2023 reflections from the sunny coast
Getting transparent with a breakdown of my 2023 income, the years biggest milestones, and some thoughts on change.
Today being seemed like the perfect moment to touch in with you before the year closes out. I’m back on the road, for the first time since April. Four full days of travelling, including 28 hours on a very stormy sea, I’m now on the tippety tip of the south west corner of the Algarve in Portugal. It is *warm*, it is *sunny*, both of those things are very nice! An advocate for slow travel, I like to settle down into a routine somewhere, get to know the gentle movements of a place, and so I plan on staying in this area for the next 3 months.
I’ve had a lot of huge changes this year, and while all are progressive and with intention, I believe all change takes energy really, and it can be a muddly, ugly, and confusing process while things settle into their new form. So for me personally, I’m really looking forward to a stable, deliciously uneventful 2024, where I get to take stock and breathe in the resulting effects of 2023.
A peep into a breakdown of my 2023 income
This is an interesting one! I saw fellow MP roster illustrator Ollie Hirst break down his income streams in the name of transparency, encouraging other illustrators to do the same. Hushed murmurings have been rippling through the freelance illustration world, and whether it’s AI/ recession/ global conflict it’s been a weird year.
I’ve had the wild highs, being crazy busy, then lingering periods of quiet when you maybe don’t want them. The below end of year reporting practice has been both interesting and helpful for me to look back on, and I’ve recently started mentoring emerging illustrators, and I know this will be insightful to some. I’m full of appreciation that my work has commercial appeal to be used for advertising, and sited/ public realm projects such as murals, while recognising there’s a lot of room for me to expand more into editorial and publishing especially.
I’m booking in projects for January and February, I’d love to talk to you.
Celebrating the highs!
But where the money comes from isn’t necessarily where the favourite projects are - 2023 was both a glorious and ferocious monster, and here are my self-indulgent 2023 highs and milestones.
I finished my MA, focusing my thesis on using art to advocate for change - working in residence with Reclaim The Sea in Plymouth, producing an ocean floating art installation to drive conversation about what they do.
My installation piece went on to exhibit in Plymouth, then the epic environmental conference Blue Earth Summit. 2024 will see it going back to Plymouth where Reclaim The Sea is based, to The Box gallery.
My #PlasticFreeJuly campaign urging consumers to Take a Travel Mini-Break with SBTRCT skincare gained press coverage across the UK and Ireland.
I was the 2023 cover artist for NB Magazine, with some of my favourite illustrations this year adorning the covers.
I was recognised with a 2023 Applied Arts Award for my piece Wave Hold Down.
Began working with the
long term, illustrating their podcast episodes.Designed and painted over 100m² of murals across festivals Boardmasters and Spring Classic, OVO Energy HQ, and The Wave in Bristol, including a mural workshop on ocean advocacy as part of World Ocean Day for Schools.
Features and interviews in Stylist Magazine, Oceanographic Magazine, and Longboarder Magazine.
Signed with my lovely new agents Making Pictures
Stopped travelling so much and settled in Cornwall, making a base by the sea renting a room in an organic farm in Perranporth, making new friendships and a new community.
Levelled up my animation skills, certifying as an Adobe After Effects professional, and began providing this as a service alongside illustration, to power engagement.
Let’s check in..
I probably can relate to all of those things (hence why they came to mind as options!), and sending you strength where ever you sit.
A small but mighty personal challenge I’m taking into 2024 is to sketchbook everyday. Fancy joining? A few minutes dedicated everyday to be offline with my creativity, a form of recording and journalling, and something I’ll be delighted to look back on this time next year. I imagine about a month in it will become harder, but I hope it will form great habits, and I look forward to sharing some of the good, bad, and ugly with you!
Catch you next year friends, I hope together we can push impactful change 🌎
Jaz x