So Long 2020
If 2020 has taught me anything, it is how to accept that my goals and ambitions may have to be slowed down a tad. I have a bad habit of needing things to happen really quickly in order for me to believe that I am making progress. I have had to re-evaluate this mindset during this year, and realise that that mindset is really unrealistic.
*I class writing this blog post in the "big & significant" achievement category. I know that I have neglected this blog, but I think that using 2020 as an excuse is acceptable...
My big & small achievements in 2020:
1. My graduation
On 7th December 2020 I graduated from Leeds Arts University with a First Class degree in Illustration! Although there will always be a small part of me that is sad I didn't get the traditional graduation experience & couldn't share it with my friends and family, I really enjoyed swishing around my tiny flat in the gown and hat. I got dressed up for the occasion and bought prosecco to 'elegantly' sip from a red wine glass because I don't own any glass flutes.
(One big benefit to the online graduation was that I was able to get in my pyjamas when I wanted, and could order myself a celebratory takeaway pizza.)
2. I joined the 'digital age' of illustration
2020 was the year that I finally joined the digital age and got an I-pad & Procreate! Obviously I did work digitally to and extent before this point, but it was rather grudgingly... I had to work on Photoshop with a pretty old plug-in Wacom tablet. It was OK to use, but I didn't like the disconnect between the the Wacom tablet and the computer screen.
I watched a lot of wholesome videos/studio vlogs on Youtube of illustrators using Procreate and thought it looked much more streamlined compared to what I was using.
So far, I have loved using and experimenting with Procreate! One major thing that I love is how easy it is to change the colours. It sounds so simple, but colour palettes do not come easily to me... it takes me a while to find a colour palette that I am happy with (and if I filmed a process video of me using Procreate I am sure a lot of people would cringe at how many times I change the colours... I like to faff.)
Some of the first drawings I made on Procreate - Demon pumpkin
Some of the first drawings I made on Procreate - Demon beetroot
Some of the first drawings I made on Procreate - Demon artichoke
3. Making Fimo clay accessories for Etsy
After my final hand in for university, and England going into a second lockdown, I felt really deflated... and my illustration work suffered. I felt like I had suddenly lost my confidence and was second guessing myself constantly. I didn't know what materials to use, or if I was becoming too dependant on one group of materials. (& this is something that I am still struggling with...) I didn't feel like I had the mental energy to draw myself out of my creative block, so I decided to do something completely different.
I started making fridge magnets out of Fimo clay, and discovered that I really liked the process. It was so different from drawing & felt new and exciting. I had made a pair of Fimo elephant earrings years ago, and I stumbled across them accidentally when I was just starting to make things out of Fimo. I realised that I could convert my designs from the fridge magnets onto earrings and pin badges.
Fimo fridge magnets
Fimo earrings
Fimo pin badges
I initially came up with the designs for jam, marmalade and chocolate spread on toast because I have been eating *a lot* of various spreads on toast during lockdown... to me, spread on toast is so comforting and we all need a bit of comfort right now. It came as a surprise to me that the earrings and pin badges sold really well because I didn't create them with an audience in mind, I just bloody love toast! Then I started to make other designs (e.g. the pencil accessories and ink pot pin shown below) which was really fun! I love that I have made and sold things that people can wear and (hopefully!) get lots of compliments on. I really want to start coming up with and crafting new designs in the New Year!
Fimo pin badges and pencil earrings
4. Knitting
I have wanted to start learning to knit for ages, but it seems so daunting & scary & complicated... and to be honest I still feel that fear! What kicked me up the butt to actually start learning was my realisation that I was scrolling meaninglessly on my phone, even while I was watching TV... double screens!
Knitting is a much more enjoyable use of my time than scrolling endlessly through social media. So far I have made a very basic winter scarf, and started to make a chunky blanket. (But I have had to put that project on pause because I didn't realise how much wool I am going to have to buy to complete it... Maybe one day I will finish it... one day.) I am currently attempting a hot water bottle cover.
I hope you have enjoyed this small knitting interlude.
5. Planting chillies, my first chilli harvest & tomato and sweet chilli jam
One day, on a whim, I planted some chilli seeds from an old chilli. I thought that it wouldn't really be hot enough for chillies to grow and that I would need to plant quite a few seeds as back ups for when most of them inevitably die. I now have eleven chilli plants on my window sill! I am thrilled.
First chilli plant babies - August 2020
First chillies appear - October 2020
First chilli harvest - December 2020
An illustrated label I made for the jam (even though all my chillis turned out green I wanted a red chilli for the label)
Tomato and sweet chilli jam jar with a handmade Fimo label
Anyway, goodbye 2020. You have been horrible & scary & utterly rubbish, but not totally bad.
Comments
Post a Comment