2018 Art Year in Review

I kind of lost steam in the second half of this year, as life got in the way - but I still managed to accomplish a lot in the first several months of 2018, and I've got a lot more planned for the first months of 2019 as well! Below are just some of my art and blogging highlights from 2018.

• Some of my colored pencil drawings from the Canton Village Theater's GRRRLS Like Us exhibition (Nov-Dec 2017) were featured in a Heaven Spot episode of Detroit area artists. The video premiered at Young Felix Loft on January 19, 2018; you can read about my experience at the premiere party and watch the video here.

• My "Bandaged Duality" 22x30" watercolor painting hung in the Carr Center in Detroit from March 3 to April 26, 2018 as part of their "Nevertheless She Persisted" Women Art Exhibition.

• In the spring, I completed my largest artwork commission to date - an acrylic triptych of the Charlotte, North Carolina skyline, measuring 28x66" in total.

• My colored pencil drawings "30 Days" and "28 Years" were hung at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial from July 12 to August 19, 2018, as part of their "Flower Power" Art Exhibition.

• I was selected to act as an official art juror at the Art and Apples festival in Rochester, Michigan in September 2018.

• My Etsy shop continued to see sales throughout 2018, especially for custom watercolor bouquet commissions, original Great Lakes watercolor paintings, and art print notecards.

• I created more 8x10" colored pencil drawings on colored paper for my ongoing floral symbolism series. ("Flight" on blue paper and "Ambition" on red paper were two of my personal favorites.)

• This blog, "Until the Water Falls," hit 15,000 total views, and two of my posts from this year entered my "Top Three" most viewed posts: Entitlement (which has nearly 230 views) and Missed Miscarriage (which is now my most viewed blog post, with 460+ views).

• I received lots of great comments on several Instagram pics this year, with some posts earning close to 90 "likes." Follow me on Instagram and Twitter to see more posts in 2019!

What I love about looking back at the last twelve months is that even if there were a few months where I felt "not productive enough," I can still look at the year as a whole and marvel at everything I accomplished. Like any year, 2018 had highs and lows; if I focus on the high points, I can see that I really have a lot of positives in my life - which helps me get excited for the plans I have in the works for 2019.

Thank you to everyone who continues to read my blog, follow me on social media, purchase artwork from my Etsy shop and just generally support me in my artistic endeavors and in life!! :) In 2019, you can look forward to more colored pencil drawings, more watercolor paintings, and more personal vulnerability, as I write about my artistic journey and life journey on this blog. Happy new year!!

2017 Art Year in Review

I spent a lot of time on my art this year - and accomplished a lot of cool things!

• Eight large format colored pencil drawings, five 8x10 drawings, and ten 5x7 drawings were on display at the Village Theater in Canton, Michigan throughout the month of November as part of a two-person exhibition "GRRRLS Like Us".

• I was commissioned to create eight custom watercolor bouquet paintings through this listing on Etsy, from people as far away as Alabama, Colorado, Georgia, Washington D.C., and the United Kingdom. I also added a "Rush Order" option, which promises a finished custom painting at your doorstep in five days.

• I had artwork available for sale at the Paint Creek Center for the Arts in Rochester, Michigan all year - including original Michigan-themed watercolors, original floral colored pencil drawings, and lots of boxed notecard sets.

• My Great Lakes Notecards have been selling well on Etsy, with several orders places around the holiday season.

• I reached over 630 followers on Instagram (and received lots of great comments!) by posting pictures of artwork in progress.

• I was commissioned to create a large acrylic triptych (a painting on three separate canvases), which I'll be working on soon in early 2018. (More on that to come in future blog posts!)

• And I finished lots of exciting artwork (including the aforementioned colored pencil drawings and the custom watercolor bouquets)! Here are some of my favorite art pieces I completed this year:

"Anticipation" - 8"x10" Colored Pencil Drawing on Tan Paper (SOLD)

8"x10" Custom Watercolor Bouquet commissioned by Blake (SOLD) 

8"x10" Custom Watercolor Bouquet commissioned by Brent (SOLD)

"Great Lakes in Rainbow" - 8"x10" Watercolor Painting

"28 Years" - 22"x30" Colored Pencil Drawing on Black Paper

"Religion Bouquet (Stronger Together)" - 19"x25" Colored Pencil Drawing on Black Paper

"Shame" - 8"x10" Colored Pencil Drawing on Tan Paper

8"x10" Custom Watercolor Bouquet commissioned by Mark (SOLD)

"Great Lakes in Metallic Copper & Red" - 8"x10" Watercolor Painting

"Gender Bouquet (Stronger Together)" - 19"x25" Colored Pencil on Black Paper

8"x10" Custom Watercolor Bouquet commissioned by Michael (SOLD)

8"x10" Custom Watercolor Bouquet commissioned by Paul (SOLD)

"Sexuality Bouquet (Stronger Together)" - 19"x25" Colored Pencil Drawing on Black Paper

You can find many of these pieces for sale at my Etsy shop: etsy.com/shop/ArtworkbyAndreaArbit. I will be adding more inventory soon (including the items that didn't sell at the GRRRLS Like Us exhibition!) so definitely check back to see what new stuff gets added in 2018. :)

I hope you continue to follow me on this blog as well as my Twitter and Instagram accounts as I keep creating into 2018! Happy New Year, everyone!

2016 Art Year In Review

I got a lot accomplished this year with regards to my artwork!

• My watercolor "Silk Caution" (part of my 2010 thesis painting series) was featured in the Scarab Club exhibition "Blooms Beasts Bugs" in Detroit, MI in May.

• In June, I was invited to be a part of the Paint Creek Center for the Arts Spring Gallery Stroll. I displayed several watercolors, acrylic paintings, and colored pencil drawings in a "pop-up" one-night-only personal gallery in Smith Jewelers in downtown Rochester, MI - and even sold two drawings.

• My artwork was available for sale in the PCCA Art Market all year - including August, when I was given my own "featured artist" table.

• I scanned in many of my original paintings and drawings and created art print blank notecard sets, which have been selling moderately well at PCCA and through my Etsy store.

• I collected a lot of photographs to use for future art compositions - including photos of the colorful autumn leaves, a ton of pics from the Michigan Orchid Show in April, and many images of flowers and plants growing in my own backyard, the yards of my relatives, and public spaces like downtown Rochester and my local library.

• I gained new followers on Instagram and Twitter - and did my best to post an image of recent artwork on Instagram at least a few times a week to reach new people on social media.

• And I completed a LOT of cool art projects. Here are some of my favorites:

You can find many of these for sale at my Etsy shop: etsy.com/shop/ArtworkbyAndreaArbit

I hope you continue to follow me on this blog as well as my Twitter and Instagram accounts as I keep creating into 2017! Happy New Year, everyone!