Notes From the Studio

11/29/2024

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday! Aside from a cold that just doesn't want to let go of my sinuses, mine was blissfully low-key.

For the past 10 years, in my consulting work, I've managed a national small farm food safety certification program through USDA GroupGAP. This time of year was always super stressful for me, with trying to get all the i's dotted and t's crossed by the end of the audit cycle. But earlier this year I handed that program off, and for the first time in a decade I've actually been able to slow down and make room for reflection and rest. To be in sync with the season. It's been really, really nice.

Ink on Paper

I have a thank you card, a bookmark, and a Christmas card all in the queue, but this cold has kept me out of the studio. The seeds of a couple potential collaborations are starting to germinate, too!

One of those collaborations happens to be with my daughter. We're printing a bunch of music-based words and then collage-ing them over a busted-up violin (more below).

Now that I have a door, I wanted to make a sign encouraging folks to stop by when I'm there. I pulled a nice print, and then I grabbed a sheet of scrap paper to pull some of the ink off before I cleaned up. I ended up liking the scrap version better! It has a rougher, punk vibe to it, so that's the one I ended up taping to my door.

Upcoming Events

I'll have some Youth Volume 2024 fundraiser prints available at the Youth Volume Recital on December 14th. There will also be an auction of violin/cello art (which the aforementioned collaboration with my daughter will be a part of). Come support the awesome work that Clara and these kids are doing in our community!

Also, my upstairs neighbors Knotwork, are hosting a Winter Market this coming Thursday (December 5th) from 4-7pm at The Crib, where you can pick up some holiday goods made by their intrepid life learners. I always have my door open when I'm at the studio, and love it when these kids stop in to say hi.

Other Rambles

I'm on Bluesky! @thephilbritton.bsky.social. It reminds me of early Twitter, when it was just a bunch of cool people hanging out and talking to each other. Which is all that social media should be, after all.

See you out there (or in here),

~PB