Hello Fatimah,
To say I’m happy that fall is here would be a bit of an understatement. Don’t get me wrong, I do love summer, but it’s too hot for me most days, and they haven’t invented drone misters that fly around you and mist your hot spots all day long. ;)
I had the awesome opportunity to drive back to Toronto from Red Lake and get to see all the gorge fall colours on that 24 HOUR drive. (If you follow me on insta, patrickhunter_art, you’ll know I break the trip up over a few days, stopping in Tbay, and the Sault for a couple days each. If you’re thinking about a road trip to check them out, NOW is the time!
Aside from the colours, another thing that excites me about the weather changing is that you don’t feel as guilty about staying indoors. I get A LOT done, but because the sun’s out so late, and the weathers so nice it makes me NEED to be outside and my productivity takes a hit when it comes to painting. (For those of you waiting on commissions, THEY’RE COMING! Haha, and I thank you for your patience)
I have to say, having the pop-up shop has really got me excited for what a brick and mortar shop could look like in the future! (Shout out to OMERS / Oxford Properties for giving me this opportunity) For the last ten years, I’ve been so used to setting up at festivals in the morning, and then taking it all down in the evening, only to do it all again the next day. Now that I have a car and a few employees, it’s much easier! It used to be just myself and a suitcase travelling around Ontario, getting rides from mostly friends but a few times from people AT the festival I was at who were so nice and helped me out. It’s been awesome to see all my work displayed beautifully and what a future shop could look like.
The old saying, “if you can see it, you can be it”, and now that I see the shop, I WANT the shop… or something like it. My plan was initially just for a production facility in Sault Ste. Marie (across from Mrs. B’s pizza, because that place is insane!), but I think adding a shop in there is something I’m getting excited about too! What I’ve learned over the years is that sometimes the things you’re working towards happen a little sooner. Maybe your dreams come true not in the way that you would have planned, but I think the trick is to figure out how to go with the flow, and not resist opportunities life’s trying to throw your way.
That’s all for now!
XO,
Patrick & Coal
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