Reflecting on how much my art has changed over the years, yet looks exactly the same is always wild.
My skills have gotten better but my art style is the same.
This year I strayed further from the black or white backgrounds, and added some purples in there as well.
Last year I made a mushroom tapestry on a brown background and lovvved it. So look forward to extra colorful flat backgrounds next year too 🖼️
I'll also be making more illustrations with the intention of putting them on woven tapestries, meaning they might come in shapes not ideal for prints. Like my long skinny moth painting. One of my goals for 2025 is to design a wide horizontal tapestry 🪡
Combining my love of illustration and tapestry making has been a journey in itself.
Another goal is to add more movement into my paintings. Not depth, because I love the flat look (but occasionally depth is nice) but less rigid. Some of my pieces felt stiff this year and I left them out of this grid because of it.
Swipe to see years 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019 and 2018.
... Read moreReflecting on my own ‘Art vs. Artist’ journey, it truly is a unique way to document growth and see how your creative voice matures. For those who might be new to this trend, it's essentially a grid where artists place a photo of themselves in the center, surrounded by nine of their favorite or most representative artworks. It's not just about showcasing pretty pictures; it’s a powerful tool for self-assessment and sharing your unique perspective with the world.
When I look back at my grids from 2018, which featured floating islands and ghosts, to 2024, with the vibrant watercolor illustrations of houses, frogs, and whimsical figures, I can clearly see shifts. You might wonder, 'how do you explain art like this?' For me, it's about identifying recurring themes, color palettes, and techniques. For instance, my early works often featured a cool, ethereal quality, while more recent pieces incorporate brighter purples and blues, or even warm browns for my mushroom tapestry. The OCR results for my grids really highlight this visual journey, from the specific elements like skeletons and birds to the overall illustrative style.
It's fascinating to see how 'the artist' influences 'the art' and vice-versa. Sometimes, my personal experiences guide a new series, like wanting to add more movement after feeling some pieces were too stiff. Other times, discovering a new medium, like the allure of woven tapestries for my long skinny moth painting, pushes my artistic boundaries. This interplay is what makes an artist's signature style so personal and recognizable.
If you're an aspiring artist trying to understand your own evolution or looking for ways to explain your art, I'd suggest creating your own 'Art vs. Artist' grid. Lay out your pieces chronologically or by theme. What patterns emerge? Do certain subjects, like the houses or figures on a moon from my 2024 grid, keep reappearing in different iterations? How has your use of color changed from, say, the subtle tones in my 2019 stacked books to the bold backgrounds in 2024?
Don't be afraid to embrace the 'flat look' if that's your style, or to experiment with depth if you feel called to it. My goal for 2025 to design a wide horizontal tapestry is all about pushing those boundaries while staying true to my core aesthetic. This continuous process of exploration and refinement is what makes the artistic journey so rewarding. It's about letting 'the art' speak for itself, but also understanding 'the artist' behind it, and being able to articulate that connection. So, go ahead, reflect on your journey, and let your art tell its story!