perfect is boring
news from the studio of hope amico
Did you know I have a marketing strategy?
It shifts and changes, and sometimes dissolves and I have to rebuild it. Yes, my marketing strategy is kind of like a garden.
One thing about being a single person running a business is that sometimes you want everyone to know the reasons for changes that most of your audience won’t notice.
So here we go, a change that is barely a change, hopefully it will be subtle but effective.
Expect a round up of available classes, shop updates, and what’s new with Keep Writing about once a month.
Expect an in-depth post about a specific class or whatever I’m working one, about once a month.
If you’re here for the rambling essays vaguely tied to creative practice, they’ll still be here once a month.
And sometimes I’ll still share stories, rank my holiday traditions, or take a break
Why am I telling you this? I want to acknowledge that sometimes I talk about classes, and sometimes I tell you about crying while watching TV and maybe it would be easier if I could focus on Just One Thing, but that is never my move. Marketing is an imperfect science, which I approach, imperfectly.
Now let’s get to the news.
“I Can’t Draw” is back!
Six weeks of mark making starts March 23rd!
Join me for an exploration of drawing; we’ll play with abstract and drawing from life, using a range of simple tools you might already have, and I’ll share the secret to drawing. (P.S. it’s practice).
I’ve been offering this class since 2016 and am excited to host it again with you. We will laugh, draw quietly, and share.
Mondays 5-7 pm PST
Online, recorded for participants
$435, payment plans & solidarity discounts available
not interested in drawing?
check out these other classes
Collage Test Kitchen is back with MCBA for three weeks of collage and identifying your artistic voice!
March’s pay-what-you-can class is a quick lesson in cleaning your house!
never too late for now
I finally updated the shop with two new stickers, a bunch of postcards, COASTERS, and a zine I made last fall. Just in time for me to finish a new zine for Tacoma Wayzgoose.
Be Brave, Be Love
February’s Keep Writing card
Last month, I mailed subscribers a coaster! I love printing on coasters, even if it means I had to use envelopes, bought from a local used art supply. I think it was worth it! Inspired by two pins on my winter coat, I created two different coasters and mailed them at random to all subscribers.
PS if you want mail like this you can subscribe here.
cry over everything
This week I am sharing a short list of things that made me cry. Not because I want you to cry, but because I want you to know you aren’t alone. Cry at the grocery. Cry when you’re laughing. Cry when you realize you are crying because things are hard. Doing your taxes sucks, friends rule.
This week I cried while
a character in one of the Game Changers series decided to quit hockey to do something they love.
doing my taxes
watching the ending of Past Lives, when Greta Lee sobs
in the grocery store for some reason I can’t remember
when a dog stopped on the sidewalk and refused to move until I pet them
And for those of you who want to blame it on hormones, I’m past menopause with no HRT , this is pure me. Thanks, Obama.
Okay, one last thing:
If you're a man who considers himself a feminist, this class is probably for you:
Do you or someone you know identify as a man? Are you interested in feminism, and dismantling patriarchy, and examining the ways it affects you and how you interact with others?
My pal Bear Hebert is leading “Undoing Patriarchy,” online, April 1-May 6, a course for men+ who want to do this work. It is important and I know from experience, Bear is a thoughtful facilitator who cares deeply about the subjects they teach.
Okay, that’s all the news for now, Fuck ICE forever, spring is almost here.Take care of each other.
Hope
