Welcome to my first newsletter of 2022
It's traditional at this time of year to look back over the last 12 months, but I don't really want to - do you? The last few years have been incredibly cruel, frustrating and frightening. So let's not look back! Instead I'm going to look forward to better days. Being am artist my better days take the form of painting and drawing, all of which I want to share with you. While dreaming about better days I came up with a new project, announced on 1st January 2022 - you are the first to know about it. The "Shed Calendar" is planned as a year long collaboration between myself and Joanne Harris, culminating in the printing of a beautifully illustrated, inspirational calendar for 2023 via the crowd funding platform Kickstarter. I want as many people as possible to be involved in the project. So if you pledge support you may be asked to vote on an illustration or even add your own shed tweet - I'm open to suggestions and possibilities. Below is a link to my web page (if I've done it right) explaining the concept of the "Shed Calendar". https://www.bhhawkins.com/about-1-1
This is the first film for January, I hope the film and webpage explain exactly what we are trying to do, if not I invite any questions so just send me an email if there's anything you need to know. *please laugh at my film making prowess. I promise to get better with practise*
Before I sign off on this newsletter I want to thank all my supporters and twitter followers, without your constant kind words and encouragement I dont think I would be here today. Covid-19 has devastated the creative industries. During the first lockdown I had 18 months of planned work cancelled in just a few days. Covid-19 is still having a massive effect on my life, as new exhibition proposals and publishing projects are being put off while people "catch up". It's true to say that without the kindness of strangers and the love of my family I would, by now, be in very desperate circumstances. Like so many people I've lost family and friends to this terrible virus and it has made me reevaluate everything. As a result of these experiences I have decided to give a little back at every possible opportunity. So a percentage of any profits raised from this calendar project will be donated to the charity Shelter. But let's be totally honest. I have never run a Kickstarter campaign before or published anything in my own right, so I'm a bit scared. I can promise you that the artwork will be done to the best of my ability and if enough people pledge support the calendar will be printed and delivered at the end of 2022. If enough people like this project I will continue to publish my own work and eventually print my own books. Later this year I will be experimenting in diversification by looking at ways of turning some of my art into fabric designs. I'm not only planning for better days, but very busy ones as well! Thats all for now except to say that I truly wish you all have a wonderful 2022. Good luck my friends.