June 22). Reasonably priced works are still for sale there, or just grab a little drinky and smile at the art!

Also this Saturday: Join me for a Cleo Catch Up

Join me at Cleo the Gallery in Savannah for a special artist’s talk from 4-6pm! I’ll be hanging out with my old studio mate Jeanette and answering questions about my work and creative practice! Reserve your spot below :)

Summer Craft Nights!!!

Every Wednesday night at Dreamhouse we’ve been having some very sweet summer craft nights! They’ve been very chill- folks can BYOB and make a bracelet, color a velvet coloring poster, or collage a greeting card. There are two Wednesdays left so be sure to sign up!

Urban Hope Art Show on Friday, July 28th

Are you in Savannah? Please join us for our big art show at the Whitefield Center on 37th and Drayton Street on Friday, July 28th from 6-7:30pm! These kids have worked so hard all summer to create pieces that will be for sale.

Are you not in Savannah? Do you want to buy some sweet kids paintings? There’s also an online auction where you can get a piece from afar!

My last workshop of the summer!

Finally, here’s the link to my last workshop before the fall! I’m going to take a workshop break in August, so be sure to snag your ticket for July 31st. The class is an Intro to Gouache Paint- my most popular class! We’ll drink wine and leisurely play with a new paint while learning some fun basics. Sign up below!

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Well team, that’s all for now. I can’t believe it’s been a year since last year’s renaissance summer! This season carries a whole different flavor and it’s been lovely. What a gift this creative life is.

I’ll end with a raw photo of my desk currently-

Pictured is: a box of fake fruit I ordered for future workshop references, the Artist’s Way (duh), my AirPods case that looks like a small steak, a to-do list, an empty kombucha can, a passport renewal application, and some desert prints.

Thank you for being invested!

Until next time,

Allison “Always a Camp Counselor” Hall