Goodbye 2024 Hello 2025

There is a lot I can say about 2024, but this post is just to share some accomplishments, reflect on my artwork, and share some new goals for the upcoming year.

Things to be Proud Of #

2024 became a year of improvement and discovery in my artwork.

Early in the year I had a bad case of imposter syndrome and a severe lack of inspiration. There wasn’t anything I wanted to draw or paint and everything I tried just wasn’t doing it for me. Creativity hasn’t always been something that comes easily to me. I’ve never been able to pull out the skill if I didn’t have the motivation and inspiration to make something I can feel proud of, and I realized I needed to have a well of ideas and sketches to return to when the inspirtation was lacking.

So I spent months studying and practicing. I got into the habit of sketching just anything, even if I hated it, and that helped. I stopped thinking my sketchbook needed to look or feel a certain way. I used scraps to play with paint. I did anatomy studies. I improved both my drawing and painting techniques. When I really couldn’t pull myself into creativity, I worked on my website and started a blog.

Mermay was a struggle, but I made one artwork I liked. Three months later, inspiration struck while in the middle of a reading marathon. I made an artwork I loved (Spooky Book Club, available on Redbubble) which then snowballed into more bookish stickers.

Then Echoes of Wisdom came out and I made a layered painting of Zelda that gave me the motivation to do more. During Inktober, I made Sun and Moon, my favorite artworks from this year, and I have held onto the inspirtation since then.

I am so proud of the work I created, the progress I made, the things I learned and improved on in 2024. Mostly, I am proud that I didn’t let my lack of inspiration stop me from creating.

I’ve done the Art vs Artist trend on Instagram for the last three years (you can see them above). It’s a collection of the best eight artworks from the year. 2024 is on the left. Even when I feel like I’ve not done much, it reminds me that I have done a lot. And looking at the three of them together shows me where I have improved and what I still need to work on.

My favorite artwork from this year are Sun and Moon. The artwork, the way I layered the pieces, the addition of embroidery thread and metallic or iridescent paints– every part of it makes me feel happy and proud. I enjoyed the process of making each one, and have found a process, method, and type of art I want to do more of. I will have prints available of both in 2025!

Things to Improve #

While putting together the eight best artworks, I had to look back at everything I made this year. Unfortunately, there were a lot I didn’t feel met my own standards for “good art”. Looking at the ones I chose, I can understand why they made it into the top eight.

• Character or subject I like.
• Expression
• Details!
• Each one pushed my skill in one area or another.

These are areas I studied and improved on in 2024, and it’s wonderful to see the results of the efforts. Of course, reviewing my work also reaveals the major areas that need improvement:

• wider variety of subjects
• movement
• backgrounds

I never thought it was a big deal, but the marjority of my artwork includes a female subject… because I cannot draw men. Not in a way I like, anyway. I have been practicing male anatomy and will continue to do so in the coming year with the goal of creating artworks with a wider variety of subjects, including animals and objects, too.

I also need to add more movement into my artwork. I am comfortable with drawing characters with expression, so now I will push myself to add the movement. It will be tough to stretch my skills, but I feel confident in trying. I’ve been trying to illustrate my own stories to practice, and if I get comfortable with it, I have BIG PLANS for them.

And backgrounds…. groan. Landscape, perspective, and background elements have always escaped my skill. While I want to improve my skill in these areas, it’s my biggest struggle, and I have yet to find a support to help me learn. I’ve tried books, videos, courses, everything and I can’t seem to get a good handle on it. Of course, I will continue to try and I’m open to suggestions for learning in hopes I find a way of creating backgrounds that fit my work.

Things to Come #

2025 will be the year of transformation.

There are many areas in my life I have been working on diligently, but my business hasn’t been one of them. So this year, I will be putting more energy into selling, marketing, advertising, and sharing artwork to increase audience and sales.

On top of that, I will start commissions at some point in 2025. Once I determine how I will do them, I will post about it here and on social media.

I already have a painting ready for January, something larger than my usual size and added elements I’m not accustomed to painting. After that, I want to create a type of artwork I’ve always wanted to do: book illustrations. Since I’ve been reading so much more, I want to bring my favorite characters to life in my artstyle and share it with people who also love the same books.

THe goal is that you’ll see and hear more from me in 2025. I can’t promise consistency always, but more and better than I have been. I never wanted to be a business woman, or a content creator, but these are roles I have taken on. Still, first and foremost I am an ARTIST, and that’s where I want to keep my focus.

TLDR #

• I improved skill and technique through studies and play in 2024
• I will work on adding more variety of subjects, more detailed backgrounds, and movement in my artwork in 2025
• Commissions and book illustrations are also coming in 2025

Happy New Year #

It’s the year of the snake, a symbol of transformation, healing, growth, protection, and good fortune. I hope your year is full of love and creativity.