Art & Life Updates

It has certainly been a while since I've made a blog post!

The past couple months have been a bit hectic and stressful but I do have something exciting to share.

One of my pieces is featured in the exhibition, "The Gender Within: The Art of Identity" at DuPont Underground in Washington D.C.! This is the first art show I have ever been in and it is such an honor. The exhibition is going on every weekend in June 2022. It was my dream venue to be showcased in so I am really excited that it is also my first! If you are in the area and want to cool down and look at art in a hip place, check it out! So many great artists are in the show and I loved looking at everyone's pieces.

I have been exploring different styles and media for a long time and I honestly still haven't found anything that feels like the "perfect fit." Maybe there is no such thing? Sometimes I resonate more with acrylics or watercolors- then I get a digital kick. It's a little confusing but experimentation helps me feel less limited. That being said I am planning to take my art to the next level.

I am hoping to start a small business in a few months, probably in autumn. I want to be able to share my art with others and begin to support myself. I am still in university full time but I have accepted that being an artist is not only my passion but what I would like to pursue as a career and this is another step towards that. Some of the goods I am brainstorming about selling are art prints, embroidered bookmarks, and crocheted hats.

It is really important to me that I stick to my self expression and morals throughout this venture. If I am to build a business then I want to keep environmental ethics, human labor ethics, and animal ethics at the forefront. While I don't want to undervalue my time and work, I am hoping to make things as accessible and affordable as I can. I am currently testing out local yarns from a farm in Virginia and I want to spread more awareness and appreciation for Virginia's wildlife and nature in my creations. Oftentimes I've felt like a feather torn from a feeling of belonging or home. But what I do know is that I have lived in various parts of this area for most of my life and I cherish and connect with the nature here. If I can contribute to their conservation in any way, I will!

Little steps are important and I try to remind myself every day of what I've accomplished so far. Falling into the despair of comparison is really easy but hard to get out of. I'm really glad I've come so far in my art and I am looking forward to continuing what I do.

Thank you for your support and kindness.

Stay healthy and may goodness come to you!

~Nikolai Sergei Razumov