Goals for 2024

Each year I complete goals for my art business. Here are my goals for 2024 focused on the fine art side of my art business. I have two parts of my art business: a side on art education and a side on my artist/fine art side. Read more to learn about my goals for 2024!  What are your goals for 2024?

Last year I was over ambitious when it came to my goals. I was pregnant and had my son in April 2023. I was more tired than I expected and wasn’t able to achieve a lot of the goals I wanted. We also bought our first home and moved in while I was nine months pregnant. So, 2023 was a very busy year to say the least! 

This year, my goals for 2024 I want to be more realistic in what I want to achieve now that I know how much work a baby and new house bring. 

Here are my goals for 2024! 

• 2000 people on my email list 

• Run ads to market business 

• Take my business full time by making more money than I did as a teacher 

• Offer cyanotype commissions

• Have 2-5 exhibitions 

• Receive 1-2 artist grants 

• Growing my fine art Instagram to 1000 followers

• Participate in 1-2 art markets 

• Get my artwork or prints in a local shop

• Take more photos from the series Patched and Tree Houses 

Sometimes it helps to dream a little. If I set goals too easy I might get bored and not put the effort in to make them happen. It can be hard to have the balance of goals being too hard or too simple. This year I want to work on focusing on implementing and getting things done. Even just a couple small things add up and make the difference over time. 

Click on one of the icons below to follow me on social media and let me know if you found this post helpful! All the best in 2024! 

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2023 goals

Art goals

Round Floral Stickers and Oval Stickers

Round floral stickers and oval floral stickers are navy blue stickers made through the cyanotype process by artist Jackie Partridge. These cyanotype prints are then scanned and professionally printed on stickers in a round or oval shape. You can learn more about the round floral sticker and oval stickers by reading below.

These daisy stickers are made through the cyanotype process by artist Jackie Partridge. They are blue and white matte stickers and come in an oval or circle shape. These daisy stickers are durable and perfect for laptops, water bottles and more!

Size Info:

Oval Stickers - 75 mm x 50 mm

Circle Stickers - 76 mm x 76 mm

Daisy Cyanotype Stickers

CA$4.00

Ideas for Your Round Floral Stickers or Oval Floral Stickers 

• Give the stickers as a gift 

• Put the stickers on your laptop

• Put the stickers on a water bottle 

• Stick them on a phone case or Ipad case

• Put them on a helmet

• Put them on a makeup case

• Put them on a journal 

• Stick them on a planner or binder

• Send them to a friend in a card

• Put them on a travel mug 

• Put them on a guitar

• Put them on a lunch box or cooler

FAQ About the Stickers

Do you offer refunds?

Refunds are provided if an artwork arrives damaged. Although this is rare, it can happen during the delivery process. Proof of the cards damaged in a photograph is required to obtain the refund.

I still have questions; how can I get in touch?

You can email me at jackiepartridgeart@gmail.com I will try get back to you within 48 hours.

How are the stickers made?

The stickers are made through a chemical process and sunlight called a cyanotype. The chemicals are exposed to the sun and turn blue -also known as a blueprint. This design was scanned, edited, and is professionally printed on stickers.

Other information:

Price includes tax. Standard shipping is FREE to Canada and $9.99 to the U.S.

Shipping to other countries and express shipping is available in the checkout.

Click here to purchase round floral stickers or oval stickers

Check out my other floral stickers and prints in my print shop by clicking on the button below! 

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Purchase Daisy Printed Cards 

Check out my Society 6 Print Shop

Purchase the Round Floral Stickers or Oval Stickers

Small Paper Houses

I started creating small paper houses in 2016, calling this series Tree Houses. The small paper houses has been an ongoing series of photographs where I place the paper houses in parts of the natural environment like woodpecker holes, on stumps and between leaves. To learn more about the series of small paper houses, keep reading! 

Much of my current practice involves working outdoors as my studio and using paper to add or transform an area of a landscape that is close to me and I have spent time with. I see both the process of making the work and documenting the work in a photograph as the artwork.

In the Tree Houses series, I create miniature brown paper houses and place them in the landscape as tiny villages on tree stumps and in nooks and crannies of the natural environment. The houses are varied in size. After placing them, I take a photograph and remove the house to place it in a new location next time.  This series signifies the idea that home can be made where you make it and the importance of valuing the natural environment as a home. The small paper houses create miniature worlds or communities within the photo that is taken. 

I like taking the paper houses with me on hikes and walks to be able to capture new photos to add in the series. I would like to create a book of the small paper houses in the future.

You can take a look at some of the small paper houses series in the images below. 

This series of Tree Houses has been featured in:

• Art Promenade (Photograph of Treehouses), City of Waterloo Public Art Installation in 2022

• State of Becoming, Button Factory Arts, Waterloo, ON in 2017

• Tree House (select photograph) Tiny Spoon (Issue 10) in 2023

To connect with me, please click on any of the icons below! Leave a comment below letting me know which photo you love from the series. 

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Check out the other artwork I have produced 

Check out my handmade paper art 

See the Tree House Series

Why Giving Artwork as a Gift is Important!

Giving artwork as a gift is a meaningful gift to give someone. Art is a unique gift and something that someone may not receive often but it is a gift that is appreciated and valued. A lot of time is required to choose the right piece of art for someone. Giving art shows your thoughtfulness and love you have for that person.

How Do You Know If You Should Be Giving Artwork as a Gift?

You can give artwork as a gift if you know the person loves the artist or artwork. Maybe they follow the artist on social media and like a lot of the posts. Maybe they have talked about the artwork with you before and how they are saving for it or eyeing it up.

 Maybe you own a piece of art that is similar and your friend always comments on how much they love it. Those may be good indications that the person would love to receive artwork as a gift. 

Why Giving Artwork as a Gift Matters

It matters because artwork is a personal gift. It was made with love and care in a very personal and emotional way and it is selected in the personal way. Where you have to really think about will the person like and value the artwork as much as I do selecting it? Artwork also adds personality to a home and a touch of personalization.  It makes a home feel and look special to the owner. 

Art can have special meaning. Art often reminds us of something. A moment or a memory. The same way hearing a song might take you back to a certain time. A piece of art can have the same magical power! 

Giving art is unique it will definitely be a gift that person always remembers and treasures. 

When to Give the Gift of Artwork

• For anniversaries

• As a housewarming present 

• As a thank you gift 

• Christmas present

• Valentine’s Day Gift 

• After house renovations to your spouse (maybe the walls got painted) 

• As a wedding gift 

• For a new baby in a nursery 

• For someone who is retiring, got a promotion or needs new art for their home office

There are so many times when giving artwork as a gift is a great time! Do you have any other ideas? Let me know in the comments below! 

If you are ever unsure about which piece of my art to buy feel free to reach out to you can always give a gift card to my store.

Please join my mailing list to receive 15% off your next purchase. Just complete the form below! 

Related Articles: 

Buy a Gift Card 

Check out the Handmade Paper Store 

Check out the Cyanotype Store

Check out the Print Shop

Christmas Art Sale

I am participating in a Christmas Art Sale on Sunday November 20th 2022 from 10 am.

Come Join us for the Christmas Art Sale at the St. Agatha Community Centre at 1791 Erbs Rd, St. Agatha, ON N0B 2L0 for a Christmas Market on Sunday, November 20th from 10am until 6pm. This event is put on by Sweet Lights Company. 

I am also having at art sale at the Shakespeare Community Centre on Sat. Nov. 5 from 10am-2pm.

This is one of the first art sales I have done in awhile (since I was in university). I decided to do a Christmas Art Sale because I know it will be busy and a popular event. The event was first created at the end of June, so it has had a long time of advertising and attracting people to this Christmas Art Sale. 

Why am I attending the Christmas Art Sale?

I want to make more money on my art this year so that I can pursue my passion of making and teaching art on a more full time basis. I know my art is beautiful and I would love to spread it around this holiday season!

Buying gifts for people you care about can be hard. I know I have lots of people on my list that are hard to shop for because they already have everything or they are particular about what they like. 

Art is a great gift to give. You can also give a gift card for my art, if you are unsure what people may want.

There will be a variety of vendors and artisans at this sale. Entry is free so I hope to see you there! 

Here’s What I Will be Selling at the Christmas Art Market

• Original cyanotype designs small and medium sizes 

• Cyanotype daisy stickers

• Cyanotype daisy cards+other cyanotype cards to be sold in a pack of four 

• Handmade paper 

• Daisy cyanotype mugs 

Stay up to date with what events I am attending like this Christmas Art Sale by joining my mailing list. You can sign up by entering your name and email below. I will also send you 15% off my art discount as a thank you gift for joining my mailing list. 

Related Articles: 

Handmade Paper Shop

Cyanotype Shop for Flower and Plant Prints 

Buy a Gift Card for my Art 

Buy a Commissioned Painting

OAC Grants

Early this year I was given one of the OAC grants for emerging artists. This OAC grant is a $2000 grant that gives funding to purchase art supplies and to participate in educational skill development. 

I started applying for OAC grants this past fall and I was excited to have received one. OAC stands for Ontario Arts Council. The OAC grants are a lengthy process to set up an account and submit your application online but they are worth it. 

By receiving OAC grants or other grants, artists can receive funding to make projects possible. $2000 is a lot of money and I am grateful to have received this grant as this project would not be financially possible without it. 

There are many different OAC grants available. You can learn more by clicking here!

It’s important to note that OAC grants are only for residents in Ontario. However, depending on where you live, the province or state, try Googling grants with your location to find other grants to apply to. 

OAC Grants- the OAC Grant Proposal

I will be using the money from the OAC grant to purchase paper making supplies including different types of pulp, mould and deckles and other paper making supplies. I will also be registering for some paper making and letterpress classes to be able to enhance my skills as a paper maker. Lastly, I will use some of the money to rent out a paper making studio place near where I live. I have until 2023 to complete this project. I started purchasing supplies and signing up for workshops this summer of 2022. 

I plan on making sheets of map paper using recycled maps and using the letter press to write some of my poems on the paper. I also want to make more large sheets of the map paper to be able to do large installations of my work Patched. You can read more about the Patched project here! 

Jackie Partridge, Patched Project

If you are interested in applying to OAC grants you can click here to check their deadlines. 

I appreciate the financial support of OAC grants for funding my art practice! 

To find out more about the project check out my instagram @jackiepartridge_    and search the #patchedproject

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10 Lessons I Learned in Art School

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OAC Website 

OAC Grant Deadlines 

Patched Project

Art Competition London

My art is featured in an art competition London, Ontario at the Kellogg Factory. The art competition takes place at an art gallery London, Ontario at 100 Kellogg Lane. The Art Competition London selected 100 artists to include 100 artworks. The exhibition lasts for 100 days and ends on September 8, 2022. 

Voting closes for the Art Competition London on September 4, 2022. There are two $100 000 prizes one is for people’s choice where you can vote for your favourite artwork and the other is for juror’s choice where the jury will select their favourite artwork. 

100 Kellogg Lane is a transformed space it used to be the old Kellogg Factory. Now it is a communal hub in London, Ontario that has a brewery, indoor climbing centre, art gallery, Starbucks, icecream, hairdressers and more! 

See the Art Competition London This Summer 2022

Click this link to see where different pieces are located: https://100kellogglane.com/uploads/2022/05/cid57AA9844-8638-4CD6-9456-AEF560EF4750.pdf 

With each email address you have that counts as a vote! Please share this voting link with your friends and family to help me win! 

Vote here: https://artcomp.awardsplatform.com 

How to Vote

You can vote by registering an account you need to add in your name and email and create a password. Follow the instructions of the password -it needs to be 12 characters, have an uppercase, a number and a special symbol like an !.

Once you receive an email you can click on the link and you will have to sign into the account you made. Next find my artwork “Precariously Perched.” Make sure to hit the vote button. It will say voted when you are done!

Thank you for voting!

What am I showing in the Art Competition London?

I am showing a piece called Precariously Perched. This piece is a large site-specific installation that features many twisted strands of map paper balancing on tiny pins that come out from the wall. The piece is about fragility and the passage of time. Some pieces of map paper rest on the ground with empty pins on the wall signaling the passage of time. You can read more about this project here.

Precariously Perched - Photo taken by Scott Lee

Make sure to Vote for the Art Competition London! 

You can vote for your favourite artwork here: 

https://artcomp.awardsplatform.com

What would I do if I won the Art Competition London? 

It would be a great honour to have my art recognized. Often as an artist you are not paid properly and it’s hard to make a consistent income with your art alone. I would use some of that money to invest into my business so I could be an artist full time! I would use some money to buy a house and of course to make sure it has a studio. Lastly, I would use the money to produce more free content like YouTube videos on my painting channel and other free resources on my website! 5% of the money I would donate to help the environment. 

Again, please share this voting link with your friends and family to help me win! 

https://artcomp.awardsplatform.com 

Thank you for sharing the voting platform and for voting for my art in the Art Competition London for my work Precariously Perched. It really means a lot! 

Related Articles: 

Vote for my art in the competition here!

Check out 100 Kellogg Lane

See my other art installations

Learn more about Precariously Perched!

Patched Exhibition

For the month of March and April 2022 I will be displaying my work Patched at the Kitchener Public Library in their gallery on the lower floor. This will be a two-person exhibition along with another artist on the opposing wall. 

I will be displaying 20 framed Patched installations and some of my nature inspired poems. 

Patched is an ongoing series of photographs where map paper (made from maps of places I have been to) is embedded into trees where the bark naturally peels away as an act of offering or mending.

Could the landscape be an archive remembering every mark and every trace set upon it? Will my footprints still be here when I am no longer? For how long will the traces of me stay on the surface of the earth?

featuring two separate exploratory photography exhibits with accompanying poetry by artists Annette Dekker & Jackie Partridge

In celebration of Poetry Month: https://poets.ca/npm/  April 2022 

Hello Shadow 

Artist: Annette Dekker 

Enraged by Shadow’s relentless stalking 

The woman behind the camera 

turns 

shoots 

captures the prowler – live, 

smirking at her    strutting 

on a seabed of bleached eelgrass . . . 

Annette Dekker is currently in private practice as a psychotherapist. She is fascinated by the capacity of people to heal and to explore their inner worlds.  Annette finds joy in photography and writing and sometimes uses these mediums to better understand herself.  She surprised herself when the outcome of such exploration became an exhibition. She shares this work in the hope that it inspires others to become acquainted with their own Shadows.    

Patched 

Artist: Jackie Partridge 

I feel for places.  

We walk all over them.  

We stomp on them. 

We forget about them.  

Rarely do we visit. 

And when we do – 

We drop by unannounced.  

Coming from a small town and family heritage of farming, Jackie Partridge has visually seen the land developing over time. She has seen and felt both the impacts of climate change and urbanization within her community.  

As a mixed media artist, she is interested in expressing the rural landscape in an abstract and poetic way through drawings and installations. 

Patched is an ongoing series of photographs where map paper (made from maps of places she has been) is embedded into trees where the bark naturally peels away as an act of offering or mending. 

She asks, ‘Could the landscape be an archive remembering every mark and every trace set upon it? Will my footprints still be here when I am no longer? For how long will the traces of me stay on the surface of the earth?’ 

http://www.jackiepartridge.com/work#/patched/ 

The Kitchener Public Library is located 85 Queen Street North

Kitchener ON N2H 2H1

Phone: 519-743-0271

The Patched exhibition is on til the end of April, 2022. If you have a chance to see it please share photos on social media by tagging me @jackiepartridge_ or use the #patchedproject. 

Purchase my book Patched here -that contains poetry and photographs.

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Patched

Patched Book

Patched Ebook

Patched Video

Follow me on social media to stay connected about future art exhibitions and news by clicking on one of the icons below! 

How to Get an Artist Grant

How to get an artist grant? Is a common question for artists because being an artist can be difficult and financially frustrating. There are lots of things to pay for as an artist like your studio space, art materials, ongoing learning, travel and residency fees, website fees, domain name and more! If you find yourself asking how to get an artist grant -then keep reading!

Getting an artist grant helps to relieve the financial pressure and money insecurities that come with being an artist, especially an emerging artist that is just starting out. By the end of this article you won’t be asking how to get an artist grant again!

How to Get an Artist Grant -the Steps

1. Research what grants you are eligible to apply for (make sure you check eligibility)

2. Record the deadlines for the grants

3. Start early at least two weeks but sooner is better than later! 

4. Read the application instructions 

5. Gather and prepare your materials for the artist grant

6. Fill out the application and double check

7. Proofread and have someone else read it too!

8. Submit and take some deep breaths! 

Make Sure You Research the Artist Grant

Where can you find an artist grant? Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council or even more locally. A lot of cities have their own grants or awards for art. In my city of Waterloo there are Region of Waterloo Arts Fund and City of Waterloo. 

You have to begin by researching and checking which artist grants you are eligible for. Then you can research deadlines so that you have enough time to apply for the artist grant. 

As a young emerging artist, I started with smaller grants with a low budget proposal that I could help build my CV and prove that I could complete projects and handle working with grant money. This is a new skill -it’s good to start small and to practice! 

How to Get an Artist Grant -Practice, Practice, Practice

It takes time to get an artist grant. You probably won’t get one right away and that’s okay! Keep applying and keep practicing. It can be difficult to write about your art or to explain why getting the grant would help you as an artist or your community. With time you do build your confidence and your writing improves!

Tips for How to Get an Artist Grant 

1. Read and complete everything 

2. Make sure your writing and proposal is clear and makes sense

3. Have professional photos of your art 

4. Ask for feedback if you don’t get the grant so you can improve 

5. Attend free grant writing seminars or workshops -most places offer this or there’s lots on YouTube

6. Interview people who have won grants and ask questions 

7. Call the place or email where you are applying at to and ask any questions (this doesn’t negatively impact you receiving a grant- only helps)

8. Again, give yourself plenty of time and make sure to submit early in case the website crashes!

What Happens When I Receive an Artist Grant?

When you receive an artist grant -which you will someday (don’t worry!) Make sure you keep track of your receipts, paper copies and digital copies (take a picture or scan) This way you don’t lose them. Complete the project you proposed on the deadline stated. If you can’t meet the project deadline or if the project is changing slightly -reach out to where you received the grant to speak to them. They are always very helpful and they want you to succeed! 

Related Articles

Patched Book

WAF Grant Update

Tips for Pricing Your Art

Quit Feeling Like a Starving Artist

6 Tips for Hitting Your Art Goals

Helpful Links

Waterloo Artist Fund (for people living in the Waterloo Region)

Ontario Arts Council -people living in Ontario -OAC 

Canada Council for the Arts for Canadian residents

CARFAC fees to help you with your budget

If you found this article helpful connect with me in the box below! I send tips, tutorials and discounts to my mailing list members!

What it’s Like to Be Vermont Studio Center Alumni

Being a Vermont Studio Center Alumni is a part of joining an online community. I attended the Vermont Studio Center art residency in Johnson, Vermont in November, 2017. I stayed at the artist residency for two weeks. I follow them on instagram and I am a part of a private Facebook group similar to the Women’s Studio Workshop residency -which you can read about here! Vermont Studio Center Alumni have been recognized for tons of achievements as the Vermont Studio Center is a top residency known globally.

Vermont Studio Center in Johnson, Vermont

Although I am grateful for the experience at Vermont Studio Center and to be a Vermont Studio Center Alumni I don’t think I would go back to this artist residency. As an artist, I like to travel to new places to see how place impacts my work. Vermont Studio Center is a more pricey artist residency as the fee does include your food. Since I am a paper maker the Vermont Studio Center is less appealing as they do not have a paper making studio.

For anyone who has not been or is needing a quiet space to work I would recommend this residency as I was very productive and got a lot done. Everyone is friendly and there are options to sing karaoke or enjoy a campfire while you are there too! 

While I was there, I worked on some projects for my thesis exhibition that happened in February, 2018 at Concordia University. I had a large studio with a window and a couple of tables. I worked on pieces that later became projects in my exhibition including:

• Patched

• Piled Up

• What is and What Was

• Precariously Perched

What I Worked on at Vermont Studio Center

Piled Up installation tested out at the Vermont Studio Center

While being at the Vermont Studio Center residency I worked on altering books for my project What is and What Was. I used the leftover cut-outs to make Piled Up. I tested out the installation for Piled Up on a shelf that was in my studio. I later built a shelf for my exhibition display in my thesis show at Concordia University. 

With my series Patched that is still an ongoing series I arranged photographs of Patched into patched quilt formations. After the residency, I sewed them on my sewing machine. I worked with plaster casts of leaves during my Vermont Studio Center residency. I took advantage of the beautiful scenery in Vermont (it is very easy to be inspired) and I took more photos for my series Patched. 

I enjoyed having a lot of wall space so that I could test out Precariously Perched. In this piece I balance twisted thin strands of maps on straight pins and nails. You can see more of Precariously Perched here! 

Accommodations at Vermont Studio Center

I stayed in a room by myself and had a shared bathroom. There was a few other people living in the house I was staying at. I had a separate key to my bedroom so I felt very secure while living there. At the residency all of your meals are provided in the dining hall. The food is really good and there are a lot of options. All of the food is made by the chef. Having your meals provided is nice during an artist residency because then you don’t lose time cooking, getting groceries or doing dishes and you can have more time devoted to making art. 

Again, I don’t think I would go back to this artist residency although I am grateful for the experience at Vermont Studio Center and to be a Vermont Studio Center Alumni. Experiencing new places to make art is important for me and having access to materials like a paper making studio is also extremely important.

Winter view out my studio window at the Vermont Studio Center

With that being said Vermont Studio Center is a great relaxing and quiet place to work. The beauty of Vermont is incredible and I had such a productive two weeks! 

Patched installation I worked at while at the Vermont Studio Center

Patched installation for my thesis exhibition at Concordia University inspired by being at the Vermont Studio Center

How to Become a Vermont Studio Center Alumni

Here is more information about how to apply to Vermont Studio Center so you can become a Vermont Studio Center Alumni - one day too! 

https://vermontstudiocenter.org 

https://vermontstudiocenter.org/residenciesinfo 

Precariously Perched installation tested out at the Vermont Studio Center

Related Articles 

Women’s Studio Workshop -artist residency

If you are mom you can check out this motherhood residency: http://www.artistresidencyinmotherhood.com/how-it-started 

Here is another great website to help you find the right artist residency for you! https://resartis.org/covid-19-updates/

Stay connected with me by following along on social media -click on one of the icons below!

Precariously Perched installation part of my thesis exhibition at Concordia University inspired by my work at Vermont Studio Center

1963-1974- Artwork by Jackie Partridge

This is an older work from 2015 called 1963-1974 by Jackie Partridge. The artwork is less than 2’ by 2’.  I completed this artwork during my undergraduate degree at Lakehead University. I created it as part of my art portfolio when I was applying to my Master of Fine Arts at Concordia University in the Fibres and Material Practices Program. 

Polaroids and machine sewing - form a patchwork quilt of memories with old family photos. The photographs are arranged by colour to help the chevron pattern emerge. My grandmother was sorting through family photos and gave me a collection of photographs. I asked if I could cut them and turn them into an artwork and she said yes. There’s something weird about cutting up family photographs and replacing a part of them to form a new memory. I sewed the photographs with a zig zag stitch on my sewing machine in white thread.

Polaroids are such a nostalgic medium and have become trendy again. Working with this medium of found Polaroids really speaks to the time period and the moment that captured the photograph. I love the colours from the pictures and how they have faded over time. Some of the photographs even have my grandmother’s handwriting on the bottom of them. 

I am very interested in quilts, sewing and textile art because when I grew up I had 8 grandmothers including great-grandmothers and great-great-grandmothers. The craft of quilting and sewing are very important to my family heritage and to myself. 

You can see the detail of 1963-1974 below!

You can see my current art by clicking here!

Sewn Polaroids by Jackie Partridge

 To see current artwork you can follow me on instagram @jackiepartridge_

To shop for art by Jackie Partridge - click here!

Click one of the icons below to connect with me on social media so you can stay in touch.

6 Tips for Hitting Your Art Goals

6 tips for hitting your art goals this year! This year you can make your goals come true! How did you do sticking to the goals you made last year? Do you even remember them? Here are some tips about sticking to your goals, so you don’t lose track of them this year! 

I love planning, making lists and achieving my goals. It does take work though..

Here is a list of my 6 tips to help you hit your art goals this year!

# 1 Sticking to Your Goals - check on them

In order to keep my goals I need to review them and to check in on them.

I plan my goals near the end of December a year in advance and I review my goals every four months to adjust them accordingly.

Each month, I check on my monthly goals and put a check mark beside the completed ones. I have a new agenda this year that has a section for goals at the start of each month which really helps! If you don't have this you can always set up reminders on your phone, write on a calendar or create to-do/goals lists.

It's important to check on a goal's progress because if you have many goals you can easily forget.

Pro Tip: If you are working on a larger goal you can break it into smaller chunks that are easier to manage!

#2 Your Goals Aren't Permanent!

Life happens... Before you know it you meet your goal or you decide the timing isn't right. You are allowed to change your mind - because they are your goals! I like to give myself some grace and I'm not hard on myself when I am no longer aiming for a goal. I'm still figuring out what kind of artist I want to become and what I want my life to look like in the future.

#3 You Need to be Invested and Know Why

You have to want your goals- and not believe you should make them because what society is telling you. Part of sticking to goals is figuring out why you want them in the first place. This drive keeps you motivated. So, if you don't know why you want something, think deeper or even try journalling.

A goal needs intention behind it. It helps when a goal has clarity too because it will be something that you can easily visualize.

#4 Does Your Goal Inspire You and Excite You?

Like Marie Kondo says "does it spark joy" if it does, it's something you will treasure something you will continue to work on. If it doesn't you won't - it's that simple! The more excited you are, the more urgency there is to finish it.

A goal should be exciting but still believable to you.

#5 Give Yourself Deadlines for Your Art Goals

I was always an achiever in school and I've found to still be successful out of school it helps to have deadlines. Give yourself a realistic time frame while keeping yourself challenged and accountable! Sometimes, I will make a firm deadline with myself like "If you don't finish this by the end of the day then you can't ..."

The nice thing about applying to different art calls and grants is that they have deadlines associated with them. These deadlines can really help you stay organized.

#6 Reward Yourself for Meeting Your Goals - Make the Process Fun!

Some goals are going to take longer to complete because they require more work and they are bigger goals. I find it helpful to remember to enjoy the journey (although I struggle with this). Don't be afraid to celebrate milestones or to reward yourself with something you want. If the process of goal setting isn't enjoyable you aren't going to be excited about it and it will be harder to stick to your goals.

Here are my art goals for 2021

Now that I am teaching full time I have to consider what goals are realistic for me and my schedule:

1. Post consistently to social media (5x a week to instagram, 1-2x to facebook, every day to Pinterest, twice a month to my email list, blog post 3-4x a month, YouTube 2x a month)

2. Apply to art calls twice a month - I want to have more exhibitions this year!

3. Spend time in nature for inspiration- I find this really helps with my art practice.

4. Make consistent art sales- I would love my art to be my main source of income.

5. Keep my website updated monthly- I like reviewing my website at the end of each month to make sure everything is current.

6. Set boundaries for teaching for more work life balance- no work on Friday nights and Saturdays, no emails past 7pm, no marking on the weekend.

7. Make art during school breaks- Teaching full time has made me really miss having time to make my art.  

Your Art Goals Might Be…

Working on an Art Portfolio

Check out this post on how to prepare an art portfolio for college or university!

Starting a YouTube Channel for Your Art

Check mine out here for acrylic painting!

Improving Your Acrylic Painting

If one of your goals is getting better at acrylic painting - I can help with that! Download my FREE guide where I show you the 10 common mistakes beginner painters make and how you can avoid them!

If you have a goal this year to get into art school and become an artist or an arts-related career- download my FREE guide with 10 Tips to Make Your Art Portfolio Application Stand Out!

Follow me on Social Media for more ideas! And let me know your goals this year in the comments or the DMs!

Happy Holidays to You!

I want to wish you Happy Holidays this season!

I wish you health, wealth and happiness!

2021 is going to be the best year yet! The best is truly to come! We all know 2020 has been one roller coaster!

This year brought a lot of changes to my art career. With Covid-19, I could no longer offer in person workshops and switched to offering free online tutorials. Exhibitions I had scheduled were also postponed. I landed a full time teaching contract for more stability during these uncertain times.

I appreciate so many of you following and supporting me along the way - whether it was joining my email list, following me on social media, sharing my work with a friend or liking a post. It all truly helped and meant the world to me!

Thank you for…

Thank you for following this blog and sharing these posts! Thanks for liking my posts on Instagram: @jackiepartridge_ and my acrylic painting account @jackiepartridgeart

This summer I started a new YouTube channel. Although I was terrified I have really enjoyed it. I appreciate all the positive feedback and I love seeing the paintings you have made. You can continue to tag me on instagram @jackiepartridgeart or use the #jackiepartridgeartclasses.

Thank you for supporting my new YouTube channel

Every like, share, subscribe truly means the world to me and allows me to help reach more beginner painters who are struggling.

This year I also started a Facebook page as a way to really connect and start to create a community and share my resources with you.

Thanks for those who have followed along: https://www.facebook.com/jackiepartridgeart/

Lastly thank you for purchasing artwork from me, asking for commissions and considering me as an artist to help decorate your walls and make your house a home!

 www.jackiepartridge.com/shop

Thank you for so much love and support this year! As a young emerging artist every like, comment, share, purchase help me work towards my goal of being a full time artist one day!

Have a Safe, Healthy and Happy Holiday Season!

Not on my Email List? Join below for EXCLUSIVE painting tutorials every season, special tips and promotions in my art shop and more!

Related Articles

Why I became an artist

My current artwork

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Trail - Arm Knitted Installation by Jackie Partridge

Trail detail by Jackie Partridge, arm-knitted lace strips

Trail by Jackie Partridge is a work from my art archive that I made while living in Montreal and going to school for my MFA. This fiber artwork is very performative as I used the knitting process to create it. The act of knitting is very repetitive and labour intensive. It is the same motion over and over again. Learn more about this textile artwork below!

Trail

1’x 20', found lace, sewing and arm knitting, 2016. 

The work was displayed at Ancienne École des Beaux Arts for the end of year MFA exhibition “Maureen” in 2016.

To see my current art practice - click here!

To shop my art collection- click here

This art installation is made by cutting long strips of found lace curtains. The strips of lace were sorted by colour from a yellow cream colour all the way to a pure white at the bottom of the piece. The colour created a nice gradient. The strips were then sewn together to create a very long strip that was then wrapped like a ball of yarn. This process was repeated twice. Like knitting, I used my arms as the “knitting needles” and continued to knit for over an hour to create this 20 foot long installation that was suspended from the top of the staircase. I knit continuously since I used my arms as the knitting needles.

When this piece is lit it produces some beautiful shadows from the design of the white lace. 

I have also displayed this textile artwork outside in the snow. You can see the photograph at the bottom. I liked draping it in the snow and seeing how it dragged across the snow. 

To see my current artwork and art process connect with me on social media by clicking one of the icons below! Or follow me on Instagram @jackiepartridge_ 

Outdoor installation of Trail by Jackie Partridge in the snow

August 2020 YouTube Painting Tutorials Recap!

I started an acrylic painting YouTube channel >> Jackie Partridge Art << on Sunday July 5, 2020. Here is a list of YouTube videos that were posted to my channel this month as a little recap. In case you might’ve missed some of these painting tutorials on my YouTube acrylic painting channel!

You can read the descriptions of the videos before clicking the link to see the video.

You can watch these videos for free at anytime. If you have a YouTube account you can click the clock in the top right corner of the video to save it to your “Watch List” to watch it for later.

Be sure to subscribe to my channel —you can click the bell beside the subscribe button on YouTube to receive notifications of when new videos are added! - I release NEW videos every month!

If you like a video be sure to hit the “thumbs up” to like it or share it with a friend!

Let’s take a look at the videos for this month!

Painting with Posca Pens - watch here!

Painting With Posca Pens -The Basics!

In this acrylic painting tutorial for beginner artists I show you the basics of working with Posca Pens and incorporating them in your acrylic paintings! This video is perfect for people of all ages - I recommend age 9 and up for this video as having coordination with drawing, fine motor skills will be helpful for this art material. Learn how to use a Posca Pen, What are Posca Pens?, Ideas for using Posca Pens in your painting and more. This is video is for people who have never used a Posca Pen before and to provide them with a basic introduction.

Watch the Painting with Posca Pens Video Here!

Video Length: 12 min. 14 sec.

Palette Knife Basics

How do you use Palette Knives? What are Palette Knives? What Palette Knife is right for you? I will help you answer these questions in this quick video paint lesson. Learn about the difference between plastic and wooden palette knives and find the one right for you. Gain confidence in learning about palette knives to be able to create beautiful and textured abstract acrylic paintings! Fall in love with palette knives and explore the possibilities of palette knife painting.

Watch the Palette Knife Basics Video Here!

Video Length: 5 min. 8 sec.

Palette Knife Cloud Painting

This painting lesson is perfect for beginners with no experience using a palette knife before! Recommended age is 9 and up! This is an easy art technique and painting lesson to try --- learn a new simple acrylic painting technique to add to your skill development today! In this video art lesson -learn how to paint a cloudy sky with a palette knife. Learn about colour mixing with a palette knife, painting layers, creating texture, palette knife technique and how to paint clouds.

Watch the Palette Knife Cloud Painting Video Here!

Video Length: 27 min. 40 sec.

3 Acrylic Painting Tips To Save You MONEY!

3 Tips for Saving Money on Acrylic Painting! Check out this video and learn three tips for saving money on acrylic painting. Perfect tips for a beginner painter or intermediate painter of all ages.

Watch the 3 Tips for Saving Money on Acrylic Painting Video Here!

Video Length: 7 min. 53 sec.

Would you like to improve your acrylic painting? Grab my FREE 16 page guide where you can learn the 10 mistakes beginner acrylic painters make and how to avoid them!

Flower Printing is a great technique to create an abstract painting and is a fun project to try with kids!

Flower Printing

Flower Printing is a fun painting technique for any age! You could even try this technique with toddlers. This is a great technique to add to your painting. You can create a beautiful texture and layer your designs. Flower printing is great for abstract painting, fun experiments, collage or mixed media art.

Watch the Flower Printing Video Here!

Video Length: 16 min. 26 sec.

If you have an idea of a video you would like me to do- let me know in the comments. I appreciate every subscribe, like and comment on my channel - it helps me to make money as an artist!

I release a new video every other week- so be sure to subscribe to my channel so you don’t miss a thing!

Happy Painting!

See other painting lessons on my blog - here!

Conceal - Art Installation by Jackie Partridge

Conceal is a project that was inspired my a previous work Trapped this work is from 2017 by artist Jackie Partridge.  In the installation below I use the same hand dyed and hand embroidered dishcloth quilt from Trapped. The dishcloth quilt is made to resemble an aerial view of farmlands. Farming runs in my family as both sets of grandparents and great-grandparents owned farms. I grew up in Wellesley, Ontario, a small town surrounded by farmlands. I watched the land over time develop into subdivision after subdivision. This artwork became symbolic for concealing or covering, protecting and hiding the land. The dishcloths are dyed with inks and acrylic fluids with bright colours of greens, browns, yellows, oranges and pinks to represent the colours and beauty of farm fields. I really wanted to highlight the beauty and vibrancy of the landscape.

I am interested in quilts and fibre art because when I grew up I had 8 grandmothers including great-grandmothers and great-great-grandmothers. So the craft of embroidery and sewing are very important to my family heritage. 

With my art practice I often reuse elements and photograph different artwork outside to change and transform the context of the work itself. I see my art evolving and transforming through time similar to how the landscape is in a constant state of change.

This quilt inspired artwork is draped over rocks at my grandmother’s house in Kinmount, ON. Their property is a special place where I enjoy spending my summer. I find being in nature to be a very inspiring place for my work and me as an artist. Photographed by me in summer 2017.

I see the quilt as a symbol of protection, warmth and comfort. Like most quilts are. 

You can see my current art practice here!

Shop for handmade art -here

Follow me on social media @jackiepartridge_ to see current artwork and to hear about upcoming art exhibitions. 

To see my current artwork >>connect with me on social media - click on one of the icons below!

Fall Exclusive Painting Video

Twice a year, I send my email list an exclusive acrylic painting video lesson to your inbox! Be sure to join my mailing list by filling out the grey form so you don’t miss the next exclusive painting tutorial!

You can Still Access this tutorial by signing up for my free guide - click the button below!

(The video is linked in the guide)

Videos include start to finish instructions and are not on my YouTube Channel - You will have lifetime access to these videos! >>>Enter your email in the blue form below to join!

You will learn how to paint an acrylic painting from start to finish with valuable tips. I am a trained artist in acrylic painting and I am a certified teacher. I have my Master of Fine Arts degree and loads of teaching experience to make painting for beginners a simple process where you can feel confident and have fun! I send an email to my list each season where I give you a private link to the video tutorial. You will have lifetime access to the video lesson.

These videos are perfect for you if:

1. You love art or painting

2. You want more time to yourself to be creative! 

3. You are interested in learning more about acrylic painting and developing your skills

4. You want a fun project to do by yourself or with friends or family (recommended age is 7 and up!)

5. You are a painter or want to give it a try!

6. You are beginner or experienced painter

7. You want to relax and enjoy the therapeutic benefits of painting

8. You want fun, simple and creative ideas to paint

Enter your email below to get access each season -so you don’t miss the next video!

The videos that I send are exclusive videos only for my email list - they will not be shared to Youtube or social media. These videos are special gifts to those who have signed up!

You might be asking what supplies do I need to get started? You can read about the art materials needed in this blog post!

Here is the Fall 2020 Painting Video Lesson for my Email Subscribers!

Interested in Painting and Continuing to Learn and Develop?

Scroll up to the top to join just enter your email address in that grey form! You will receive an email right after you join. Check your junk mail if you don’t receive an email from me right away!

I am always open to suggestions and ideas. If there is something you would like to learn how to paint- you can leave a comment below or send me a DM on my NEW painting instagram account @jackiepartridgeart

If you make a painting from one of my lessons be sure to tag me on Instagram @jackiepartridgeart and use the hashtag #jackiepartridgeartclasses - I would love to see what you create and give you feedback and virtual hugs!

Can’t wait til the next video? Check out my YouTube Channel with lots of acrylic painting options!

Be sure to subscribe - NEW videos are added monthly!

Want to improve your acrylic painting quickly? Sign up for my painting coaching!

Don’t forget to join my mailing list to receive the next video. (enter your email in the grey form -just scroll up)

If you would like to improve your acrylic painting by learning what mistakes beginner painters make - click the button below to download my FREE 12 Page Guide NOW! You will join my mailing list and receive my exclusive painting tutorials every season!

See Other Painting Tutorials We Have Done

Summer 2021

Spring 2021

Winter 2020

Summer 2020

July 2020 YouTube Painting Tutorials Recap!

Check out my Jackie Partridge Art YouTube Channel. Here is a list of YouTube videos that were posted to my channel this month as a little recap. To see some acrylic painting tutorials you might’ve missed!

You can read the descriptions of the videos before clicking the link to see the video.

Read this blog post about what supplies you need to get started with acrylic painting! Click here to read!

You can watch these videos for free at anytime. If you have a YouTube account you can click the clock in the top right corner of the video to save it to your “Watch List” to watch it for later.

Be sure to subscribe to my channel —you can click the bell beside the subscribe button on YouTube to receive notifications of when new videos are added! - I release NEW videos every month!

If you like a video be sure to hit the “thumbs up” to like it or share it with a friend!

Let’s take a look at the videos for this month!

Art Supplies

I recommend watching this video first! It is a great introduction to acrylic painting and I will show you and explain the different acrylic painting supplies you need to get started. It’s nice to visually see the supplies you need. Buying art supplies can be a bit overwhelming at first but I help guide you to make this process easier!

Watch the Art Supplies Video- HERE

Video Length: 11 min. 40 sec.

In this video I go over basic supplies needed for acrylic painting to get you started! Check it out here:

https://youtu.be/r3LPp25h9mI

Related Articles

You can also read this blog post here if you prefer seeing a written copy of art supplies you need!

Check out my blog post on my favourite painting supplies here!

Colour Wheel and Value Scale

If you haven’t painted before and don’t know much about mixing colours - I recommend watching this video. I explain the basics of colour theory. You will learn about primary, secondary and tertiary colours and how to mix them. You will also learn about making a tint or shade with a colour. This is a great educational video perfect for beginners, teachers, parents homeschooling and daycare providers. Colour mixing is the foundation of acrylic painting!

Watch the Colour Wheel and Value Scale Video- HERE

Video Length: 25 min. 9 sec.

Grab a FREE Guide to Mixing Green/Grey here!

Mixing Green

This video is great for developing your skills. Mixing green is not as simple as mixing yellow and blue paint. If you are great at mixing greens then you will be able to mix a variety of greens and will be able to paint more realistic landscape paintings.

Watch the Mixing Greens Video- HERE

Video Length: 13 min. 20 sec.

Mixing Grey

Mixing grey is not as simple as black + white. The more variety you have in your colours the more interesting your paintings will be! This video is a quick way to develop your colour mixing skills and make more professional looking paintings!

Watch the Mixing Greys Video- HERE

Video Length: 8 min. 15 sec.

Mixing Brown

You have probably made brown before when mixing a bunch of colours together on your palette. Maybe it was even on accident! There is such a difference between mixing your own brown and using brown straight from the tube. Learn more about colour mixing and improve your paintings with this video!

Watch the Mixing Browns Video- HERE

Video Length: 6 min. 15 sec.

How to Paint a Campfire

Learn how to paint a campfire! This video is a workshop I have ran with kids as young as 7 and adults. This video tutorial is recommended for kids age 7 and up! (it can be challenging for the younger ones but if a child is creative and loves learning -this is for them) Learn how to paint trees, paint a night sky and of course a campfire. This is a great introductory painting for a beginner to try!

Watch the Campfire Painting Video- HERE

Video Length: 40 min. 41 sec.

Painting a Mermaid Tail

This is the perfect video lesson for age 7+ an amazing painting for beginners to try! This fun painting will explore mixing greens, printing with household objects to create texture and more! Learn how to paint this fun underwater mermaid tail!

Watch the Mermaid Tail Painting Video- HERE

Video Length: 28 min. 38 sec.

Painting Clouds

This video is a bit more challenging than some of the other videos. I recommend trying some other painting tutorials first. This video is great for an intermediate painter but of course beginner painters are welcome to give this a try! Painting clouds can be hard! In this video you will learn to paint more realistic clouds, how to paint a sky and creating highlights and shadows.

Watch the Painting Clouds Video- HERE

Video Length: 16 min. 46 sec.

This is a Painting Tutorial all about painting Skies and Clouds - Perfect for an intermediate acrylic painter! Check it out here: https://youtu.be/RNGKfQ2B20k

Painting Round Realistic Forms

In this video I show how to paint round forms and use the example of eggs in a nest. You will learn about brushstrokes and direction of shading. Learn about colour mixing, shadows and highlights to create a realistic round form. This is the perfect video for beginners or youth to try!

Watch the Painting Round Realistic Forms Video- HERE

Video Length: 15 min. 5 sec.

Painting a Lemon

This video is about painting a still life or a lemon in this case. Learn colour mixing, painting texture, highlights and shadows, choosing a background colour and more. This is a great video for beginners or intermediate painters.

Watch the Painting a Lemon Video- HERE

Video Length: 29 min. 41 sec.

If you have an idea of a video you would like me to do- let me know in the comments.

I release a new video every week- so be sure to subscribe to my channel so you don’t miss a thing!

Check out my YouTube Channel and Subscribe to see new video tutorials every week!

Do you want to get better at your acrylic painting? Learn how you can avoid the 10 common mistakes beginner painters make - by clicking the button below and downloading the FREE 16 page guide!

Happy Painting!

Sediment -Art Installation by Jackie Partridge

Sediment art installation by Jackie Partridge was started in 2017. I started paper making in 2015 where I was working as a teaching assistant in a paper making class during my MFA. See some behind the scenes look at a current project and learn about the process of paper making below!

Sediment is an ongoing art installation since 2017 where I form sheets of handmade paper with blue jeans from my grandfather. Currently there are about 300 pieces of handmade paper.

My grandfather is a retired farmer who sold the family owned century farm in 2012.

The paper acts as a memory and are stacked on the floor like waves in the water.

This piece is inspired by the artwork Remnants that also used old farming clothes belonging to my grandfather.

Learn how to make paper out of denim here! This explains the process for making this artwork.

In order to make the denim paper the blue jeans must be collected rinsed with water and cut into tiny 1”x1” squares. After the squares are cut they are put into a beater that grinds the natural fibres into tiny blue threads.

The paper making process- denim pulp

After the pulp is beaten down to tiny threads (taking around 4 hours or longer) The pulp is added into a vat of water and a mould and deckle are used to create sheets of paper.

This is the mould and deckle used to create the circle sheets of paper

Marbled Denim Paper

CA$28.00

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I invite you to take a look at the handmade paper I sell in my shop. Check out my beautiful handmade paper art here!

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Pocket Full of Sunshine

CA$90.00

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Fielding Through- Painted Drawing with Ink by Jackie Partridge

Fielding Through by Jackie Partridge

22’x12,”  ink and acrylic fluids on Mylar, 2016

Fielding Through is an accordion style book that stretches out creating a long continuous 22' field. Each drawing of the field is painted abstractly with coloured ink and fluid acrylics by Golden. The work was inspired by my hometown Wellesley, ON and the continuous views of farmlands that blur as the car drives past all the fields.

This artwork is inspired by my family heritage of farming. Both of my grandparents were farmers and my mom’s parents owned a family century owned farm. This piece highlights the beauty of the landscape and how expansive it is. I chose bright and vibrant colours to highlight the beauty. Fields, nature and landscapes are common inspiration for my artwork and art installations.

I love using Golden Acrylic Fluids because there is less of a water concentration and it is more of a pure pigment so the colours are a lot more bright and vibrant. I started painting with inks on sheer, transparent fabric during my undergraduate degree at Lakehead University. I started painting on mylar which is a transparent plastic type paper during my Master of Fine Arts degree at Concordia University. I like the way the colours dry and layer on top of each other creating rings of colour and interesting lines. Since the mylar paper is transparent you can also see layers of the coloured washes from the previous pages in the book. 

This piece is inspired by my work Field of Green, which is a large painted field on sheer white fabric with painted fields on large sheets of mylar that are pinned to the wall. The fabric drapes away from the wall. 

Follow me on Instagram @jackiepartridge_ to see my current artwork. 

Check out my art shop to purchase my art here!

To see current work -check it out here! Follow me on Social Media by clicking on one of the icons below to stay connected!

Related Artwork and Articles

Field of Green- large ink on fabric -similar to this work! or Winding Road -based off of this piece!

Why I became an artist

10 Lessons I Learned in Art School

Purchase art in my shop