Happy new year, everyone! May 2021 be filled with things that make you joyful, warm, relaxed, and creative. 

I’m wrapping up three years of having this Patreon thing, and thinking it’s about time for a reinvention! Additions, subtractions, changes. So! What has worked for me, for you, for other artists? 

I really like how Patreon demands a regularity from me (although sometimes I do stuff in advance and schedule it for later). And a persistence! That makes it a practice (in the yoga sense) and seems essential for growing and being wholly engaged with my art and illustration. 

Some types of things are hard for me to get done and I have learned quite a bit of technical skills in the process of going from traditional media artwork to digitally shareable for different purposes. I still see plenty of room for growth in how I use color, in my use of layers and intensity of color. in depth of images. I see room for growth with tools as well. 

One thing I do not know though is what people would like, that would help this expand to more people. (Although my own main reward is practice-and-engagement, rather than funds, making art well enough to help actually support me is relatively age-proof and adds resilience to possible life-events). 

What can I make and/or do differently to earn more patrons AND make better art, AND help me grow more as an artist? Would cards/prints/postcards draw you or others? What about original small but frequent art, flat, felted, or otherwise? I’d like to offer a different selection of $10-$30 tiers, and find new and better ways to invite people to come along for a month or a year or more. Move up from funding coffee to coffee-and-breakfast to ….

Please comment! I want to know what YOU like the most, first, and what intrigues you. What makes you happy from other artists you support, and are any of those things something you think I could put my own spin on? Maybe I should make a poll, with IDEAS?

Well, that’s enough for a new year’s eve. Blessings and joy, light and poetry, hope and fierce dances to you all in 2021!