It's been a productive month since the last blog post. The past three weeks entailed checking out Maurice Sendak's exhibit Wild Things, vending at a holiday market in Fort Collins, and visiting the Clyfford Still museum. I should give each event it's own blog post but I'm going to be a lazy and condense it into one post.
Maurice Sendak's Wild Things Exhibit
The Wild Things exhibit at the Denver Art Museum was an awesome viewing experience. The curatorial staff’s attention to detail was impeccable, and the exhibit had a natural flow that enhanced the experience. I learned so much about Maurice’s extensive contributions to children’s books and publications beyond Where the Wild Things Are. The exhibit featured over 200 works, including original drawings from this pop culture classic. Seeing these pieces in person was a visual treat.
Rarely do illustrators of Maurice’s caliber receive their flowers in the form of an exhibit if this scale. I’m filled with gratitude for the opportunity to witness his fantastic drawings up close. It was a reminder of the profound impact illustration has on storytelling and culture.
It's me
Colorado Makers Market
On November 30th and December 1st, I participated in the Colorado Makers Market in Fort Collins. The hour-long drive was worth it. Despite the self applied pressure to create new work for the market, I chose to focus on showcasing my existing inventory—zines, birthday cards, and prints—with the goals of reducing stock, gaining new subscribers, and introducing my work to fresh eyes.
One thing I observed was that my Doubt print was a draw to my table however I did not sell a single print. The 'Tears of Wonder', 'More Than a Hat' print, and various original drawings managed to sell though. The Doubt print was called "profound, "amazing", and "brilliant", yet didn't entice anyone to make a purchase. I can't help but feel like as a society we are conditioned to not value a comic or cartoonist strip being worthy of wall art or fine art. If you've been following me for awhile you know I beg to differ but no offense taken. The dopamine from the recognition and acknowledgement parallels the dopamine from payment for my imagination.
Clyfford Still Museum
Yesterday, I finally satisfied my curiosity by visiting the Clyfford Still Museum, and I’m so glad I did. Clyfford Still was a rebellious soul who challenged conventions and played a key role in the abstract expressionist movement. His connections to contemporaries like Mark Rothko and Jackson Pollock highlight his significance in art history.
Like Still, I often feel irritable about the state of contemporary fine art and fancy myself a bit of a rebel. Selling my work directly to customers online, expanding concepts that imply narrative, and venturing into abstract expressions of my ideas are acts of defiance against traditional norms. At the Colorado Makers Market, a woman’s comment deeply resonated with me: "You’re really making the work YOU WANT TO MAKE." I replied, "Yes, ma’am," standing confidently in my vulnerability and creativity.
This path is challenging but rewarding. Slowly but surely, I’m seeing my efforts pay off. My focus is no longer on outcomes but on producing and expanding my creativity under the quirky moniker Sky Welkin.
Clyfford Still has a 2025 Artist Fellowship Program. I think I'll apply