How a full time artist is preparing to get through the long winter months

[@thebloodofthelamb6881]

I LOVE how you have such a beautiful heart and willing to share it in these trying times :) Stay beautiful and God bless!

[@EllenBrennemanStudio]

Thank you so much for your kind comment :)

[@jogmas12]

I do automobile mechanics too as a hobby. Don’t know if that is even good for a creative either since it’s banged me up a few times. You know how hard it is to get those stubborn bolts off!

[@leslie4320]

Oh my gosh, I didn't know you lived in South Bend! I live in Elkhart! That just blew my mind! I love your videos 😊

[@EllenBrennemanStudio]

Hey, a fellow Hoosier! Thanks for visiting my channel! :)

[@francineh.7825]

Such a wonderful gesture to send cards to care homes!!

[@EllenBrennemanStudio]

Thank you, Francine :) xo

[@skyriverart7180]

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one struggling with winter and thinking about it!! 😅 autumn is my favourite time of the year but the thought of winter, wow .. These are great ideas! Thank you!🙂☀️ Last winter I thought about a winter survival guide. One of the best ideas I had was to have one big project to focus on till spring. It really helped not getting into the slouchy gloom abyss. Another one was to "paint summer". A big painting personifying summertime or a series of pieces. It really lifted the mood and brings summer in. And lastly, lindenflower tea :) calming and mood lifting, close your eyes and hear lazy bees buzzing around you 😄🐝🌻

[@EllenBrennemanStudio]

I am all for series work and think those are all FANTASTIC ideas!! ...and I've never heard of lindenflower tea before - and tea is one of my favorite things on earth! Thank you for sharing such wonderful tips!

[@jillrobbins4488]

Your video really hit the mark for me. I am a retired teacher who has always painted as a hobby. Unfortunately, I have fibromyalgia which interferes with creating art due to many pain issues. Your video will certainly provide many people with a proactive, positive way to insure both mental And physical health for the coming winter months. You are certainly helping to heal the world. Thank you!

[@EllenBrennemanStudio]

Jill, thank you for watching and for your comment. I wish you a safe and happy winter season!

[@starvingartistscollective]

Coming into Spring in my country, thank goodness. Spent Winter/COVID months doing an online social media and digital photography course for my plans for an online shop for next year. Stressful but invigorating too. Many useful new skills now...as well as new product photos for the shop launch. Very productive way to spend the cold months! TFS Ellen!!

[@EllenBrennemanStudio]

I am so glad to know that you felt productive during your winter months; you must feel like a part of you has come back alive with Spring round the corner - I'm so happy for the emergence of this season in your part of the world. Thank you for your comment!

[@ericastenkrona977]

Dear Ellen, I just want to thank you for making these great videos. You share your knowledge and experiences so generously, in a very relaxed and kind way. I listened to all your new videos (and some old ones too) as I was cleaning and organizing in my studio = my apartment yesterday. You point out a lot of things that I need to consider as I am working towards being a full time artist. I got clarity by listening to you. Once again, thank you so much!

[@EllenBrennemanStudio]

Erica, your comment has made my day - thank you, and best wishes to you on this exciting new chapter in your life!

[@johncollado1151]

Hi Ellen.... if more people in this country were like you we would nip this virus in the bud quickly and not have these on going lock down issues. I totally agree with you on the certain aches and pains of painting. The bulb is out for me as I prefer to work nights and sleep mornings as I am disturbed much less through the night. So I sleep until I wake up and never use alarms unless I have an appointment. I'm getting close to being one of those people in the nursing homes so I'll let you know when I'm ready so I can get one of those cards from you. Stay safe, I know you will.

[@EllenBrennemanStudio]

John, I find your routine fascinating! If I weren't such a morning person I'd prefer to paint at night - I agree, far less distractions that way. I'm glad you have something that works for you! Be well, and thank you for your comment :)

[@desertgrowngarden]

As someone with a MIL in complete nursing home lock down, I can tell you that is such a blessing what you did. We are FINALLY starting to get to visit on a very limited and monitored basis. The elderly in these homes are the hardest hit in the pandemic, for sure. Thanks for the great tips and keep up the great work!

[@EllenBrennemanStudio]

Nicole, I'm so VERY glad to know that you are now able to safely visit with your MIL. It's such a sad reality, because these seniors need physical contact with loved ones. My own mother is in her 80s and not being able to hug her for the better part of this year has been quite difficult. Thank you for watching, and for your kind words!

[@restless4400]

Such wonderful tips - thank you dear friend.

[@Redskirt]

Such great advice. I love the sunlight alarm idea, it's awful to be jolted awake. And good work thinking of making cards for nursing home residents. 💯 If they're original artworks, those are some lucky folks! Yes, yoga, and thank God for KZbin, lol. I should do more stretching. 😜

[@EllenBrennemanStudio]

Many thanks, Lea - and yes! More stretches, those are my orders! 😆

[@patriciadoutreligne9749]

I send you some sun from Spain.Take good care✌️☀️

[@EllenBrennemanStudio]

Thank you, Patricia - be well!

[@cynthiabarmish2520]

Lockdown can be boring, then lack of stimulation makes me feel stagnant, and apathetic.. so your tip to try something new resonated with me. I took out a book on Japanese art and decided to work on my brush handling. The book has lessons, the teaching technique is to copy a master drawing. I think it will work for me because I can focus on technique, instead of my creative capabilities. I am having trouble being creative these days.

[@EllenBrennemanStudio]

I sympathize with your situation, Cynthia. SO glad you're focusing on brush handling. I think any new thing we can train ourselves to do will enrich our art careers; maybe not today, but that time is never wasted :)

[@lindamiller-wenman2275]

Love the results of encaustic as well. Process can be very toxic so good ventilation is required. Enjoy.

[@EllenBrennemanStudio]

thank you for the advice, Linda! I hope to be able to learn it this winter!

[@glennsweet9957]

Thank you Ellen for answering my question about the ink you use for printing your images. Big help. I don’t think I have watched any video you have posted that didn’t give some helpful tip or insight or perspective...they have all been helpful in some way or another. Thank you for them. Here’s a challenge for you and a topic I have been waiting for you to cover in detail with a video...perhaps you have and I missed it. I keep hearing you mention that you consider yourself somewhat of an introvert who enjoys holding up in your studio making art. And, you do mention that you have a threshold for this isolation and sooner or later, you need to get out and see people...I’m paraphrasing here but, this seems like what you are saying. Also, from what I have gathered, you share about how it is to build a following. Can you talk sometime about the paradox of being an artist who thrives and is comfortable not being out in the swarm of humanity, who is comfortable maintaining a distance from people if that is what it takes to accomplish their goals with art. Is it possible to sell art if one doesn’t want to spend what sounds like an enormous amount of time building a fan base? Do people buy art from artists who don’t care about being available other than as a dedicated painter? It seems like all that I hear anymore is how important it is to be on other’s watch lists, fan pages, social media, vlogs, blogs, online galleries, have social media recognition, celebrity aspirations, etc., etc., ad nauseam. Is it possible to sell art without all the effort to sell yourself? I realize that sounds counterproductive to someone who thinks that a fan base is critical to making mortgage payments and taking care of the demands of existence in these times. But, from the experience I have known making paintings, I would not have time leftover to make art if I was as diligent as everyone insists is necessary to sell yourself. Here is the paradox for me...if I have to convince people that my paintings are worth their trouble then, what am I selling...me or my work? I don’t care much if someone cares about me or has to like me to like my paintings. Maybe I’m really screwed up, but I don’t know if I want to be anyone’s idea of worthy just to sell a painting. Has the reality of art changed so much since the social media revolution that it is now necessary to be a celebrity before anyone will consider buying your paintings? Paintings were sold before our obsession with social media and celebrity...is that just not thinkable anymore? All I hear anymore is that one must have a following to be relevant. How about being a good craftsman? Is that no longer a vital enough criteria to justify a life in art? I don’t mean to sound like I’m some kind of an anti-social person who doesn’t want to participate in the human condition. I’m not. But, I do find that being successful in having relationships with people...for any reason, requires enormous time and energy. So does painting. How do you get art made when you spend so much time trying to be noticed. Maybe we are underestimating the demise of brick and mortar art galleries.

[@EllenBrennemanStudio]

Very good topic for future conversations, and I appreciate your thoughtful question. I do have some thoughts on this and will do my best to gather them together for a coherent video - thank you!

[@annika93dk7]

Very good, I got some ideas from this video :) Hope you are well

[@EllenBrennemanStudio]

I'm glad you found it helpful! And yes, I am doing well, thank you for asking :)

[@deejay2838]

Such a great video on the effects of winter on the body, and especially now with the lockdown, I suffer with depression and anxiety and I also have Spinal Stenosis with Degenerative Disc desease, so it has taken a toll on me and I am feeling afraid of the winter coming on. Thank you so much for your great videos and all you do.💗😇

[@EllenBrennemanStudio]

Just know you are not alone with the way you are feeling. I read a quote from an oracle deck the other day that really resonated with me: "Don't resist the progress of time by holding onto an endless summer. This is not the way of things, as we all know. Surrendering to the natural flow will lead to the discovery of treasures that are only found during the seasons of cold and dark." That really resonated with me and is helping me to find the beauty we can only find during the winter months.

[@deejay2838]

@@EllenBrennemanStudio that is a great quote Ellen.Our winters are sooo long here in N.S Canada, maybe it will help me.Thank you.

[@Redskirt]

Btw, love the picture of you and Maven! 💖

[@EllenBrennemanStudio]

Thank you, Lea - it's rare moments like these that I cherish :)

[@brokent163]

Great tips and thank u for sharing. If u hat the winter blues please reach out. You're not alone my friend. Be well T

[@EllenBrennemanStudio]

Thank you!

[@peterclark5107]

You're absolutely right to raise this stuff Ellen because 'self love' is so easy to neglect.( I speak from much experience) It isn't any kind of self obsession but just realising that it restricts your ability to create Art if the 'instrument' is faulty. As Artists , and as you have been pointing out , Art and craft easily become a singular, consuming task and can dominate our sense of direction so that we are towed along by it when it should be the other way around. This lockdown has amplified many things and a need to distract ourselves from the range of restriction imposed upon us, this can drive us to be less broad thinking in what we should be doing for our physical and mental health. I totally agree both with what you say her and also with the need for you to raise it.

[@EllenBrennemanStudio]

Peter, thank you for watching and for your thoughtful remarks; greatly appreciated.

[@paint_freckles]

I can totally relate to the eyes. I have sjogrens and MGD. Im trying to preserve the oil glands I have left. I have lipiflow every 6 months, wear sceral lens and have a daily eye routine to keep up

[@EllenBrennemanStudio]

It was thought at first that I had Sjogrens as well, Angie - but further testing revealed otherwise. I wish you great health, and thank you for your comment here :)

[@Bjholzapfel]

Thank you!

[@EllenBrennemanStudio]

You're welcome!

[@mycubanpointofview]

Love all your content is so genuine and honest. I'm glad I started to search for information on how to start my own business in art and find you because every single video has important tips and I love that. About your art the only thing I hate is that I don't have it all in my walls lol but I'm definitely working on getting some soon. Thank you for your wonderful videos.

[@EllenBrennemanStudio]

Aw, that's very kind of you Roberto, thank you!

[@mithrandir1572]

Love your hair! I know off-topic. 😁

[@EllenBrennemanStudio]

This is my quarantine don't-care hair - lol! I haven't had it cut since February so it's much longer than I'm used to; thank you for the comment!

[@mithrandir1572]

@@EllenBrennemanStudio it looks fabulous and suits you. 👍

[@paint_freckles]

Can you show the cars you made? How you did them for the nursing home?

[@EllenBrennemanStudio]

I just used 4x5 inch note cards that had my artwork printed on the front; on the inside I wrote a personal message to the recipient. Cards can be made as simple or as elaborate as you'd like. I've seen some that are just pieces of paper folded in half with a doodle on the front and well wishes written on the inside, or even lined paper with hand-written messages folded over and placed in an envelope work well, too!

[@jenniferkayes1461]

Ellen, you look 10 years younger!!!

[@EllenBrennemanStudio]

Wow, you just made my day with that comment! lol Thank you!

[@ohiovic1236]

Dear Ellen, Why did you stop making these beautiful videos? We need to see you again..at least to make sure you're okay.

[@EllenBrennemanStudio]

thank you for your thoughts, it is greatly appreciated. I am doing well! I have attempted to film a few times but overall just felt uninspired....I promise you will hear from me again before too long though, and in the meantime I am always active on IG and FB 🙂

[@ohiovic1236]

@@EllenBrennemanStudio I thank God that you are fine, and thank you that you will continue to make these interesting videos .. I will be eagerly waiting for them ❤

[@jogmas12]

I won’t show my face on KZbin

[@jogmas12]

I swim. Don’t know if that is even good for a creative.

[@melissamoonchild9216]

Youre beautiful, i may look up to you if you dont mind