It’s been a while since I’ve posted one of my newsletter issues here. These go out as an email to subscribers, usually once a month. If you’re also a member of the special groups, then you’d also get an email with announcements of various things or events, depending on which boxes you checked.

If you’re not subscribed already and decide you’d like to, there’s a link at the bottom of this post, or you can click the button below to sign up 🙂

Wild Ozark Musings

What makes you happy? That’s a topic that’s been on my mind lately, because it seems like life has gotten very busy, and when that happens it’s hard to make time for the things that make you happy. It’s as if I just woke up the other day and saw that my fire is too full of irons. And that’s when I realized it’s been a long time since I’ve done any deep thinking about taking irons out of the fire. Which is how so many got in there to begin with, lol. It sure is a lot easier putting them in than taking them out. They all get so tangled up together. It’s easy to get so busy with *things* that I find I’ve got less time to do the things that really makes me happy. Irons in the Fire Do you know where that saying came from? Originally it referred to blacksmith irons, blanks that were getting ready to be made into swords or whatever was on order. So the blacksmith wouldn’t take new jobs while he already had too many irons in the fire. Or if it he did need to take on a new one, he’d have to repurpose or take one out to make room for the new one. It’s not always easy figuring out what to keep and what to take out. But something has to go, so I’m starting with the least-productive ‘iron’.

Letting Go of the Studio While being at my studio definitely made me happy, it isn’t working from a financial standpoint. It’s too far away and we don’t get enough business there to justify keeping it open. So, we’re winding down with the studio, and the gallery. When I packed my artwork to go to Art on the Border, I decided to not bring any inventory back to the studio after the event. Since it’s already packed, it can stay home and I won’t have to do that part again. But there’s a few of the Coffee Time series still at the studio. I’m marking those down by more than 1/2 to try and move them out without taking them home. Prices are good until Aug 31, 2024: Coffee Nook, 8.5 x 11” handmade paper, watercolor – was $425 now $200 Muddy Water, 5 x 7” handmade paper, watercolor – was $250 now $100 With Gusto, 8.5 x 11” handmade paper, watercolor – was $425 now $200 They’re all currently framed in shadow-boxes, and the frame is included if you pick it up. Shipping (US addresses only) UNFRAMED is included in the price. The images are linked to the listing at my website. If you’ll want to pick any of these up in person, let me know by replying to this email and we’ll coordinate a date/time. If they’re no longer at the studio in Alpena, I can meet up with you in the Kingston Square.

Re-organizing the Irons The belts need to be tightened at Wild Ozark, so I’m going to do less running around and more staying home. This actually makes my hermit self happy. Most of the events I’ve tried this year have barely broke even or not quite that. So, I’m going to focus more on my website and online sales, and spend more time in my garden or wandering the woods. I’m going to begin organizing things that can be done here at home, like plein air & picnic events, rock foraging & paint-making workshops, and herb-walks. The first plein air picnic is scheduled for Aug. 11, so if you’re interested in that, here’s the information: https://shop.wildozark.com/product/painting-outdoors/ And of course, I’ll still be making art! My painting is at a standstill for now until I can get my yellow paint made, though. There’s a lizard in progress and I can’t do much on it without the yellow, and green which also needs the yellow to mix with the lapis blue. Here’s the yellow pigment, drying in the sun. These jars were each half full when they started out, but it’s mostly water, so lots of shrinkage happens, as you can see. Once it’s all crispy dry, I’ll combine and powder it, then mix it with my oil to make a tube of paint.

Upcoming Markets and Venues Ponca Color Fest This is always a great event when the weather is nice. Last year, it was not, but I still showed up and did a solo trunk show in the parking lot (with permission). Fri- Sat October 25-26 At the Ponca Elk Education Center, Ponca, AR Bentonville Fine Art Festival This is the one that was scheduled for June and was cancelled because of the tornadoes. Nov 9 – 10 Orchard Park, Bentonville(across from the entrance drive to Crystal Bridges)

Monthly Print Giveaway Drawing

Who’s the Winner? That would be Cheryl Hall! Cheryl, email me with your mailing address and I’ll get your 5 x 7” print in the mail. If there’s a particular one you want, let me know that too, or I’ll just send my choice.

Enter the drawing for next month:

Every month I’ll choose a winner by using a random number generator to pick the number. Every month when you enter the contest, your name goes on a numbered list. You can enter every month, if you want to increase your odds of winning. After the first newsletter in January, I wipe the list and start over. So right now, it’s a new list with only the ones who entered after the last newsletter went out. Last year we had almost 100 names, the most so far since I’ve started this!

Enter the Drawing

If the link doesn’t work, either reply to this newsletter or email me at madison@wildozark.com.

July Blog Posts

I crashed my website the other day while I was trying to make a few changes to the design. No idea what I did, but whatever I did was pretty bad, lol. So, I finally reloaded a backup and got the thing back up online. However, it still didn’t come back the way it was before it crashed. So now there’s a slightly new design, and I’m happy with it now.

Lite Rural Living | Huntsville/Berryville, Arkansas Mindfulness | Hermit Diary Paintings Made From Rocks and Rock Art in Arkansas

Other Arkansas Artists The Natural State is teeming with artists. I’ve begun this link list to introduce some of them to you.  If you like what you see when you visit them, you can sign up for their newsletters too 😀

Dustin Miller (paintings-website) Mary Lynch (paintings-website) Noël Kalmus (illustrations-website) Shabana Kauser (paintings-website) Amy Eichler (paintings-website) Marg Shore (clayworks-Insta) Tim Molesso (paintings-website)

If you know an artist in AR (or you’re an artist) and let me know and I’ll add you/them. If we cross promote each other like this, it broadens all of our audiences. My link is https://www.wildozark.com/newsletter/ if you want to pass that along – Thank you!

That’s it for this month! I hope you have a wonderful month of August, wherever you are! I’ll drop into your inbox again next month!

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