COVID-19: Flatten the Curve

Well, this last month has been interesting. I have rarely left the house but from what I have seen it's crazy how different things are from just a month or two ago. Any store you go into now has tape all over the floor showing where to stand in order to be 6ft apart from the next person. All store staff are wearing masks and gloves, carts are being sanitized. Clear, plastic dividers are set up to separate the cashiers from the customers. The roads are not nearly as busy. This is our new normal right now and odds are things will be like this for the next few months.

The beginning of April I had two events postponed. As of now, I have had two events postponed and three canceled. It sucks, but I completely understand why. We have to be safe and we have to take care of each other. Flatten the curve.

Anyway, enough doom and gloom. Now it's time to think positive and talk about the good stuff. :)

This last month I have been of course, focusing on my business. I have successfully updated my website with new work and just updated small things here and there. In addition, I have also been working a lot on my online presence. I have joined some groups on Facebook and am working on interacting more with people online in general. I'm not the most comfortable with social media so it's a work in progress.

I also developed a new weekly to do list for myself to help with all the tasks in managing a business. Before I would spend almost all day jumping from one task to the next. I'd be going back and forth constantly and never really getting anything done. By the end of the day I'd be lucky to have an hour to create. My new schedule helps with managing my time more, breaks everything down for me so it doesn't seem like quite so much and isn't as stressful.  So far the new schedule is working good and it's even left me with a bit more time to create. We'll have to see how this new schedule holds up in the long run.

Something new I started this last month is I now have my own YouTube channel. Every week a new, short video will be published showing me working on some of my art. It gives you a little glimpse into the work put into everything I create. I set up and take the videos and my amazing husband fixes them up and adds music to them. He's so sweet. :)  You can visit and subscribe to my channel at AlexandraArtDesign.

Creatively I have been a bit busy. I have not been able to do as much in regards to larger illustrations but I'm getting there. I recently decided to turn some of my illustrations into a ten to twelve piece series. The illustrations feature animals quoting lines from movies, being dressed up and just being funny or sarcastic. So far six of the illustrations are done. I've still got a ways to go but I'm super excited to see the end result. My idea for the series is that when it's all done I can sell individual prints of each piece and offer a deal for the complete set. I would also like to take one or two of the more popular designs and turn them into tote bags or magnets. The last thing I want to do with the series is turn the illustrations into postcards. It would be a nice affordable way to collect the entire series. But I'm getting way ahead of myself. I have at least four more illustrations to do yet and I don't even have a name for the series yet. All I can think of right now is Jack Ass Animals, which doesn't seem very appropriate. Thankfully I've still got time. If you have any ideas, I am all ears.

This last month I have created a lot of new cards. I have never been good at drawing dogs but I thought I'd give it another shot and I am so glad I did. Now I have a complete six piece dog butt card set. They are absolutely adorable and I almost like them more than the cat butt set. Almost. I loved how the dog butt set turned out so much that I even created a dog birthday card.

I made a few other cards as well that didn't feature dogs that are equally awesome. My hippo card is one of my new favorites. Or maybe the whale is my favorite? There are too many cards that I like. 

Other than that, there's not much new here. I'm just trying to stay positive, keep creating and enjoy the little things in life. I hope everyone is well and keeping safe and as always, don't forget to wash your hands. Talk to you next month!