2022 Biz Recap: A Review of the Year, and What to Expect in 2023
Another year is coming to an end and it’s time to reflect. 2022 was my first full year of being a self-employed artist and I couldn’t be more grateful for all of the growth and progress my business has made in the past 12 months. From launching six new Skillshare classes to having my work in a beautiful local art gallery, I’m amazed at everything that happened this year and it makes me even more excited and hopeful for what’s to come in the new year.
2022 also came with plenty of challenges, setbacks, and self-doubt (hello, imposter syndrome). When you work for yourself, it can be all too easy to fall into the comparison game and focus on where you wish your business could be, instead of appreciating all of the work you’ve put in to get it to where it is here and now. So, in the spirit of reflection and appreciation, I’m choosing to focus on those little moments in the past year that made me cry happy tears and say “I can’t believe this is my job!”
Here’s a quick recap of the highs of the past year and what you can expect in 2023:
Celebrating 2022 Achievements:
Skillshare Classes - Teaching has been one of the most pleasant surprises in my creative business so far. I’ve launched nine classes to date with more than 3,400 students enrolled! That number still blows my mind and I’m truly grateful for the kind reviews and positive feedback I’ve received so far. My most popular classes are: How to Create & Print Greeting Cards, Loose Watercolor Florals, and Digitizing Your Artwork. Don’t forget, you can click here to get a free 30-day Skillshare trial to start learning today!
Lauren Roth Art Gallery - Lauren Roth is a local artist I’ve admired for years (even before moving to Hawaii!) She creates stunning, vibrant tropical artwork and owns a beautiful gallery in Kailua showcasing her original paintings, products, and the work of other local artists….including me! I now have a small selection of fine art prints, stationery, and three original paintings on display in the gallery. I’m so very thankful for the opportunity to be a part of such an amazing space! Learn more about Lauren Roth Art here.
Princeton Ambassador Program - Earlier this year, I was accepted into the ambassador program for my favorite watercolor brush brand, Princeton Artist Brush Co! I’ve been a fan of their supplies since I started painting in 2018 and am so thrilled to be associated with them. Since becoming an ambassador, I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with Princeton on watercolor tutorials, test out every brush under the sun (the Neptune rounds are my favorite!), and partner on a piece to celebrate World Watercolor Month.
Wholesale - In last year’s recap blog, I was excited to share about my first wholesale order. One year later, I’m still just as excited every time a new order comes in. I don’t know if I’ll ever get over the feeling of knowing my artwork and stationery products are being sold in brick-and-mortar stores. In the past year, I’ve shipped off wholesale orders to Alabama, California, Florida, Washington, Maui, Kauai, and a handful of local stores here in Honolulu. Are you a small business looking to get into the wholesale market? You can get started on Faire in a few quick & easy steps!
Looking forward to 2023:
Large-Scale Commission Project - At my final in-person market of the year, I met an amazing couple who inquired about a large-scale commissioned piece for their anniversary! I’ve done a few smaller custom paintings for friends and family in the past, but this will be a 22” x 30” original floral piece and I’m SO excited to get started! I plan to vlog the process and share it on my YouTube channel once it’s done and delivered. Stay tuned to see the final result!
Membership Program & Classes - I love teaching on Skillshare - it’s an incredible platform with so many learning opportunities for creative-minded people. However, I know not everyone can join Skillshare, so I’m working on creating a membership space on my website for those of you who want to participate in my classes without having to join Skillshare. It will be a low-cost subscription-based membership that will give you access to all past, present, and future classes, and priority access to my inbox for Q&As and individualized feedback on your paintings. I’m hoping to launch the Creative Club membership in early 2023.
Private Classes - Over the years, I’ve had inquiries about teaching in-person painting classes for groups and individuals. I’ve always turned down the opportunities out of fear, but I’m finally taking the leap and teaching my first in-person class to a wonderful group of ladies in January! I won’t lie, the nerves are still present, but most of the good things that have happened in my business (and in life) have come from stepping out of my comfort zone, so I’m excited to take this next step.
Licensing - Licensing my artwork has always been a goal for my business. While it has taken longer than I originally hoped for, I’ve learned a lot about the licensing industry and the direction I want to go in. My new goal for 2023 is to pitch my portfolio to a handful of licensing agents and sign on with an agency by the end of next year. While many artists successfully license their artwork on their own, being represented by an agency would better allow me to launch my licensing career while still having time to teach classes, manage my online shop, and run the other various aspects of my business.
Big thanks to YOU!
If you’ve made it this far, I want to reiterate how truly thankful I am for YOU! The world of entrepreneurship is challenging. While this blog post highlighted the best parts of the year, there were also many hard days and hurdles - but the support I’ve received from fellow artists, family members, and friends (internet friends and IRL) has made the amazing days far outweigh the tough ones! I’m looking forward to another fantastic year of growth and creativity. Wishing you and your loved ones a very Merry Christmas, and a happy year ahead!