December 2023
Welcome to an important season: a time for us to look back on the year and remember what we accomplished and learned.
It is especially helpful for me to keep a healthy perspective and stop focusing on what I DIDN’T do.
In January of this year, I published a blog sharing all of my goals for this year. I promised to revisit them at year-end, assessing how many I had reached and how it all worked out. I think this will be fun. I like to keep things “sensory-gated” (surprise, surprise) so this will be succinct and to the point.
Here we go!
“Tour and explore relationships at the Charlotte Art League. Choose to rent or exhibit in a space.”
Outcome:
Explored it - chose not to. It didn’t feel like a fit for where I was at as an artist. Plus, my home studio and gallery have accommodated my work and showings very well. The internet also gives me a door to the outside world.
Photo: Collectors and Paris connoisseurs from Sacramento, California, visit the Sensory Gated Art studio in March 2023.
“Meet 1 new friend in the Commercial Design industry that is cooler and smarter than me.”
Outcome:
Boy, did I knock this one out of the park! However, I cannot take ANY credit for it. Steven Orfield, Founder of the Quietest Room on Earth according to the Smithsonian and Guinness Book of World Records, and owner of Orfield Laboratories in Minneapolis, Minnesota, found me and I have been gleaning from his 50+ years of Design experience and insight ever since.
Photo: Steve Orfield and I during a video chat.
“Host at least 1 private showing in my home gallery/Sensory Gated Art studio.”
Outcome:
Without delay, I hosted an event in March. The primary objective was to celebrate my local enthusiasts and supporters. It was special to bring them into my world in this capacity. It had a very good turn-out and I was ready to relax by the end of the day!
Photo: Invitation sent to those who were invited, (designed by Silas Zacharias).
“Make website more revenue-friendly and more SEO-friendly.”
Outcome: I opened an Online Store on the SensoryGatedArt.com website. Before this, collectors could only message or email me to collect or commission pieces. While collectors still contact me directly for pieces, it was still a step in the right direction and allows people to see what is available currently.
Photo: Screenshot of the Sensory Gated Art online store in a mobile browser.
“Host a raffle for a single piece - advertise it well and see how it goes.”
Outcome: Although I never forgot this goal, the moment or piece never struck me as right and this will carry forward to the 2024 Goal List.
Photo: Close-up of a 2023 piece, “Gil says hello”.
“Meet 1 new friend in the Art retail world that is cooler and smarter than me.”
Outcome: Success! I stumbled across the studio of abstract artist, Paul Rousso here in Charlotte. Without hesitating or overthinking it, I introduced myself to him. He was definitely cooler and smarter than me. He invited me to check out his studio. In just a few minutes, I was able to witness the volume of projects he had underway from decades of experience as well as receive his incredible advice to attend Art Basel in Miami Beach in 2024. Hence, Art Basel is on my goal list for 2024 - (if I learn enough on how to make the most of it!)
Photo: Paul Rousso and me in his Charlotte studio.
“Create a promotional video for Why Does Mommy Say No?! with Producer Quinn Dexter.”
Outcome: Most of my energy spent on my children’s book series in 2023 went towards the illustrations for the next book, Why Does Mommy Say Wait?! set to release in February of 2024. A promotional video for this series is still needed so that readers can learn the benefit of these books for a child’s development and relationships.
Photo: Promo graphic for my next children’s picture book
“Develop and create a brand-new collection of Sensory Gated Art paintings targeting anxiety AND depression by utilizing PLANTS for my inspiration.”
Outcome: In a true go-big-or-go-home fashion that is my nature, there was not one small piece that resulted from the Plants collection. The room that “fir trees in the mist” was created for, received a complete interior design makeover with Sensory Gated Art Design. This sparked the publication of my entire design philosophy here leading to commercial interior design contract work for a tech company office space in Chicago.
Photos: “lift crooked arms in wonder”, “fir trees in the mist”, Plants color block installation, and “Gil says hello”.
“Post an opinion blog entry about commercial Sensory Room Art.”
Outcome: This goal was completely demolished when Sensory Gated Art Design was born this year - a highlight of my year without a doubt!
“If we are doing design correctly, we should not need sensory rooms.”
Photos: Sensory Gated Art® Design in-progress, happening NOW at Aspiritech in Chicago, Illinois.
And last but not least if you have read this far…
Throughout my January 2023 blog post, I sprinkled different sales goals for different sized and priced pieces. Ultimately, my real revenue goal for 2023 was $21,500 USD.
Outcome: This was just a sales goal that meant Sensory Gated Art® was continuing to grow. Ever since it turned a profit in its 3rd year, I “pushed it out of the nest” to fend for itself. If it is all meant to be, I want it to at least be self-sustaining. And although I have not hit the revenue goal for this year yet (and probably will not), the 2023 revenue to date is $15,775 .
I am extremely grateful for a successful 2023. Everyone I have met and everything I have learned has made me a better person and even more prepared for the future.
I am really looking forward to all that lies ahead in 2024.
Photo: Amanda Hebert Hughes, Founder of Sensory Gated Art®
Thank you for bringing me and Sensory Gated Art® into your world.