End of Year: 2026 Ins and Outs!
What a year! I can’t quite believe it’s nearly over. It’s a bit cringe to say, but I’m going to say it anyway: time has really flown by. I’ve spent some time reflecting on how I want my 2026 to look, and here is what I’ve come up with:
What’s In:
In-Person Events!
After the success of BIF back in November, I’m excited to get back out there again and interact with you lovely people. It was so great to see so many talented artists and chat with everyone. Not to mention, it taught me a lot about what worked for me and what didn’t. After spending so many years sharing my art while hidden behind a screen, it blew my mind how supportive the community is and how much there is to learn by being out "in real life". It was scary, but so worth it.
Drawing out and about
Continuing the theme of “actually leaving the house”, I want to take my art out with me more. I already take my iPad pretty much everywhere, but I was gifted a gorgeous little paint palette and sketchbook this Christmas that really inspired me. I’m picturing sitting up on the South Downs with a flask of tea and painting away—I love seeing other people doing it! I was in the picturesque village of Steyning not long ago and saw an older man painting in the high street—easel and everything—and it blew me away. Retirement goals, for sure.
Supporting other artists and small businesses
I’ve been losing a lot of sleep over the discussion around Generative AI recently; the apathy is shocking and upsetting. I think AI can be a great tool in the right situation, but it bothers me to see it being so quickly relied upon for things that weren’t broken, replacing the jobs that actually brought people joy (as well as paying their bills!). It’s really shown me that our actions need to reflect our words. I’m going to continue shouting out other artists—but even louder. And not only artists; I’m shopping small as much as possible and sticking to firmer principles.
Reading more indie graphic novels
Following on from that, I want to read more graphic novels written by indie artists. If you’re reading this, you probably already know how much I love a good story, and I want more of them! I’m always open to recommendations, but I have a couple on my list already. (Pigeon aka Kamila Krol’s work is first on my list!)
What’s Out:
Working for free or peanuts!
Money has been tighter for me this year and it’s made me reflect on how I price things, particularly commission work. I’ve always been terrible at asking for money, but I realise that it’s not just about me—I’m letting other creatives down when I don’t ask for enough. It diminishes the hard work we all put in when I ask for too little or nothing at all. That is what's driving me to price correctly going forward.
Chasing social media success
My BIGGEST learning curve this year: followers do NOT equal success! I’ve spent years thinking I needed 10k+ followers to get work, but the truth is, just showing up is enough. I’m going to focus less on followers, stop putting myself down for not being "popular", and focus more on being authentic and doing what I love.
Doing too much, then nothing at all
This is probably a personality trait that will be difficult to drop; however, I’m going to try and listen to my needs a bit more. My life is an endless loop of doing everything and more before hitting a wall. Sometimes I’m just too excited about an idea that I can’t think of anything else, but there need to be moments of reflection to see if I need to slow things down before it gets to be too much. I think ditching some of the pressures of social media is going to help, and I’ve got a few really fun, long-term projects that will keep me on a steady track.
Comparison
The infamous thief of all joy. The fact I’m still here and still trying should fill me with pride. I’m going to quit centring myself and remind myself to appreciate what I have. I’ve realised comparing myself to other artists is a form of disloyalty; we should always be celebrating each other's successes.
What are your learnings from 2025? Did any of this resonate with you? Who knows what the creative industry will look like by the end of 2026—it’s a bit scary with the way the world is going. Despite that, I am excited. I’ve probably never felt so passionately determined in all my life to be more present and put myself out there so I can lift others too!
