A New Project Means Goals

A common theme for me when it comes to artwork is that I often don’t finish a project. What you see on my website is actually the result of a few years’ worth of work gathered together—not because I planned ahead, but because by the time I felt brave enough to make a website, that much time had passed.

I need a project for myself (a small one) to help me keep the fun in art. Because when you also want (or need) to make money from your work, it can start to feel like all the joy has been wrung out of it.

So, I’m setting myself a new project. One I want to do—not one I feel I should do. To make that happen, I need goals. Realistic, reasonably flexible goals—because that’s what works for my brain. I love making patterns (like the kind you see on fabric and wallpaper), and I also love those standalone, illustrative poster-style pieces. That’s where I’ll start.

Lately, I keep thinking about a place we used to visit when I was little—The Crook O’Lune. If you grew up in Lancashire, you’ve probably been or at least heard of it. For me, it’s sunshine catching the tips of tall grass in that yellow-green shimmer. It’s sheep (my sister was obsessed, she loves them) and rabbits and cows and tiny fish glinting in the shallows near the smooth pebbles of the riverbed. It’s ducks under bridges, bread crusts in the water, and the thick woodland canopy with the prettiest leaves. And always, that soft smell of wild garlic that takes me right back.

My mind keeps circling back to this place. I’m clearly passionate about the idea, and it feels like the right starting point for something new.

This is my next project.

To help me stay on track (without putting too much pressure on myself), I’m setting a few flexible rules:

• Create at least one piece a week — this could be a sketch, a pattern idea, a colour palette, or even just a scribbled concept. It all counts.

• Keep it fun — if it stops feeling joyful, I’ll pause, reassess, or switch it up.

• Progress over perfection — the goal is to make, not to master, because I get obsessive and ruin it for myself.

• No guilt — if I miss a week, it's fine, life happens. I’ll just pick up where I left off.

I’ll aim to check in here again in a week with a little update, but I’ll most likely be sharing bits and pieces over on my Instagram stories along the way too. I'm really looking forward to this project, so let's see what I create! 

- Gabs