A Year End and A Year Ahead
Another year older, another year wiser? Well, if not wiser, at least hopefully with some rough edges worn off while circling the sun.
I made it to Christmas ready to just sleep for a week after balancing illustrating and working and whatever else 2024 managed to throw at me. So post December 25? I have slept. A lot. And walked. And eaten a ghastly amount of cookies. There’s been knitting and movies and most importantly, thinking. Thinking of the year finishing up and the year ahead and what the shape of that should be. But I don’t think I’m quite ready to carve that into stone. Some more walking and sleeping are in order. Also, I’ve had a banjo sitting in my amazon shopping cart for the past 48 hours, so that’s a thing…
Also:
I wrote a Substack post about my 2024 creative inspirations.
This cowl is what I’m knitting next.
I’m trying to post more routinely to Instagram. And I’m attempting to figure out Bluesky. But I draw the line at TikTok (the world doesn’t need videos of me dancing, ever).
Trim the Tree
A book deadline is within striking distance, so I am not entirely certain of my own name and would enjoy sleeping for a week straight. One (or two) days to go… But it is December, and late December at that. So here’s a festive pattern, complete with spice cookies, reindeer, shooting stars and such.
Here’s a seasonal playlist I’m listening to at the moment. It’s mostly indie, slightly kitschy, with a smattering of nostalgia in there.
I’m thrilled that Anne Dreams made Indigo’s Best Kid’s Books of 2024.
This gingerbread cookie recipe is great.
I ran out of time to make some new gift tags, unfortunately, but you can download previous years here. There’s a few dead links, but the most recent work.
Taxonomy
Some details and the full image of a piece I finished up for last weekend’s Open Studios event. The paper size is 22 in. x 28 in., so huge (for me) and required leaning over a large table, painting at awkward angles for a-g-e-s. But it was worth it. Painting like this slows and steadies, which is always a good thing.
If you’re in or around York, Maine, I’ll have some pieces in the Yuletide at Old York show.
I’m two thirds of the way through Miss Ranskill Comes Home. What initially feels like a saccharine mid-century women’s novel is actually a shockingly perceptive look at society in its darkest moments. The novel has its laugh out loud moments, for sure, but also plenty of deeper ruminations.
My latest travel obsession is Bergen, Norway. And feeding that obsession, is this Instagram account. Sidenote: Ancestry tells me that I am mostly Irish, slightly Polish, but at least 8% Scandinavian, so I guess the heart DNA wants what it wants…
Autumn Odds + Ends
Autumn Odds and Ends. Leaf painting, a beach trip, more wrestling with Bargue plates and buckling down to meet a deadline. Also:
I made it to Lark Coffee on their last day open for the season and it’s well-worth the trip if you’re in southern Maine.
Speaking of the pine tree state, the Great State of Illustration in Maine show has travelled on to the University of Maine at Augusta. Featuring the work of over 90 illustrators with ties to the state, it’s a great show. One of my illustrations from Anne’s School Days is in the exhibit.
I’ll be participating in the Artists of Salmon Falls Open Studios later this month. More on that, here. I’ll have books, linocuts, fabric and more available.
Nostalgia
Listening to Arcade Fire for the first time in years (a decade?) and Intervention still gives me all the feelings. So, a drawing was in order.
Summer in fragments. New drawings, a garden growing, canning, the flowers I wanted to steal (but didn’t), staying up far too late reading and what have you.
Elsewhere:
A free autumnal sticker download on my substack
In the Midwest and looking to pursue an education in illustration? University of Wisconsin - Stout just launched their BFA in Illustration and it’s worth a look. My friend Erik is running the program. Between his own talent and his dedication to teaching, I can only imagine that this program will be excellent.
These house plans are fueling my dreams of running away to the middle of nowhere.
There’s a pile of books I’d like to reread, but that I don’t realistically see myself getting to anytime soon. The compromise has been listening to audio books while working. I listened to The Secret History in August and realized that it’s a) weirder than I remembered and b) still pulls the reader in from the very first word. I didn’t anticipate having my sympathies fall so differently on the second run through the book, though. I came to loathe Henry and the twins, but sympathized at a greater level with Francis and Bunny (I know, I know…).
The second book I’m listening to is Rebecca, but I’m losing steam. The main character’s gushing love for Maxim just didn’t work for me in the same way that it did at 18. I’ll trying to finish, but it’s interesting how some books stay with you a lifetime and some just complete a stretch of the journey.
To Do
I would really, really love to paint some store windows. I would (potentially) be willing to do so as a barter even, provided I was compensated in large quantities of peanut butter cookies and lattes (whole milk, no sugar). Anyway, I couldn’t resist a mockup of a cafe idea in my head.
This summer has flown by. The light and the temperatures have shifted, slightly. And while I miss being able to walk the dog at 8 at night, I do not miss the effects of humidity on my hair (very true to life sketch above). More than one person has said the word “Fall” in front of me this week and it was everything I could do not hollering, “NOT. YET.” To be fair, though, the mornings have been cool. And the garden looks like the last guest at a party: tired, past its prime, but not ready to head home quite yet.
Other things:
I’ve had a handful of people recommend A Canticle for Leibowitz and now that I’ve started, I understand the enthusiasm.
In looking at fairy tale images, I stumbled on Theodor Kittelsen’s work. Although born in the 19th century, his illustrations feel remarkably modern. This maiden and bear painting might be my favorite.
The Midnight Society’s patches went on a Christmas shopping list for my nieces, who as previously discussed, are Very Big Lord of the Rings Fans.
This sweater pattern is on my to knit list.
