In 2024, after deciding to find a new day job and trying out a few things, I had some time to think about what was important, what I enjoyed, or what brought me joy. While I have lots of thoughts about what “joy” is, since I’d made my living and career in the tech industry, I had forgotten my roots. I grew up an artist. I went to school for Graphic Design and Illustration. I loved to draw once, and at some point my day job took all my energy and I lost the drive to create. With a little time off to reassess my goals, I started drawing and illustrating again, and finally giving in to Procreate.
Originals
I find that with any new medium I must draw myself. I figure, while it’s a little self-serving, I see myself in the mirror every day, and it’s probably the most familiar object in my life.
Challenging myself to draw flowers, something that has historically given me problems, but thinking of them more like traditional tattoos really helped to provide perspective and understanding of the shapes.
Draw This In Your Style
When I started back up in 2024, I told myself that by Christmas 2025 I would participate in the draw this in your style trend which I’d always avoided because I didn’t think I was “good enough”. Turns out, it wasn’t about the art, it was about the anxiety of not being perfect. Two months into picking up the pen again, I posted this:
Followed very closely by this one:
While work has yet again taken most of my time and energy into 2026, I still draw every week and hope to start participating in #dtiys again soon.