Sorry For Such a Long Letter- I Didn't Have Time To Make It Short.

2012…. Really sounds like we should be whizzing around in zephyrs and having inter planetary friends.

Last year at this time I said- 2011 may you be as > as 2010. *It had some big shoes to fill. I think 2011 filled those kicks and has now begun to try on a new pair.

2011, has been quite a year. I have accepted new challenges, learned more than ever not only about our business or our art, but myself as Kristen. “The Adult”. 

I have met new friends, and had to say goodbye to one hell of a woman, my grandma Isabelle, but have also gotten to welcome new members to this world and our family.  

I would say that this past year has been prosperous for the Barkers. I am taken aback every year when I take time to reflect on the past year and the year before that and so on. I continue to see the strengths of my incredible husband Chris and am amazed by the incredible hand we have been dealt.  Though I think we try to make a lot of our own luck. Working hard really pays off. I swear by it.

In 2010 we officially became a business, this year we launched 2 more projects. Chris and I have shared a desk for over a year now and we still say I love you.   ;) We have won some well-respected awards, were featured in great publications and blogs and made new friends along the way. Without the people we are continued to be blessed with- I do not know how much of what we accomplished would be capable. We thank everyone who has given us a chance, lent a hand or just listened to us talk and explode our ideas all over them. We thank you. <3

We continue to spread our wings in our studio, have thrown some great parties and have now welcomed in Matt Rice our video editor extraordinaire as part of our team and family.

The overall theme of 2011 though was LEARNING. Learning what we are capable of, what we shouldn’t do and should do. Here are some conclusions we have figured out in 2011 as well as some personal goals or things we wish to work on and perfect for 2012.

Inspiration- To begin with there is so much noise and clutter. Simple is better. We’ve begun to create space so that those doors we wish so badly to open will have the room to do so.

Deciding to shoot what we know- this comes along with inspiration. We love people. We love their stories and their idiosyncrasies that make them… well … real.

Perfection is not always best.  Make room for mistakes- they can become something real, honest and one heck of a loud voice.

Back to inspiration- it is ok to be inspired just do not become the imitation of your inspiration. The reward of creating something personal and different moves mountains in your soul. If someone has done it- it will not work for you. Blaze your own trail.

There is always more than one way to do something.

Stay focused. Work, do more work and when you finish that do more work. Along the way of all this work- be kind to people.

Be brave. Be fearless. Accept challenges. I create the best when I am under a challenge. Our best ideas tend to be the ones we fear the most. We are taking 2012 to make leaps into the fears and the unknown.

Saying no more and saying yes more. I spent an entire week saying NO. Sound negative? Well it was the most positive thing I did for myself. It has allowed me to make room for new opportunities that I wouldn’t have had space for if I said, “yes” to everything.

This coming year we plan to make more time for us. To create those personal projects we have been sketching away in our little moleskin notebooks.

Boy have we become awesome problems solvers. It is great for life as well as creating visual art. We create on demand- that is our trick. It is all about developing those skills to do so. This goes back to being inspired and clearing out that noise so we can have the right answers. Simplify.

We are excited for 2012. We are excited for a new set of challenges. We are excited to create new work. Here is to a new year. #wearethebarkers.

A photo blog wouldn’t be right without well you know PICTURES. Thank you for making it through this post. They are in no particular order- just a slew of images we made in 2011. Happy New Year from Kristen & Chris. <3