Let me tell you about my 2024…
Dear imaginary friends,
How is the weather treating you these days? Here in Copenhagen has been cold, foggy and…cozy. I’m a big fan of winter. I feel like it’s perfect for having nice coffees and be at studio - working! I’ve been more overthinking and planning than drawing these days, but planning counts as work, right? Let’s say yes. Yes. of course. pffff
While I’ve been trying focusing on my 2025 plans, I felt like I should step back and talk more about last year. 2024 brought me a lot! I learned so much about myself and how much I can do when I put my energy towards it. 2024 brought me this strange confidence to pursuit what I want - even thought It didn’t bring what I wanted.
It’s a full year review. Get your fav drink ready and maybe snacks. Definitely snacks.
I started the year with a schedule/ hours reality check. I really faced the truth about having very limited drawing working hours - even though I’m full time illustrator. Let me explain, I was always this optimistic girl, telling myself I work the same hours per day for both Client AND Personal Projects. And really just need 5min for any/all administrative work. CAN YOU BELIEVE?!?! Yeah, I was that kind of freelancer: a lier! Blaming herself all the time for “not working faster enough“ or “too distracted”. “a disappointment”… The change happened after I woke up deeply frustrated by the sad pile of personal projects ideas catching dust on my desk corner.
2023 was a VERY slow client work year for me. I was anxious about money and starring at my mail box or searching poorly for “real jobs” - applied to none. I knew deep inside that would be temporary. I wish I had dedicated to personal side projects. Instead, I got paralysed. So I knew I wanted to make 2024 a more balanced year. Learn to keep side projects running no matter what, for the down times. (take note, kids!) So I made a new schedule. with REAL hours and prioritising my side projects.
My new schedule had 60% Client, 10% admin 30% personal project (I made up this % math but you got the picture) It went surprising well from January to April!! Then life happened, and became something like 80% Client and 20% Who knows!! (I WILL Know later)
I started the year happily booked with a Client project: an adorable Animals Eco Sticker Book by Igloo Books! (over 100 sticker/ illustration spots - and 30 activity pages).
I chose for first (and only!) side project: a personal leporello Book Project and open my online shop. All Admin and some self promoting plan was mostly: Instagram revival and blog around (here, Substack, patreon.. ko-fi?!)
Then I decided to move studios in April. Since 2018 I’ve been part of Gimle studio among 20+ danish talented artists. My first and only shared studio. In 2024 I felt the need for a change. I felt like I need to leave the parent’s home and try to get a place less focused on client work and a bit more into making personal stuff/shop (I have this dream to have my own shop/studio space one day) A Studio spot opened 2min away from my home, with 8 creatives and close to my fav screen print atelier, it was a good balance option! It was an exciting move! Ironically, I did no craft since I moved. haha.
I also didn’t expect - but can’t really complain - my fiancé being nominated to lots of awards for his newly launched game, Cocoon. This excitement brought me 5 trips abroad between February - July. Happy travelling times and a roller coaster of emotions around my brand new precious routine. I also had a small surgery in April and a medium size wedding in October! Here goes the “WHO KNOWS” time!
From April to July, Claire - the most fantastic Intern - happened in my life! She was my BONUS Happy Time of the year! She is such a talented beginner! I spent very little time helping her and definitely got tons of time saved by her incredible good work! She kept my side projects alive and work with me with Client work searching references and adding fresh ideas to my sketches! Plus she was so friendly and reliable! I miss having her around for sure.
Thanks to Claire, in May, my online shop was finally up just in time for CPH Comics,where I shared a table with my old studio. I decided to set a selling goal to be less passive seller. I reached my goal!! It was not much but I felt like a winner! I also decided that I don’t wanna share tables again. Also I forgot to promote my shop.. Oh well, Not all golden stars…
In June I said yes to SPY book series (dino, magical, farm and jungle). It was a big project full of spot illustrations which I continued working until November. Which meant half with magic Claire help, half without..
The Animal Sticker Book project continued until end of July when I also said yes to a commissioned house illustration. And projects overlapped. Ending one, starting another, making a commission… It was a lot!!!! Oh I somehow managed squeeze in an illustration for our wedding invitation!!! (it was rushed but we love it!)
So, from July to September was crazy working time. I had to get all done by October, before my 2 weeks wedding combo (family/friends arriving, decoration, party and honeymoon). Obviously I got ALMOST all done... *rolling eyes* . Client was nice and gave me more time (mostly because of their own delay).
Mid November I sent the last pages for Client, right after my short honeymoon in Lisbon. I decided no more client work until next year! I needed a break. I was grumpy and needed to do something for myself besides organise files and invoices. I adapted an old mice pumpkin drawing for belated halloween post. I signed up to volunteer at Portfolio Chats -I had time and was really happy to offer beginners help! I finally unboxed my new Printer (that I had bought in September!!). Installed and decided play with Procreate. Make something. Print something. I never used intentionally, so that was my chance. I made a cat and bunny dressed as Christmas tree. Later also a bear for a friend’s bday. I felt so alive again! Doesn’t take much isn’t it? I’m taking this lesson to 2025. IT DOESN’T TAKE MUCH TO MAKE ME A HAPPY ARTIST AGAIN. I also made them as paper dolls/puppets. A bit more complicated. what can I say, I love complicated!
December arrived in seconds. I had my first Christmas Market- Open Studio. Again a chance to show myself to the locals and sell around my old cards, prints and stickers. I had a bad first day. So after cry, I decided to make it happen! And the next two days I put a smile on and it was great! I made extra cash for xmas gifts!! I felt so proud! Annnnd I remembered to talk about my shop this time - ha! So PRO! Also squeeze in a cute printable xmas tree for the kids that came to the market…
Remember I said I would take no client work until end of the year? Yeah, yeah.. but then, my agent sent a quick job: Rabbits for Sticker Sheets to Clever Factory, You understand I HAD TO say yes, it was bunnies! Easter!! It was not really quick (I bet you could have guessed that) But I made in 1 week between xmas and new year. The end!
So… what happened to Personal Projects time between May-November?Honestly, it was slowly being replaced by travelling time and wedding plans. I barely posted on Instagram, forgot Substack. I mentored Claire (not much really needed there)…. Although, I did realise how much I like to help beginners and end up including Portfolio Chats as my side project. Personal in another way. I also did my wedding invitation and plan all decoration and trips. I wish there were more doodles.. sketches.. fun time.
Most of my creative energy went to Client work? Again?! Remember the pile of projects on side desk?! More dust! And I couldn’t help to feel frustrated - again!
But this time the frustration felt differently. I didn’t blame procrastination. Or felt guilty wondering “where did it go”? I knew more and less what happened, because I had the time and replaced. Consciously every day one way or another. I managed. So I learned to balance better my freelancer routine. If I haven’t made that real hours/scheduleand separated SOME time for personal work, I would not have been able to work on that many client work AND travel so much, get married, had intern, open a shop, have xmas fair etc. It’s not the results I wanted but for sure is the proof that I can manage well my routine. Even if sometimes does not look so.
And 2024 taught me that I can do a lot when I know what I want and make time for it. Very obvious conclusion, but not clear when experience it. Well, Thanks 2024! I wanna keep this lesson and live it in 2025.
How about you? 2024 treated you well? Work? Life? Something to keep on 2025?Hope so :)
That’s all from me. Now, let’s play outside! :)
xx malu
My 2024 in numbers:
5 big activity books + 1 commission work + 2 craft fairs
1 magic intern for 4 months + 1 studio move + 1 online shop setup
1/2 personal book in the making
7 trips abroad (Nottingham, Londonx2, San Francisco, Brighton, Lisbonx2)
1 happy wedding with friends and family.
Around 30 audiobooks listened
1 small surgery + 5 failed IVF rounds.