2020 is coming to an end

It’s come to the time of the year where I write my annual blog about all that has happened and all that I am grateful for in the past year.

This year has been a strange one……and I’ve uttered these words so many times throughout the year that the I am beginning to wonder what I even mean by “strange”. Anyway in no particular order here are some of the things that I’ve done in this strangest of years (click on links to read further about some of them) with highs and lows.

1. Made plans to move to Malaga, Spain in early 2020 to paint for a year!

2. Packed up, sold art and sent to collectors, and then arranged storage for all of the rest of my artworks

3. Started organising the logistics of showing my art in Los Angeles in April 2020

3. Visited Malaga in February and rented an apartment starting from March 2020

4. Bones got his pet passport

5. Got locked down in Ireland so my plans to move to Spain were put on hold

6. Plans to exhibit my art in a physical show in Los Angeles were cancelled

7. Painted the massive “Phoenix Rising” while on lockdown - it got an awesome response when I shared it on Social Media!

8. Sold “Phoenix Rising”…….through Instagram - that was a first!

9. Worked remotely from home on Architectural projects……strange - but very workable!

10. Attended my first “Zoom Dinner Party” - great fun, thanks Gerry for organizing this!

11. Moved to Malaga, Spain

12. Set myself up in my art studio in Malaga

13. Invited to participate in “Savage” Group Exhibition in In-Spire Gallery, Dublin

14. Received my first commissioned order for an art work - completed it and sent it to the collector in Ireland

15. Launched a range of art merchandise products available on my website

16. Created a special edition mug of “Phoenix Rising” artwork, to celebrate the election of Joe Biden in the USA - they sold out very promptly!

17. Bought a BBQ grill when we moved to Spain and have cooked dinner *and breakfast!) on it every day!!

18. Was invited to be part of a Group Show in La Casa Amarilla Gallery in Malaga, Spain

19. Tasted roasted chestnuts for the first time

20. Started learning Spanish……and am continuing to struggle on

21. Solo exhibition “Seven Spanish Angels” was shown in conjunction with DesignYard Gallery in Dublin, Ireland - the response was very positive and sales were good

22. Was interviewed on Marbella TV about my art along with two articles being published in the Sur in English.

23. Guest blogs were a new addition to my website - I’m always looking for more guest bloggers so contact me if you want to write a guest blog for publication on my website!

24. Had a fantastic quiet Christmas and even swam in the sea on Christmas Day!

Loads more things happened throughout the year and I will add them in to the above as I think of them. It was a strange year to be sure and I did things that I never thought I would, including selling my car in March and becoming car free!

Looking back and all things considered, it has been a bad year for the world but I feel positive about the future (the first vaccine was given in Ireland today to a 79 year old lady from The Liberties) and I generally had a really good year…..BUT I am very much looking forward to the new year.

Roll on 2021!!