All Things Medical Illustration

It has been a phenomenal summer…. You can see where my mindset is– I still haven’t made it out of August. I had a tidal wave of work come in, my lovely sister was in town pursuing an internship for a few months, and I was able to travel. While day to day life has slowed down a bit, I’m still buzzing a bit from all the activity. My creative batteries are going through a serious recharging phase as I’m able to get more rest, spend time with friends, and get back to some unfinished paintings.

Last night, however, was a non-sleeping night. None of the usual sleepy time tricks worked, and I roamed the house looking for distractions. An email from the Freelancer’s Union  contained the following link to an episode of PBS’s “Need to Know: A special report on the jobs crisis.” The entire episode is available online, and I found this special profoundly moving. While the last several months have been very good to me, my business suffered last year as clients were forced to cut art budgets and entire projects that had been slated for development. I know many people who are out of work or underemployed– people who want to work and are struggling in all kinds of ways.

Washingtonians are in the process of voting on several ballot initiatives that will affect our tax codes and the state’s ability to provide continuing support and social programs to people who are in need this year. Basic emergency services, education, and health care programs are also at risk. Here’s to hoping that those in need this winter will continue to receive support and that those of us who have done well continue to provide work opportunities and participate in community activities. Maybe I’ve sped from August straight to November, but I’m in a very Thanksgiving mood today, thankful for all the things that could have gone wrong for us last year but that went right instead.

I find myself obsessing over this a bit more than normal these days.  The light this far north is unnerving… it creeps into the bedroom by 5 A.M., dives back behind clouds, and streams out again into late afternoon.  Fading, fading into silver evening takes so long I never can tell when the days end.

My first time in longer than I can remember just going outdoors to sketch. I often work from photos I’ve taken while out and about, and sometimes do quick thumbnail sketches and make visual notes when I’m walking around, but I’ve never made much of an effort to draw or paint outdoors. I’ve been a bit isolated in the new studio, and have been making a push to get out, meet local artists, and explore new parts of the Seattle area (most of it’s still new to me, so this is exciting and depressing all at once.)

So, I signed up for a meetup group (my mind remembered the group as sketchup– which I like– but it wasn’t), bought a new sketch book, packed up some pens, markers, and my sister, and drove out to Fisherman’s Terminal last Friday.

I’m not in love with what I made, but it was fun to try something new. Feeling more of this at least over the summer while it’s warm enough to forget about cold fingers and toes.

I’ve been meaning to update this site for a very long time.  This ended up being a Big Year… a major move and resettlement from Los Angeles to Bellevue, WA.  My husband and I bought our first home, and he started a new job while I reset my business here in the Pacific NW.  This “resetting” has been both easier and much more difficult than I thought it would be.  The paperwork just to get out of CA was one long, bad dream, and setting up again in here WA, while easier, has taken months.  And isn’t yet over.  Every small business owner has to go through this, but boy, owning a business has clarified one thing above all others: I am absolute crap with paperwork.  And accounting.  And… maybe only slightly less crap in the marketing department.

Things I’m really good at include: scheming (all kinds– very important in creative work, even when the schemes themselves aren’t), concept creation, and visual expression of those ideas.  Yep, I’m an ideas person, thorough and through.  “Concept to Completion” could be my middle name.  So, Phase Next of my business plan includes connecting with a business schemer, someone who can help me power through the aspects of work I’m not best at, and allow me to redirect brain cells back where they belong: on my creative work.  Open to local suggestions– does anyone know a good Seattle area business or artist’s rep/consultant who has experience with creative clients?  Accounting or business planning services?  I’m hoping to continue to grow quickly enough that I can take full advantage of some much-needed help!

So, pleas to the blogiverse aside, I’ve deleted old posts from Los Angeles and am looking at Seattle with fresh eyes.  I’d only visited once before moving, so everything here has been new to me!  Stay tuned for some updates on early adventures….

And for anyone curious about my business or professional website, visit me at http://www.bajemastudios.com.