2024 Year In Review and A Look Ahead to 2025
Oh, 2024, I’m so glad to be closing you out!! This was a weird year for me—last year at this time the only goals I had for the year were: to get through kidney donation sugery to my brother; recover with minimal complications; look after my mom whose dementia steadily worsened. I didn’t make any professional goals. It was, at the time, a huge relief to me to be able to just let release the pressure of having to focus on anything else other than health of me and my family. But as I recovered, and navigated through some difficult things with my mom, I found myself flailing a bit artistically, emotionally and, yes, financially.
2024 kicked my butt for sure, but I’m happy to report that my brother is doing really well, I’m 99.5% recovered from the surgery (still have some occasional, weird little scar tissue/adhesion zings and zaps from time to time), my mom is safe and well-cared and I am fortunate to have her nearby for frequent visits and check-ins
Since I try to focus on gratitude and joy, here’s a recap of what I did accomplish in my sweet little studio in this past year:
On January 22nd, I became a living organ donor when I donated a kidney to my brother. The process leading up to the donation surgery was, well, comprehensive and somewhat unpredictable. Everything happened out of state which added a lovely, twist to the process. A month later on February 18th, I started The 100 Day Project (my fifth so far) as I was continuing my recovery. It felt like dipping my toes back into my creative practice that was sustainable and achievable. I divided the project into ten day increments and had a different focus for each block of ten days—florals, bugs, birds, landscapes, night skies, etc. Exploring some subjects for the first time was so refreshing and fun!
In March I felt well enough to take myself on a little trip “Up North” to my happy place where I was blessed with a stretch of beautiful weather and was able to go on some short inspiration hikes and “My Happy Place” Collection started taking shape. I worked on this while continuing with the 100 Day Project—in fact, it became part of my 100 Day Project with little landscape studies and then showing my progress daily on the eight larger pieces of the collection which was released on June 21st.
I completed the 100 Day Project on July 8th—quite a bit later than most, but I completed nonetheless!
At this point in the Summer, my mom started to do some very concerning things and my focus was diverted to her and making sure she was safe. During this time I completed my largest piece for the year, the floral piece "Vibrant Beauty."
I moved my mom into assisted living at the end of August after a rough transition, I started a little autumn landscape series of 15, well, little Autumn Landscapes.
In November I painted a small collection of 26 sweet little festive ornaments which were very well received and such a fun way to close out my creative practice for the year!
All in all, not a complete bust creatively! Here I am in the final hours of a year that began so heavy and hard and I’m feeling hopeful for the year ahead. Beyond the requisite “taking better care of myself with exercise and healthy eating” resolution, I’m setting some professional goals for myself. Here’s what I’m thinking:
Complete a new monthly “Flower of the Month” original painting that will be offered for sale once completed, but with the goal of creating a 2026 calendar at year’s end.
Start an “100 Project” with the focus on figures and faces. Notice I left out the “Day.” The goal will be complete 100 drawings/paintings/studies over the course of the year, not on consecutive days.
Complete a collection of larger paintings with the goal of exhibiting the collection in a solo show—subject matter, venue, etc. TBD—this is probably my most aspirational goal for the year!
Apply for and participate in a minimum of three group shows over the course of the year.
Research and apply for artist residencies with the hope of participating in my first residency this year.
Go on at least two artsy field trips per month—museums, galleries, inspiration-gathering, etc.
Immerse myself more in my local art scene.
Apply for, and participate in at least one Art Fair/holiday show (something I haven’t done since pre-Covid) .
Create my largest ornament collection ever to close out the year!
So there you have it! I’ve put those goals out into the world—time to get to it. 2025, let’s do this! Thanks for following along on my creative journey—so grateful for you and your support. While I can’t predict exactly what 2025 will bring, I plan on doing my best to make it a beautiful year for you and me!