certamen est verum - ep

2022 was the first year I…

consistently drew or photobashed backgrounds, even when it was difficult or unforgiving,

experimented with perspective in new and interesting ways,

allowed myself to post stuff that I knew would be unpopular

While last year I noted that my style was a lot more confident, I think this is the first year my work started to be consistently up to professional snuff, so to speak. There's still a lot of room to grow, of course, but it's still nice to watch myself improve.

In 2022, I also wanted to

update my own site and complete my project sites so that I can share them (huge goal, did not get completed for a lot of little reasons)

release a zine (large goal, kind of got completed? when I wrote last year's checklist, I definitely meant a personal zine, but I'm involved in three separate fan projects this year so yeah... I will be printed in a zine. two, actually, if they don't fall through.)

try more fun things with perspective (small goal. completed. yippee.)

And lastly,

What do I want to achieve in 2021?

actually update my website. my career direction and aspirations have changed drastically in the last year, which is why I put this goal off so much. but it's always important to have my most relevant work all in one place, so that'll be something I prioritize this year.

print, publish, or exhibit my work. this one actually goes hand in hand with my next goal, which is to...

do more personal work. up until now, I think I've been young enough and green enough that I didn't have anything to say that really mattered or couldn't be communicated outside of fan work. that's changing, and I want to express myself more through personal stuff next year!

I played fast and loose with the "one piece a month" goal this year, which is fine, actually! inspiration, time, and ability wax and wane, and that's okay. I think growing up and maturing is realizing that aspirations in one area usually shouldn't come at the expense of goals in other areas, and I had a busy academic and social year in 2022! I'm proud of what I was able to accomplish and am looking forward to what comes next.