1/1 — new year, same me (with small differences)
hey everyone,
a very very very happy 2024 to you all! thank you all so much for your continued support of my work, even if I haven’t updated much over the past…3 months? yeah, 3 months. midterms and finals pummelled me into a fine pulp this fall, but i’m resting up for (hopefully) a better semester this spring. again, truly sorry for the lack of updates over the past few months.
2023
firstly, i wanted to talk about 2023. this year brought with it some massive changes, such as this site that i am literally posting on at this moment. it was a massive commitment that i’m seriously dedicated to maintaining because i love what i do and want to share what i make and learn from it too. i also want to make this my job, so a portfolio is kinda important. y’know.
I also upgraded my tools to something a bit more powerful. while this was one of the most expensive investments i’ve ever made ever, a pc and tablet was something i do believe i need to do the best work i possibly can. while my laptop has been reliable in transporting my work and creating ideas on the fly, the power of my pc and tablet help me refine those ideas quickly and efficiently (and also with a lower chance of carpal tunnel in my future since i can move my entire arm to draw now. wins all around). i did also just recently replace my laptop, but that was more so because my old one’s screen literally broke and not because it was bad. i’ll talk more about that later.
I also travelled internationally this summer, which was an incredible experience. i think it’s probably too late to talk about scotland in its own post, so i’ll just summarise it here. my family and i spent 2 weeks travelling around scotland, starting in edinburgh and making our way clockwise around the country. from its gorgeous medieval architecture in the capital to the rolling hills and mountains of its countryside, it was truly a spiritually enlightening experience that i’ll hold close for the rest of my life. i don’t think i’ll ever see that many sheep in one place or a decently functional public transit system ever again. it was sincerely memorable. especially when i got covid for the first time after the whole trip. (seriously though, it was a great trip, and i’ll try to sneak some photos into my portfolio for you all to see).
to wrap up this section, i turned 21. i can legally drink now, despite being 5’ flat and having a squeaky voice comparable to the highest notes in mariah carey’s vocal range. hooray!
2024
we’re starting off 2024 with a sneeze, unfortunately; i’m currently sick with a cold. thank you, o sister mine, for bestowing this upon me. while i’m sick, i hope to update my site and socials with some of my art from this past semester. additionally, as i mentioned previously, my laptop’s screen cracked, so i had to get a replacement fast since i’m away from my pc, and now i am down another nondescript amount of money with my brand new ipad. i’m currently in the process of learning procreate on it! definitely an interesting piece of software, but i haven’t used it enough to form a solid opinion on it yet. it’s very good so far, however!
i don’t really have any goals in mind for the year. i’ve never really been one to set goals for the year, because every year life throws a curveball at me and those goals usually get pushed on the backburner. most of my current goals aren’t things i can work on until i’m out of university, anyways. however, i will set this one goal, and this is the one goal i make every year in my work: to learn as much as possible about illustration. I am a firm believer in self-improvement, and the best way to improve yourself is to learn about not only your own identity, but also to learn about the things you care about and the world around you. so as i usually do, i will attempt to learn more about illustration this year.
i wish you all a very successful and bright 2024. May the positives and negatives of 2024 be a learning experience that brings you growth and happiness!
With love,
Hue
