What to Expect in 2016

2016 is rapidly approaching and with the end of the year comes New Years Resolutions and A LOT of reevaluating what by business stands for and how I want to proceed. So today's blog is all about what to expect from MandyFitzgerald.com in the New Year! What's staying, what's leaving, and what's brand new to look forward to!

Get Excited for More...

Artists to Know Interviews! In March of 2015 I started conducting these interviews and they've become something I look forward to sharing each month! The amount of talented artists & entrepreneurs only continues to grow so be sure to look for even more of these in the coming year :)  

Along with: Educational posts for Artists & Art lovers! Look out for more helpful posts, like last week's "How to Write Your Best Artist Statement", updates on the local art scene AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAND more painting videos!! Now that I have a new video camera, I'm super pumped to start making higher quality videos to share my painting process with you!

Say Goodbye (For Now) To:

The high volume of Décor & Furniture posts. They aren't going to disappear completely (I love painting every possible surface way too much to stop!), but there won't be the same ratio you're used to. It'll be more like 2-4 Décor/Furniture Makeover posts a month, rather than 2-3 per week! 2016 is all about getting back to basics, remembering why I became an artist in the first place and sticking to it! That being said, there are a few BIG makeovers Ben and I are planning to tackle this Winter that I will definitely be sharing :)

Richmond drawings. I love RVA and always will, but it's time for me to take a little break on architecture and get back into the abstract & figurative work that makes my heart go boom boom, Super Nova Girl style.

What's New?

There is a shift I'm in the process of making with my art. Something that aligns more clearly with my newest artist statement:

Intricacy. Obsession. Intimacy. Control. Therapy.

Painting is Fitzgerald's way of confronting her fears and creating a safe environment for her anxious mind. Her work is ruled by emotion, created in a very physical way; throwing paint, scraping at it with her fingers and nails, being as much a part of the process as possible. Exploring themes of feminist theory and escapism, Fitzgerald goes back into her work and adds a powerful female form, which she refers to as the "braver version of myself" confronting her darkest fears. "

Besides a new series, you'll also be seeing a new way of making art: one that combines the physical with the digital - something I've only experimented with a tiny bit before now. Most of my work will still be created by hand, but you'll be able to purchase prints that have collage elements that combine multiple paintings along with some minor Photoshop adjustments to create something completely new. I'm really excited about this! (Example below! Original painting on left, collaged/edited on right)

This is just a preview of what's to come! Is there anything you'd like to see more of? Please tell me in the comments section below!! :)