Even though it’s exactly what I asked for, it’s still one of the hardest things to accept.
Most of the year, it’s just me in my office. Drawing cartoons. Painting wildlife. Wrestling with video software. Digging around for licensing leads. Sending cold emails to marketing departments already drowning in submissions. I know damn well that the first round (second, third, fourth) won’t get a response.
I try to game the subject lines, choose the right images, write the right words. Not too short, not too long, not identical to the last ten pitches they skimmed before clicking delete.
Rejection is part of the job. Silence is even more common. You don’t know if anyone even opened the email, so you drop a reminder in the calendar and move on until the alert pops up months later telling you to try again.
I write posts like this one, see the subscriber numbers, take some comfort that I have a very good open rate. Comments are rare, but emails trickle in after each edition of A Wilder View. It’s a slow burn, just enough air and heat to keep the embers alive.
Then I show up at the Banff Christmas Market or Calgary Expo, and suddenly the whole thing flips. Real people in real time. Compliments, conversations, connection, an inferno compared to the barely glowing coals of my daily grind. I never feel ready for it, and part of me is looking for a fire extinguisher in case I can’t keep up.
I see familiar faces. People who come back year after year, or just stop by to say hello. The other day, two people I recognized walked up while I was inviting someone to subscribe to A Wilder View. One of them jumped in to say she should sign up because she enjoys the emails as much as the artwork. That meant a lot. And they were carrying the Otter tote bag they bought at Expo earlier this year.
It was great to see you again, Sydney and Craig. Thanks for sticking with me.
I never quite get used to seeing the same people returning for more. Gregg, who first followed my work from Regina and now lives in Canmore, still buying calendars for himself and his adult kids. La and Brandon, who sent me a photo earlier this year of my Otter tote bag sitting with them on the banks of the Seine. Sally in Australia, who often places her sizeable order in the fall, and I cross my fingers it arrives for Christmas (got there in plenty of time this year). And new people like Marianne, who practically emptied one of my tabletop print bins last Friday so she could take prints, coasters and tote bags back to Louisiana.
In the first draft of this post, I listed dozens of names, people I now know because they’ve allowed me to make a living doing this. But it read like a conference roster, and the more I wrote, the more I worried about who I’d forgotten.
As my email list grows and more of you discover my art each year, I can’t remember everyone’s name, and it honestly bothers me if I have to ask you again when I see you. I worry it’ll look like I don’t appreciate the support, even though several of you waved that off over the past couple of weeks, saying nobody expects me to remember every name.
But I’d sure like to.
So, I hope I’ve made it clear, in person and here, how much I appreciate that so many of you spend your hard-earned money on my funny-looking animals. I’m glad they make you happy, or at least give you a smile when things feel heavy.
Because you do that for me.
Cheers,
Patrick
Hi Patrick! Glad to hear the markets are going well for you:) For anyone on the waiting list for a commission: it will be worth the wait! I love the portrait of my little guy and I am very thankful to have found someone so talented to capture that image of him. Hope you have a wonderful Christmas season, and that you get some downtime to rest and recharge.
Thanks Sarah! I showed the painting of Lucas to several people this past weekend, talking about how the back and forth with clients often makes for better paintings, as in I would never have thought to paint the dandelions if you hadn’t mentioned them, and that made the painting much more special. I’m so glad you like it. Hope you’re having a good winter so far.
I absolutely love your work. I just started learning to draw animal caricatures after decades of painting photo realistic animals. I remember one of your blogs about people saying your work is just AI. That hurt me as much as you, but It’s been in my mind ever since. What if you have a small screen in your booth and play a video of you creating your work. Something that can catch their eye, educate them on the process. Not too long that it would loose the viewer, but just enough for them to see you working. Just a thought. I really enjoy reading your emails. It shows me that even the best artists struggle. However, I would sure like to hear some good news and positive vibes once in awhile. I’ve struggled with selling my work for years, and finally gave up and shut everything down. It was the most depressing thing I’ve ever had to do. I still play around with the caricature drawings, but I miss my photo realistic work.
Hey Kathie! Sorry to hear you had to shut down marketing/selling your work, having to struggle with something that also brings joy is not fun (it’s one of the reasons I haven’t really been brave enough to try it outside of a couple local/seasonal craft fairs). Also wanted to mention the blog post from the 26th of Nov mentions exactly what you suggested about a little video screen- https://www.lamontagneart.com/2025/11/26/first-weekend-in-banff-slow-start-strong-finish/
Hi Kathie. Sarah is correct, I did implement a video screen this year and it has been great. People are really enjoying it, and yes, shorter has proved to be better, just a couple minute clips from about four different paintings seems to do the trick before the loop repeats. It generates a discussion and helps make a connection. I am sorry you didn’t have the rewards you hoped for in all of your efforts. It really is a slog with no guarantees. I hope you find a way to continue to create, even just for fun. Hard to do sometimes when it’s been your work, I know.
I love your art and always look forward to reading your blog. I am so sad that I am unable to get the 2026 calendar due to stupid rules from the US. Please keep painting and drawing.
Thanks, Karen. Yes, there are disappointments on both sides of the border on that count. I’ve heard several of my fellow vendors tell American visitors the past couple of weeks, that any shipping will come with extra charges and we don’t even know what those will be, because the duties come later for the purchaser, not the vendor. It’s an unfortunate situation that will hopefully get resolved AND CORRECTED sooner, rather than later. I appreciate your support.
Hi Patrick! I’ve been reading your (e)newsletters for *years* and it has never occurred to me that there might actually be a blog associated with them, meaning comments could be left. *facepalm* At any rate, I wanted to say that I greatly enjoy reading your updates. Now that I’m back in Europe, I should look into ordering a calendar 🙂 Happy holidays!
Hi Michelle! Back in Europe…that’s exciting. Hope you’re enjoying it. Sadly, I am sold out of calendars this year, but plenty of emails coming your way in 2026. 🙂