Merry Christmas to everyone. What did you manage within the restrictions this year? A surprise visit to granny, a quiet family meal and some board games got us through.

I noticed quite a few more personalised gifts this year, probably linked to friends and family shopping online and making an extra effort to be thoughtful.

This will certainly be a Christmas to remember, but hopefully it is a ‘one of ‘and not the new normal moving forward. I have waited patiently to start getting feedback on the Christmas commissions and now it has started to trickle in.

Everyone so far has been delighted with their personal unique gifts. It has been a real pleasure being part of their gift experience. Moving forward, commissions appear to be my preferred direction of travel.

Requests for new commissions from strangers, who have been given personal recommendations by previous recipients of my artwork, are the best form of marketing my business could have.

I have already had my first post-Christmas commission, triggered by someone seeing their friend’s Christmas commission painting of their Cavapoo.

In the art world reputation is everything. It is not about training and qualifications... it is about producing good quality work which customers enjoy. When the subject matter is their favourite pet or place, satisfaction is almost guaranteed.

So, what will the new year bring? Brexit, vaccines, face masks and hopes of foreign travel as we start to take control of the coronavirus pandemic. I have not booked my next cruise yet, but I have started thinking about it again.

It is difficult to predict what subject matter will make its way into the commissions, as cartoon Christmas cards, family homes, hospitals and personalised maps would not have been on last year’s predictions list, yet they still made their way on to my list. Pet portraits certainly have been the most constant feature, so are perhaps the most predictable requests moving forwards.

At last, the fine bone China products with pointillism artwork have arrived. Off to the candle maker next, to get them ready for advertising and sale. I can’t wait to share them.

Have a great New Year celebration, as best you can.

Rhona x