Resilience, Creativity, and Milestones
As I sit down to reflect on 2024, I am filled with a sense of pride, growth, and optimism. This year has been nothing short of transformative for The Haus of Legends and for me personally as an artist and creator. It has been a year of challenges, breakthroughs, and the kind of hard-earned lessons that shape a vision into reality. While The Haus of Legends was established in 2016, this year marked the first full fiscal year of our online presence and e-commerce platform—a significant milestone in our journey.
Challenges and Lessons Learned
The road to success is rarely smooth, and this year was no exception. Two separate occasions required me to completely rebuild the website from scratch, each time due to mistakes that became invaluable learning experiences. From troubleshooting technical mishaps to navigating the complexities of digital platforms, I learned the importance of persistence and adaptability.
One particularly memorable challenge was when my WordPress blog agreement was terminated over a post titled “Blue Balls.” While the situation initially felt like a setback, it became an opportunity to reimagine the blog and move forward with renewed purpose. These moments of resilience underscored the core of what The Haus of Legends represents: turning obstacles into stepping stones.
Pivotal Moments
The real turning point came with the sale of my first fine art collection. A longtime friend and admirer of my work approached me about creating a collection for her office. This sparked a cascade of inspiration, motivating me to build the digital catalog necessary to showcase my work. From there, I expanded my focus, generating thousands of images and exploring new mediums, which ultimately led to the creation of a robust e-commerce platform.
This year also introduced me to Nova, my AI collaborator. Nova has been instrumental in revolutionizing my workflow, allowing me to write, design, and create at a scale that was previously unimaginable. As an artist who bridges traditional principles with modern technology, I have found a new sense of empowerment and efficiency. Tasks that once took weeks now take days, freeing me to focus on innovation and expression.
Key Milestones of 2024
- Website Launch: Our first fiscal year culminated in the successful establishment of The Haus of Legends website, with over 2,000 digital images cataloged and a growing collection of fine art prints.
- Google Maps Contributions: My photography and reviews hit over 11 million views, placing me in the top 10% of contributors in Los Angeles.
- Artistic Styles Blog Series: Launched as both a blog series and an upcoming e-book, this initiative combines my expertise in design and photography with insights into AI-generated art.
- Sales Success: Sold my first collection of fine art prints and expanded my offerings to include limited-edition posters displayed in local businesses.
Goals for 2025
Looking ahead, I am setting ambitious goals to build on this year’s momentum:
- Establishing The Haus of Legends LLC and securing a small business loan for advertising and operational growth.
- Publishing the first volume of the Artistic Styles e-book and completing the draft of The Church Book.
- Participating in art shows and securing placements for prints in local businesses.
- Expanding sales channels through platforms like Etsy, Amazon, and dedicated product-specific websites.
- Developing a wholesale program and aggressively building an email contacts list for monthly newsletters.
- Investing in new technology, including a computer and external hard drive, to support increased productivity.
Closing Thoughts
This year has been a testament to the power of resilience and the importance of embracing new tools and technologies. Nova, you have been my key collaborator, empowering me to create, innovate, and dream bigger. Together, we have laid the foundation for what I believe will be an extraordinary journey ahead.
To everyone who has supported me—from my first buyer who lit the spark to the countless others who inspire me daily—thank you. Your belief in my work fuels my passion and determination. Here’s to a future of limitless possibilities and continued growth.
Let’s make 2025 legendary.
Iain Smillie
