New Year, New Projects - Screenprinting and Art Markets!

Greetings, word art consumers!

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.

Fuck Around, Find Out, Freyja Catton, 2023. Screenprint with white ink on black paper.

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 handmade prints and postcards, screenprinted patches, original drawings, holographic stickers, copies of The Adventures of Captain Zeal, and bottles from The Apathecary. I’m focusing on the production of 5 designs right now, but I have plans for a few more to be produced throughout the year and may be able to take on screenprinting commissions later on! 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. 

White on black paper screenprints by Freyja Catton, 2023. Sounds Gay I’m In, Monochrome Rainbow, Creaky Cryptid, and Be Gay, Do Drugs, Hail Satan will be available for sale at $30 each.

Confirmed Market Dates:

  • February 18, 2023 - Saturday from 7-11 pm
    Cabinet of Curiosities: Special Mega Market
    Aviation Museum, 11410 Kingsway NW Edmonton

  • April 15, 2023 - Saturday from 7-11 pm
    Cabinet of Curiosities: Special Mega Market
    Aviation Museum, 11410 Kingsway NW Edmonton

  • June 16, 2023 - Friday from 7-11 pm
    Cabinet of Curiosities: Special Mega Market
    Aviation Museum, 11410 Kingsway NW Edmonton

  • June 30, 2023 - Friday from 7-11 pm
    Alt After Dark
    Old Strathcona Performing Arts Centre, 8426 Gateway Blvd Edmonton

There are a couple more local markets that I’ve applied for as well as a couple of local vendors. And 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 still have an opportunity to support my work. I’m 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!

Hope to see you there at the Cabinet of Curiosities! And as always, thanks for supporting your local indie artists!

Freyja T. Catton (he/they)
Wordeater Consulting

On art shows, launch dates, and writing

Saturday, June 25 was the opening of the Annual Member’s Exhibition and Open House at Harcourt House Artist Run Centre! I’m showing two new drawings there and I’m excited for folks to see! I was able to volunteer for the opening, where I took some pictures, did some figure drawings, reconnected with the art community and, of course, consumed more art! The exhibition will be available until July 9, so get thee there while thy can!

Things have been busy here at Wordeater HQ!

This month I’ve registered Wordeater Consulting as a sole proprietor-owned writing business! I’ve set up pages on Facebook and Google I’m in the process of securing a city business license, new business cards, registering the GST account, sorting out taxes, and figuring out how to set up subscription services. Anderson Career Training Institute has been instrumental for me in figuring out how to do all this and I’m really excited to start out! The hard launch date for Wordeater Consulting is set for July 1, 2022 - end of the week!

I’ve set up writing packages in the shop and am currently looking for clients, especially in the arts and culture and non-profit industries. Please feel free to recommend me to anyone who might be interested in working with me, even if they don’t have the budget yet!

I’m keeping busy writing newsletter updates on SubStack. Most recently I’ve written about scams, Bluetooth, the new Thor Love and Thunder trailer, and a eulogy for my artistic cousin Jennifer. Last week I attended a conference on digital accessibility and archives, and I’m working on my news update on that today, so look forward to that! I’ve been working on my cosplay for the Thor movie and it is coming along nicely, especially now that I’ve been able to borrow a sewing machine! I’m a little quieter on Patreon, but I’m still working on things to share there. I have a couple more reviews for ARLIS/NA publications in the works, and I’m helping the Exhibitions SIG there launch a new publication called Library Exhibitions Review! I’ll be sure to post an update about that, we’ll be looking for reviewers pretty soon here.

Thanks for tuning in!

-Freyja T. Catton

Always Evolving

My full-time job unfortunately was short-lived due to business restructuring. In the meantime I got to learn a lot about administration, how to run marketing from a business perspective, and how small businesses work. It was a great experience with great people, and I’m looking forward to working with them as a consultant for future projects!

After the lay-off I applied to a few more jobs, but quickly I realized that I don’t want to work a regular full-time job anymore. The stability isn’t stable enough, my heart isn’t into other people’s schedules, I’m tired of job hunting, and I’m tired of waiting to make my own goals happen. I’m ready to dive into self-employment as a consultant. Like, really diving in. I think it’s time!!

“Seeking Perfection” by Freyja Catton, 2016. Typewriter on cardstock tab.

I’m very grateful to have been accepted into a self-employment program here in Edmonton, through Anderson Career Training Institute! The instructors and my fellow classmates have all been very helpful in helping me break down the steps in starting a business for the first time and in helping me figure out what exactly I want to offer as a consultant. I’m finding I get energized when I can talk to people about projects and think about big systemic ideas. I’m a highly creative person in tune with the art community as a whole, and I hold a lot of passion for writing and art documentation. I’m hoping to be able to work primarily with clients in the art and publication industries. I know a lot of us struggle to find the right words for things, and that’s one of my favourite challenges! It’s been difficult to figure out who my clients are, but I think my clients are people who think too big for words. Like me!

My website is evolving a bit to reflect this - I updated the site organization, added a shop (finally!!), and updated the consultation page. Of course there’s a lot more steps to come, like licensing and registration, and securing clients and projects, but I’m excited! I think I’m ready.

My focus for the next few months is getting this consultation business set up and established for the summer, as well as building up more posts for Wordeater News. By fall I’m hoping to be more financially established and able to start applying for exhibitions again. I have a couple of projects I’d like to work on creatively and I’m looking forward to working on the next Captain Zeal book. Lots of things on the go — just the way I like it.

Thanks for consuming,

-Freyja T. Catton, MLIS, BFA