My 2020 in Review and Goals for 2021

So 2020 has been a very difficult year for most of us, and I think lots of people will be celebrating it’s end with relief, but on a personal level, 2020 has been one of my best years so far. It started with me graduating from university with a first class honours in Illustration and Visual Communication of which I was very proud but also quite glad that my studies were finally finished! Unfortunately I didn’t get to have a ceremony because of lockdown but that’s okay. This was also my first time being completely self-employed as a freelance illustrator, which was both terrifying and thrilling. (I might go into how I did this in more detail in a separate post).

After graduation I made the decision to leave the UK and move to Tanzania. Everything happened very quickly and by July I was here. I’m so glad that I took the leap to come to Tanzania and I can’t believe how much my life has changed in such a short period of time. I’m really enjoying the sunny climate and exploring new places/meeting new people (we’re very lucky not to have any lockdown here because of the low number of cases). One thing that I love about my life here is that the pace is much slower, something I really appreciate after living in London for three years! I also moved in with my boyfriend and we got our sweet kitten, Luna.

On a professional level, I really got going with my Etsy shop and I’m so grateful to everyone who has supported me in that way. Each order I receive literally makes me squeal with joy and run to tell my boyfriend. I also had some lovely private commissions as well as my first ‘big professional job’ creating spot illustrations for a children’s magazine.

In terms of professional goals for next year, I’d love to get this blog off the ground and be more consistent with posting. I have lots of ideas for topics surrounding illustration and being an illustrator and I’d really love to share them with you. I’d also like to grow in the areas that I started last year, like my Etsy shop and commissions. Another habit I’d like to build is life drawing/sketching. I want to get myself a sketchbook and practice improving my drawing skills. This was something we were encouraged to do in uni but I haven’t kept it up since.

On a personal level, we’ll be moving house in January and we’ll officially be home owners! I can’t wait to decorate the place and get back into gardening again (something I used to love when I still lived with my parents). I also hope we can take a trip to Zanzibar, the most beautiful tropical island off the coast of Tanzania. Oh, and get my drivers license too. Other than that, I’m really excited to see what 2021 will bring, and I can’t wait to get started again.