Shoulder Setbacks, Website Wins & Studio Jitters

Hey there, and welcome to the first-ever blog post on Useless Publishing! It’s funny—this little corner of the internet wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for a minor calamity involving my shoulder.

A view from the studio

Here’s the story: a while back, I managed to injure my neck & shoulder (classic me). Nothing dramatic or interesting, just enough to make studio time feel like a punishment instead of a creative escape. So, I hit pause on painting. Had a few Doctor visits, MRI’s and steroid injections and settled in to the idea of my usual routine going out the window. Before I went stir crazy I realized I could finally tackle something I’d been procrastinating on for forever: building this website.

Suddenly, I was deep in the land of domains, templates, and SEO tips (so many SEO tips). Turns out, figuring out how to make a site feel like me was its own kind of creative process, minus the shoulder pain. Plus, I loved the idea of having a space where I could share the messy, honest side of making art—like this blog.

But now, the shoulder’s better. I should be thrilled, right? Time to head back to the studio, crank up the music, and get to work on the two paintings that have been patiently waiting for me.

Except, here’s the thing, I’m super anxious.

There’s this weird pressure to pick up where I left off, as though I need to prove I didn’t lose momentum during my break. Will the ideas still flow? What if I totally screw up what’s already on the canvas? And honestly, what if I realize that part of me liked stepping back and taking a breather? Or is it all down to the fact that the studio is an absolute mess that that’s what is really holding me back!

I don’t have answers yet, but that’s part of the deal with this blog—letting you in on the real, unpolished moments of being a wannabe artist. For now, I’m focusing on one small step at a time: showing up, seeing what happens, and maybe finding out that the studio is still home, even after a forced break.

Thanks for reading, and thanks for joining me on this slightly nerve-wracking, slightly exciting next chapter. I’ll keep you posted! Before I sign off, take a look through the site, visit the shop which will have some prints (soon) and a few other bits I designed. Awesome!!!!

Until next time, keep it very real…

A..