Let’s Wrap This Up.
I love this time of year. Ticking all the ‘lasts’ off. Last assessments and goodbyes to students, projects completed and sent off ready for the holidays. I love looking back at the goals I had in January and seeing how they went. And I can only laugh this year because none of it went the way I planned.
Good surprises
The surprise events that happened in 2023 shifted things for the better. Even though it didn’t feel like it at the time. I planned to get fit and started this year with cold water swimming every day and weight training. In June, a back injury forced me to slow down and appreciate the benefits of rest, rehabilitation and strength-building with Pilates. Something that can be related to other areas. You don’t always have to be striving for those big goals.
The highlights of 2023 weren’t on my goal list at the start of the year. The classes I’ve taught and the students in them were unknown to me in January. I hadn’t even imagined the exhibitions and places I would visit with people, the connections with old friends and new colleagues and friends.
Growing
I’d love to say I sold heaps of products and took part in a string of high-profile projects. But 2023 was about growth in different ways for me. I grew in confidence with the way I work professionally. In 2017, I illustrated a picture book digitally for the first time. Since then, I’ve done five more, working out a better workflow with each project. This year, I discovered Lisa Glanz’s work and tutorials on using textures and patterns in Procreate. It was just the type of aesthetic I had been looking for from the beginning. I set myself three illustration challenges and improved the way I work digitally. My ‘Animal Alphabet’ collection and design brought together teaching knowledge and illustration. I recently had some cards printed from work I produced for Inktober, and I’ll be happy to sell them at the markets and in my website shop because they show my work authentically. They were also beautifully printed by ‘Print Together’
Learning from teaching
Teaching this year has been joyful. It’s my first full year of teaching illustration, design and art to adults. I qualified as a primary school teacher in 1994 and I have never had a teaching position where I felt valued, supported and capable. I don’t know what that says about the education system or me, it doesn’t matter now. I look forward to going to work. I can share my skills and I learn from seeing how others learn.
Happy Holidays
For the first time in years, I’ve decided not to produce anything for Advent. This year will be about resting with my family. I hope that next year throws up some interesting surprises. I have a new book release to look forward to and two more publishing contracts in the pipeline. And of course, I’m at Emu Plains Market every month until May with a beautiful new set-up and products!
I hope you all have a peaceful and fun holiday season
