Hey Friends,
After a few of you did a wellness check on me, I re-read my last e-mail and LMAOOOOO, I did not realize how down and out I sounded. Aside from feeling a bit restless, I thought I was in a good place mentally. Ha!
I’m napping, eating, playing in the snow, making puzzles, drinking hot chocolate, watching movies, and having a grand time.
I was a little anxious about quitting my job, but I’m happy to report that I got a new jerb. The best part is that I can work at home and basically ignore Chicago’s winter.
Sharing my ‘bad’ drawing actually helped me let go of perfectionism. I became less afraid of the world laughing at my art.
I’m always trying to do that most. I really wanted to dive into animating a 17-minute story after almost a year of not drawing or animating. Loca!
How soon we forgot that Brenda’s cat was only possible because I started with a poorly drawn vampire.
So, I set aside Kalani the Fisherman. I flipped through some of the picture books, and found an image to recreate.
Behold:
Part of me wanted to downplay my accomplishment; all you did was recreate a ‘childish’ art style. But I’m telling that negative voice to shut up. The image I recreated has value. The author and publisher thought the image was good enough. The illustrator, Ekaterina Trukhan is talented enough that they make a living as an illustrator. They have many beautiful projects in their portfolio. Their art sparks joy. So, I’m not going to shit on that.
I discovered this video a few years ago. It’s a reminder that artists don’t create from nothing. They study, do practice samples, and put in time. The same goes for writing.
Here’s a laugh
“Ashwagandha on a Tuesday” is my new shorthand for when people are living recklessly on a wednesday.
Rebellious book takes
A few weeks ago, I visited Zora’s Place. I filmed a segment for Rebellious Magazine. I also got this puzzle that was absolutely delightful.
Other news
I helped Devin launch his web store. Wow, five years ago I new nothing about WordPress. Now, I’m creating websites with ecommerce elements.
I might not be the best at a lot of things. BUT, I know how to learn and become the good enough at the things I need.
My good friend Diane De La Haye (writer/producer) got me into Women of Color United, a organization for BIPOC women in entertainment. Their #StartWith8 program paired me with an industry mentor. I’m excited to connect with them next year.
As always, I’m accepting freelance gigs. You can check out my portfolio at www.ClearMango.com.
Did you make something that was just “good enough”? Tell me about it.