2018 Wrap Up and What’s up for 2019
It’s that time of year, the time I reflect on all I did in the year almost over, and look forward to plans for the year ahead.
Business Things
Cutting down on the manufacturing side of the Fairies and Fantasy business really did free up a heap of time for me. That, along with help from my super awesome assistant Kim from KILA designs has meant a fair bit got done this year. 2018 also meant a slow down in colouring book production so I could focus on other projects.
Publishing Things
I published-
Mermaid Inspiration Coloring Journal
Unicorns and Dragons Coloring Book
My colouring designs were also reprinted in a number of Colouring Heaven specials
My art was licensed to products like new figurines, 3D purses.
I created new covers and “Pen Name” S.A. Fenech for my Memory’s Wake trilogy, and Editions Du Chat Noir released the French edition of Providence Unveiled, completing the trilogy in French.
My art was published in- Magical History of Mermaids
2018 also saw THE BIG MOVE from the company previous printing my colouring books to other (very similar) companies. Which was a lot of work. But had to be done, and should improve quality of the colouring books, and availability through in-store catalogues for those who like to order in through their local bookstore.
I also worked on four secret projects which took quite a few months of time out of the year. They are all done, and it feels weird that I can’t share them to say “Hey I really have been more productive than I seemed to have been!”. You’ll just have to trust me there. I also helped my husband’s film and tv production company out with a bunch of concept and animation development artworks. Also secret. Soz.
Art I did
I’d hoped this year would be a flood of new art. I didn’t get as much work done as I’d hoped, but I’m quite happy with what I did do in terms of quality and quantity considering other projects and time commitments. I continued playing more with mediums, and almost went back to digital before getting drawn into working with water soluble oil paints, which most of this year’s works are in.
And I’m still hoping to finish Lady of Water as well by the end of this year.
I continued life drawing classes as regularly as possible and feel a pronounced improvement in my figure drawing and overall sketching ability.
What I didn’t do
No calendar again for 2019. Again, this is part of cutting down on the printing/warehousing/shipping that I do personally. And while I feel bad that I’m not offering you guys a yearly calendar anymore, you’ve got NO IDEA how much this has improved my time and work balance. Right now, in mid December, I would normally be a hectic hot mess trying to get holiday orders shipped. But this year is SO civilised I don’t even know myself. It’s fantastic, and feels like I made the right choice to step away from the hands-on production and get back to what I love most- creating!
No new Empaths books. Still. I KNOW. I know it so much that line was copy-pasted from LAST year’s round up blog! And I’ve also come to the decision that there won’t be new Empaths books. My heart isn’t in that series. I want to write fantasy, and if I force myself to finish Empaths before I can move onto fantasy stories again, I’ll never do any of it.
Random Stuff
One of my coloring books got redacted so it was appropriate for inmate use (See the story here).
We worked together to raise over $500 in one “Green Friday” day for Greenpeace.
Kim and I worked on building the yafantasybooks.com website into something great for readers.
I majorly cut down on events I was attending as well, with Central Coast Comic-con being the only one.
Moved my studio to a new room in the house. And I’m laughing now at my mention of the “trusty scanner” as it died very soon after that. But yay, got a new scanner.
What’s happening in 2019?
Getting more creative time in 2018 was great. Really. So great, I want more! I’ve been questioning whether to even continue stocking any products myself in the store on this site. I could close it entirely. Something I’ll be thinking about a bit more, because I do like having something local for fellow Aussies, and for people who like signed products, and I’ll always need to make original paintings available from ME, that’s something I can’t really have someone else manage.
Painting again has been fun, but I still feel like I’m a long away away from the skill and quality I want for my paintings. I’ll continue to push my learning and practice in 2019.
In 2018 I only did one new colouring book, but with new skills and drawing strengths I’ve developed through 2018 I’m confident I’ll have time to offer three new colouring books in 2019.
In 2019 I’ll be developing a new writing project. Something in the fantasy genre. Something that I want to love and be proud of. And that might take a long time but I’m willing to take the time with this project. I’d love to really combine my art and writing into one project like that, but most feedback I get from fans feels like they like my art and writing separately. What do you think? You can also have a say in what you like about fantasy at a survey I’m running right now Here.
I’d like to blog more too. But lately it feels like I only really get to these yearly posts! If you want to see more blogs from me, poke me and tell me so!
What would you like to see me do in 2019?
