IT'S OKAY NOT TO KNOW
On this brisk, chilly Sunday morning, I am reporting to you live from the studio for a solo Studio Sundays newsletter. I hope you're cozied up somewhere warm. Or maybe you're outdoors getting it: skiing, snowshoeing, etc. If so, I hope it's your best day of the season yet. Maybe you're joining us for a little bit of aprés, and if so, I love that for you. Welcome, hi, hellooo!
Okay, let's get into it.
It's 2024 and I have big dreams and plans for this new year. Big shoes to fill. I am excited. My creativity has taken on a new tone and my vision for where to lead it feels clear, finally!
Last year felt…chaotic. Starting with my rebrand that I launched in March 2023, I had shelled out my old business model in order to create space for the new. Only to slightly panic when the "new" didn't arrive as quickly as I would have liked. There I was with a rebrand, not knowing exactly what direction I was heading. This put an enormous amount of pressure not only on my business, which supports my livelihood, but also on my creativity, which is the backbone of it all.
Through this, there were definitely moments where I considered quitting (I should preface this by saying that during my career as an artist, I have considered quitting a handful of times). But I didn't. I kept at it. Whether I was meeting with different artists and professionals over Zoom to talk about art direction and business, beginning a whole new collection of paintings, taking a Russian Impressionism oil painting course in Italy, I was determined to crack the code. What code, you might ask? The code to my higher calling. Anything less feels unauthentic and boring (to me, at least).
I was asking myself, the world, the universe; Who am I becoming as an artist? Which direction do I want to grow? What does this rebrand of Gianna Andrews Studio represent?
And then slowly, quietly, the dust began to sort of settle. It was not instantaneous as some things in life are. But eventually I found my groove again. Especially in Q4 of 2023, I got clarity on my vision—or at least the tip of the iceberg. :)
As for where I'm at right now? I indulge daily in the wintertime quietness. I walk my dogs in the cold morning air. I spend every day in the studio, creating. I go to the gym in the evenings. I enjoy reading a book nightly (right now, it's Britney Spears’ The Woman in Me. I'm not even going to tell you not to judge me). I am positioning myself to reach my new big dreams.
As for where I am headed? To answer that, you'll have to stick around here and see what unfolds. :) I can't wait to share with you what 2024 has in store for the Studio!
Note: I tell you this story not to plead my case about what a hot mess I can be (but it's true I can), but to remind you that it's okay not to know. In fact, I believe not knowing is not only normal, but essential. Because it forces us to ask questions about the direction we are heading, and about our reasons for why we do what we do. To live a life in pursuit of finding ourselves again and again, we must look for the truth. Anything less would be an act of betrayal to the one who matters most: our heart.
I hope that wherever you are and however you are, you give yourself the same grace to ask these important questions. Hold space for yourself.
Sending peace, abundance, and love!
