In 2022, I gave up on job hunting and finally took the plunge into self-employment by focusing on writing. I wrote art reviews, articles, grant applications, art exhibition submissions, book reviews, and got to meet a bunch of really lovely local artists. I really love the work I got to do, but it takes time to build up a steady income.
In November 2022 I had the opportunity to return to my previous job from 2016-2020 to catch up on bills for a few months. I have been working out of the house full-time and haven’t been able to write as much as I would like, but I have been able to dive into artmaking again! I’m drawing during my downtime and experimenting with screenprinting at home.
This year I’m trying something new - art markets! I got into a couple of local markets here in Edmonton this spring/summer and will be selling my recent work there:
handmade prints ($30-45 CAD ea)
handmade postcards ($5 CAD ea)
patches ($30-45 CAD ea)
original drawings ($65 CAD ea)
holographic stickers ($5 CAD ea, or a multipack of 3 for $10 CAD)
copies of The Adventures of Captain Zeal ($30 CAD ea)
bottles from The Apathecary, an art project about humour and medicine ($200 CAD ea)
I’m focusing on the production of the 5 designs pictured right now, but I already have plans for a few more to be produced throughout the year. I may even be able to take on screenprinting commissions later on! My prints are coming out grungy and punk in style, and each one is totally unique. I’m looking forward to showing off my work again, and I’m hopeful that these small art/alt/punk/queer/pagan markets will be a good venue for these projects.
Confirmed Market Dates:
February 18, 2023 - Saturday from 7-11 pm
Cabinet of Curiosities: Special Mega Market
Aviation Museum, 11410 Kingsway NW EdmontonApril 15, 2023 - Saturday from 7-11 pm
Cabinet of Curiosities: Special Mega Market
Aviation Museum, 11410 Kingsway NW EdmontonJune 16, 2023 - Friday from 7-11 pm
Cabinet of Curiosities: Special Mega Market
Aviation Museum, 11410 Kingsway NW EdmontonJune 30, 2023 - Friday from 7-11 pm
Alt After Dark
Old Strathcona Performing Arts Centre, 8426 Gateway Blvd Edmonton
There are a couple of other local markets that I’ve applied for, as well as local vendors. Of course, once I have a decent amount of inventory, I’ll be upgrading my online shops so that anyone unable to make the in-person markets will have an opportunity to support my work. I’ve been posting pretty regularly on Instagram, so that’s probably the best place to go if you’re looking for an update on market prep!
I’m still experimenting and figuring a lot of this stuff out yet, so if you’d like to talk shop or if you’re interested in purchasing or selling my work at your (small) establishment, please reach out to me at wordeaterconsulting(at)gmail(dot)com!
And as always, thank you for supporting your local indie artists!
Freyja T. Catton (he/they) is a nonbinary trans hard-of-hearing neurodivergent queer artist, writer, and researcher based in Edmonton, Alberta. He loves everything about language, art, communication, and hedgehogs.
You can support Catton’s independent creative pursuits by subscription, donation, or commission on Patreon, Ko-Fi, SubStack, or by purchasing work from their website at thewordeater.com.
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