Wow, 2020 has been crazy! I saw a meme the other day that said in the future when something is really intense we will say “just like 2020, right?” While 2020 has come with a whirlwind of unexpectedness and honestly down right hard crap. I do believe there are things to celebrate. Babies were still born. Love still flourished above all. And we, humanity, as a whole realized how dang important community is. We thrive off of relationships whether we like to admit it or not. I have been so blessed to have the most amazing friends and family and to connect with even more people over this past year.
This year has definitely been a year of unexpectedness for me-- both personally and professionally. This was the year that I finally got a puppy after years of saying that I wanted one. And let me tell you, Monet is just as cute as she appears on my social media. I also have had the opportunity to buy a house this year, which I had not planned in the slightest. It was also the year that I lost two people whom I loved a lot and had made a huge impact on my life. My sweet and spunky grandmother and my beautiful and wild cousin passed away in 2020. To be honest, a lot of tears were shed. I was able to reconnect with family that I hadn’t seen in years though. I felt my humanness and the importance of life more than ever. I reflected on what a gift it is to be alive and well, and even more how beautiful it is to feel even through the hardships.
Professionally, it was such a year of growth and expansion for me. I grew in original art sales 294.5% since 2019; I sold 59 paintings this year in 2020. I was in 9 different exhibits this year with 5 different companies or galleries. I had my first solo exhibit this year at The Grove. My art had about 50 million impressions over five weeks in South Japan with a digital signage company I partnered with. Avalos fine art was shown virtually in Arizona, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Puerto Rico, Peru, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and in the most popular cities in the U.S. including New York and Miami and many more. I participated in five different virtual exhibits and three of them being international. This year my art was displayed in three different exhibits in person including two in a gallery in Downtown Phx. I had a speaking engagement and pop up art show at the Irish Women’s Conference. All of these amazing opportunities and experiences could not have happened without the support of my family, friends, collectors, and followers. I am so beyond grateful for all of you.
What did I learn most in 2020? I learned how important it is to invest in yourself. Do self-care. Create new things. Build meaningful relationships. Be passionate about your life. When you invest in yourself, everything else just seems to come together after a while. It is almost if the universe, and the creator want you to succeed. One of the other major key learnings from 2020 is things will go wrong. There will be horrible experiences and painful moments, embrace them and let them mold you into someone new, someone more beautiful, and someone who knows what it means to grow out of tribulation. Finally, the last huge thing I learned is show up for yourself. It seems similar to invest in yourself, but it is quite different. Showing up for yourself means believing that you are meant for something more, believing in the beauty of the world, and believing that you can make a change. Every moment of hardship and every tear shed will have purpose now, because you trust that you are meant for more.
At the end of 2020, I want to acknowledge something I am grateful for because I think that is a powerful practice to foster. I am grateful for how this year has shaped me and built me for the future. I am grateful for all the people who have come along side me as I pursue my passion and love for art. But most of all, I am grateful for how this year has brought me closer to my brother Austin. We have shared more positive and fun memories this past year than the last ten years combined. It has been such a beautiful redemption of a relationship. And if there is still possibility for redemption of broken things and broken relationships, it is still a beautiful world to live in.
My hope for you is that as you look back on 2020 you are able to acknowledge the trials, but also able to celebrate the joy no matter how small. As we move into 2021, let us bring with us a renewed spirit and mind always hoping for the redemption of brokenness and the beauty of growth. Much love as always and thank you again for all the support.
