Crazy to think we're already in 2025! I desperately wanted to write this and have it all published and ready to read wayyy...back in 2024 ( December) but life got in the way, or rather beautiful sun and family! But it was all worth it, because...nothing bad happened when I didn't press publish, everyone is still here! I'm slowly giving myself a bit more grace with this stuff, it's all small things really!
I love the start of a new year, planning, making lists and to-do's, but I've also realized the importance of looking back and being pretty thankful for the year I had. It feels like 2024, just blitzed past, anyone else feel like that? There have definitely been some highs and some lows this year, so here we go! In no particular order, promise.
My Rome Picturebook Retreat
Definitely one of my top favorite things of the year, it was the first time I’ve ever done something like that, and not only did I love ROME! But I met the most amazing people that taught me so much, it was encouraging and so so healing in many ways. Read through my blog post on this here.
My family trips and graduating!
And then a big favourite that stood out to me last year was my family. Spending time with them camping in Namibia and then having my dad and sisters visiting me in the summer, and it was hands down the best summer I’ve had in the UK, it was so so good to show them around, to explore with them and to do celebrate the little life we’ve built here for ourselves. It helped me to see it all with fresh eyes!
Â
And then of course being able to celebrate my Masters graduation with them. I always wanted to do my Master’s and I am so so happy that I did it, it was such a good day to celebrate the tears and hours of work. It was a bittersweet day of celebrating and remembering.Â
PS...I would love to do another one, should I? ( Anyone want to sponsor me?)
Teaching
I always knew that I wanted to teach and go back to the classroom, maybe its because I love it so much, but this year has been my first full year of teaching part-time, even though there are definitely things I would change...I do enjoy working with the students, seeing their ideas come to life and the best part of it has been seeing my students drawing improve, it's so beautiful and crazy to think that I'm actually transferring some sort of skill...who would have thought?
Not having enough freelance work
A bit of a low this past year, maybe I didn't push it enough, or maybe I was too busy with my work work, but last year, I was approached to take on a contract job for design, which I did and even though it's been good source of income it doesn't fill my cup...- in fact the opposite, so every moment I've had free, I've been drawing, writing, sending countless emails to all those agents who say they read their mail! But in return, I've taken a hit in my design work, and I do find myself coming to a cross roads with it. Should I continue hustling for work that I don't enjoy but gives me a source of income, or sit tight and continue working on my illustration portfolio, hustling for illustration work which pays considerable less but maybe gives me more joy...Things to consider for 2025. The GoodShip Illustration did a chat on their podcast about the illustration industry, and it has taken a hit and even more so now with AI - I'm not a fan of AI! That's all I'm going to say.
Joining more talks and attending community network meet-up's
In April last year, I decided that I needed to grow my community in Brighton. It's been almost five years since I moved to the UK, and I would like to be surrounded by like-minded people so I set off this year to do that, and I can honestly say that I did manage to do that, I've joined the Flock group in Brighton, and joined more talks hosted by The Orange Beak Studio. And weirdly, I became the host for The Design Kids Brighton, please check out the amazing events we have lined up! SO so good, all that hustling did pay off for The Design Kids! I've met some pretty amazing people and made some really great friends! Thank you!
Stacking up my "100 Nee Dankie's"
This past year, I've been sending way more emails to agents, publishers and competitions in the hope that someone, somewhere will see my work. Trust me there have been so many flat out no's, total silence, "no thank you's", "your work needs more development" "your work is not right" - I can tell you this, it has definitely taught me to have thick skin. And it has paid off for the Unpublished Picturebook Showcase I am thrilled that my work has been selected! One small step for mankind, one huge step for Mieke!
Climbing Snowdon
I know this is ridiculous to have on my list, and it wasn't even a big mountain, it wasn't even a super difficult hike - but it was just pretty special to hike up this mountain. Feeling the wind and the chill on my legs, and even more so doing it with my sister, Imkie. I recently told my husband that I wanted to feel the weather, perplexing right? But there is nothing better than feeling the cold on your cheeks, or letting a big wave splash onto you, or running in the rain right? Well this was it for me, we were on top of the mountain, when the mist came in and it was so beautiful and made me feel so alive.
Drawing from life and completing those challenges!
Over the summer, I did the #threematerialschallenge, before that I did the #childhoodillustrated and recently the @folktaleweek challenge. There have definitely been days and even weeks where I didn't draw a thing, but I've been trying to keep at it as best as I can and I am so so thankful that my sketchbook has been a place of safety, of documenting my year and capturing moments that brought me joy.
I'm grateful for my garden
Before we moved, I had a little court yard garden, and now I've got a slightly...bigger one, but I am so thankful that for that space, in that little court yard I saw little seeds come to life, I saw the beauty of colour and even had a few birds come and visit me. I hope the little Robin will find it's home in my new garden, I promise to make it cosy and filled with goodness!
Figuring out that I like drawing little people
I've been receiving mentoring from Ella Beech over the last months, and it's been so good and challenging in many ways, she's challenged me to make lists of things that excitement me, that I enjoy doing- and in my many lists I realized that I like enjoying little people, and I like print making. I hope that in the coming months, I will explore this more...and I've already signed up myself to a printmaking workshop for March, I'm going to start off the year with a bang! And even treated myself to a little art supply purchase, now all I need is a piece of glass or perspex for some mono printing! Any contributions?
There you have it - 10 things, a good number, of course there are tons more, but I'm pretty happy about that - plus a HUGE thank you to my husband and family for supporting me and encouraging me to draw for living! We're getting there! One step at a time!
Now onto to 2025 - my motto for this year is, "Feed the Focus, Starve the Distraction" - I'll be sharing more on this in the coming weeks!
Comentarios