Reflection

The journey so far has been fun, educational and eye opening. I came on this course by surprise. I was enrolling my daughter on a course and asked if there was anything on art and creativity. This led to enrolling on this Creative Enterprise Course. I was already registered as a sole trader but was not confident in my abilities to run a business correctly and efficiently. I was therefore looking for insight into how to run my business better, and how to bring my merchandise ideas into fruition. My initial focus was on being more creative and on normalising mediumship in the eyes of the public, through education.

The progress

My Spirit Within Art creative enterprise is growing again. I am getting more bookings for seminars and workshops locally, nationally and internationally. I've put together a better business plan, and have greater focus on my goals, and direction I wish to take my work. I have designed, produced and and test marketed some of my merchandise ideas. And I find my creative enterprise to be a viable side hustle with potential to grow.

The solutions

Finances and funding has been an issue. Not having much money to invest in my enterprise led me to look towards print on demand. This was the solution I needed. Utilising a print on demand service removed the overheads, storage and postage burdens of selling online products.

My ongoing health issues are my other big concern. as it can effect my ability to work and travel. I therefore must be mindful to take care of myself. Live within my buffer zone and avoid triggers. Work out the patterns of flare ups, how long to recover from every trip, to avoid overworking myself. Utilising disabled assistance when travelling has solved the issues when travelling.

Reflection: I have always rejected the idea that I am an artist having never gotten high marks for art in school. Which is why I was surprised when spirit asked me to draw. For 17 years I drew spirit portraits and Auragraphs with little art training. Then in 2022 spirit told me it was ok to go and learn how to draw. I have attended Teesside Universities Summer School and now this creative enterprise course at HCFE. This has brought out an artist in me, I did not know existed and has help build my confidence. I am now able to accept, that I am an artist as well as a spirit artist, and that people do seek me out because of my reputation and standard of work. It will therefore be my reputation and brand that initially sells my products.

What now: Over the next few months I need to continue pushing forwards. Keep building my reputation and brand. Keep designing, listing and promoting. I recognise now that I need routine and to plan ahead. I need to put into practice, what I have learnt during this creative enterprise course. I need more discipline and to set reminders, follow up on contacts, keep up to date on what's trending, networking, marketing and keep creating and uploading to social media.

Having looked at the costing to purchase stencils of my designs. I drew to the conclusion that it would be more cost effective to make my own. I looked into how to create varying stencils, then invested in a Cricut machine. This way I can create, test my designs, and make various prototypes myself.

The thoughts of our pioneers and places of historic interest kept coming to mind and an exercise I use when drawing to teach students the import of shading and values of light and dark. It dawned on me that the image would look good on acyclic light stands, could be compiled into colouring books, or shading practice books. Could be made into jigsaws, coasters, Hydesville cards, gift boxes, bottle bags, wrapping paper etc. Having invested in a Cricut machine more and more ideas keep popping into my head of what could be created. Such as LED light boxes with Emma Hardinge Britten on it. e.g.:

Other ideas I am now toying with:

• 3D coasters, of the Hydesville cottage with a turning circle in the middle, that when turned makes clouds and spirits float past the cottage.

• Build your own Hydesville cottage

• Build your own AFC

• 3D puzzles