👀 Setting Intentions: Creative Process, Business Values & Community Connections

As the fall season arrives with its vibrant colors and bustling festivals, I find myself questioning the stresses that come with being a small business owner in Q4. Is there a better way to share my art and connect with those who genuinely care, without succumbing to the exhausting demands of capitalism?

Today, I’m setting intentions for the rest of the year. Earlier this year I signed up for the Creative Voice program with designer Rocio Ergo. In one of my favorite exercises of introspection, I mapped the most important values for my practice, and it came down to three:

• I’m always moving. Change is the only constant. Our minds and bodies change in time and space all the time. I notice the changes around me, I embrace their consequences on my art, I adapt.
• I keep it simple. Simple colors, simple stories, simple transactions. I constantly declutter the channels so I can communicate better. I am known for something and I do it well.
• Somos familia. Family and chosen family are at the core of the company because I am not alone in the universe. My success is linked to the support from the people that love me and in return, I want to make them proud.

And so, in the spirit of simplifying and reconnecting with my creative freedom and business values, I've come with these actions for the fall:

1. I'm stepping away from Instagram and Facebook. I realized that much of my art production catered to satisfying algorithms rather than my own creative fulfillment.
2. I plan to create more process videos, similar to the one above. Earlier this year, I enjoyed sharing daily stories, and I'd like to continue producing spontaneous, fun content. I uploaded them on youtube for convenience, but I don’t intend to grow a presence there.
3. I won't be offering Black Friday or Cyber Monday discounts. Instead, I'll donate a portion of sales during that period to the Heurich House Museum and their Small Business Development Program, so other folks have better chances to pursue their passions. I may hold a sale before then, encouraging people to purchase gifts with ample time to spare.
4. Rather than participating in numerous winter markets, I'll focus on wholesale and my online shop. I may even open a few spots for commissions!
5. I aim to foster real-life connections and community engagement. To kick things off, please join me for an informal Drawing Session at the Smithsonian's American Art Museum on Friday, October 4th during lunchtime - Perhaps we can make this a monthly event!

That’s all for now - thank you for your continued interest in my artistic journey. Remember to stay curious!

Carlos