Third Artist Year
Third full year of trying to make a living as an artist
May 19th marked the third full year I’ve been a professional artist! Lately I’ve been falling into the same mental rut I did last spring, when my summer was turning out to be devoid of paid artist work.
What I’ve had to remind myself is that before 2023, I wasn’t legally allowed to make money (pursue any sort of paid art project) aside of being an architect, due to immigration restrictions. When I got Canadian permanent residency in 2023 (then citizenship in 2025!), I was able to quit architecture and finally try to keep a roof over my head through art. Why did I choose this struggle.
So all in all, I’m not doing too terribly for my third year in! Everything takes time, and so far this year I’m still hovering around net zero income-wise, a huge step up from the first two years’ major net losses!
I’m waiting to hear back from a number of art calls throughout June, but I’m learning to pursue projects on my own more aggressively.
Highlights from my third year as a professional artist:
I moved! Big life change (still getting used to living with roommates after ten years of living alone).
If you remember Feather Friendly from my 2025 recap, I’m excited to announce we’re collaborating on my first custom bird-friendly glazing project! It’ll be a pro bono project for the Bow Valley SPCA where I work part-time, and will serve as a reference for future projects. I’m also rolling out repeat patterns for Feather Friendly’s Artist Series.
I started a newsletter! Thank you for being here :)
I taught a 4-week workshop at artsPlace, the main arts hub in Canmore. I’ll be working with them again in the fall for various projects!
You can now find my illustrations on products in a real storefront.
Photo from Annette Young, owner of XOCO Westcoast Chocolates I designed five e-scooter corral panels for BUMP, Calgary’s mural festival, to be installed and revealed sometime this summer!
I worked with BUMP a second time and painted four jersey barriers now seen on the streets in Calgary!
In the works: A Canmore-based mural festival I’m co-piloting this August with local artist Cecelia Leddy. We’re talking to established mural festivals, learning lots, and are stoked that we’re slowly getting more collaborators on board. I want to test out a new mural-painting style on 4’x4’ plywood in the backyard beforehand.
In other news, Mo has been a garbage-eating babe lately…she pooped out a ziplock bag zipper the other day, and threw up a bread tag this morning. Fun times.
Until next time,
Ann