12 Years of Calendars: a Record of My Journey and Inspiration to Keep Dreaming

As we near the end of 2024, I can’t help but feel reflective. I look back at the year, the projects I’ve tackled, the goals I’ve accomplished, and I begin dreaming about 2025.

An Art Tour, My Blogging Break and Shaking Things Up

I’m back from my blogging break and although I only skipped one post, it seems as if I’ve been gone a long time.

art, business, bloggingAnne ButeraJune 8, 2024Winding Roads Art Tour, 2024 Winding Roads Art Tour, Anne Butera, Charna Schwartz, Charna Pottery, Keewaydin Farms, Driftless Wisconsin, Driftless Curiosity, trying new things, trying something new, blogging, Substack Comments

Hope, Patience, Joy: Lessons from the Garden for Art and Life

My peach and cherry trees are filled with flowers. Daffodils are blooming and everywhere I look outside, spring is progressing.

The Driving Force Behind My Business and Why I Write This Blog

Over the last almost 14 years I’ve blogged my way through growth and development as an artist and as a person.

business, bloggingAnne ButeraApril 13, 2024blogging, why I blog, why i write a blog, my newsletter, why I write a newsletter, The Joy Letter, Instigating Creativity and Joy, my creative journey, blogs, creativity, the why behind my business Comments

The Business of the Studio: a Class, Calendars and a New Painting

In September I mentioned some of the projects I’d been working on after moving into my new studio. One was prepping for my show at Viva Gallery, which I wrote about last month. I’ve since finished the others and thought I’d share them with you today.

Is Perfection Possible? Contemplating Simple Shifts in Business, Art and Life

When I was first starting to learn to make art I thought that if only I could discover the perfect art supplies, I’d be able to create the beautiful, perfect art I imagined in my head.

What I Learned During My Four Week Blogging Break And What Happens Now I'm Back

I was going to jump back in to blogging today with a post addressing a question I’ve gotten from readers and students, but then I realized I want to talk about my blogging break.

business, bloggingAnne ButeraApril 9, 2022blogging break, blogging, blogging schedule, business, seasons Comments

Why It's So Important to Create Time and Space for Yourself During Difficult Times

At the end of 2021 when I was starting to plan for 2022, one of my goals was to take an art sabbatical at some point during the year.

Quitting Instagram (for Good) and Why I Adore Blogs and Blogging

In April I wrote about stepping away from Instagram. It felt right for me. Energizing. Freeing.

In June I wandered back.

blogging, business, inspirationAnne ButeraNovember 12, 2021quitting Instagram, social media, artists quitting social media, why I'm quitting Instagram, why I stepped away from Instagram, why I deleted my Instagram account, why I dislike Facebook, alternatives to social media, why i love blogging, why I love reading blogs, blogging, blogging vs. instagram, blogging is not dead, is blogging dead, my favorite blogs, some of my favorite blogs, inspiring blogs, creative dreams, what i love about blogs, creating community, creating community on social media, blogging as an alternative to social media, making connections through blogging, creating a community through blogs, blogging community, being authentic, being intentional, popular posts Comments

2022 Watercolor Calendars: Looking Back at 9 Years of Calendars and Dreaming Big Dreams

Last month I wrote about how creating a tea towel calendar has become a yearly tradition for me*, but it’s not the only tradition for my art.

This is the 9th year I’ve created a desk calendar with my seasonal watercolor paintings.

Open: Setting Intentions and Returning to My Word of the Year

It’s almost November, two more months left in 2021. At this time last year, many of us were ready for 2020 to be over. Ready to have a fresh start with a new year.

life, studio, businessAnne ButeraOctober 29, 2021goal setting, tips for goal setting, intentions, setting intentions, word of the year, Artist Manifesto, My Big Work, how to accomplish your goals, creative encouragement, fresh start, new beginnings Comments

Behind the Scenes This Week: What it's Really Like to Run an Art Business

Do you ever wonder what it’s like to be a full-time, self-employed artist? Although I frequently share what I’m working on here on my blog, I don’t think it gives a comprehensive picture of what it’s like to run an art business. Are you curious?

Prioritize Your Big Work

I recently purchased Sarah Greenman’s Oracle Deck and this is the first card I pulled: “Prioritize Your Big Work.”

art, business, joy, inspiration, lifeAnne ButeraApril 30, 2021inspiration, oracle deck, oracle cards, Sarah Greenman, My Big Work, my purpose, prioritizing art, prioritizing our work, goals, making goals, setting intentions Comments

Why I've Stepped Away from Instagram: My Problems with Social Media

It’s been a busy week. Our warm spring weather disappeared, replaced by dark dreary days. We even had a couple of mornings of snow. Not unusual for Wisconsin and I haven’t minded. I have lots of projects I’m working on in my studio.

notes from the studio