Happy New Year!🚀

Happy 2025 lovelies!✨

I guess I'm starting a new little tradition of sketching a new years hand reaching for the stars drawings! (you can see last year's in the image stack) I just love the symbolism of it and it feels appropriate for the new year and new beginnings!

Thank you so much for all of your support in 2024! I know it may not seem like it, but each of you who believes in my work and supports it really makes such a difference in my life and ability to keep following this crazy dream! So thank you each and every one of you!

One Word Theme of the Year

I don't know if I ever mentioned it here, but my one-word theme that I tried to hold on to for 2024 was 💥ENERGY.💥 Reflecting back, I think it showed up in a few ways. I did my best to rest as much as possible whenever I felt that I needed it in 2024, which might seem the opposite of energy, BUT what restores your energy? REST! So I spent a lot more time going to bed early and taking naps when I could.

I also embraced some silly little strategies that helped pep me up in my daily life, even silly things like standing up and hopping around to some music or doing a little dorky dance! Anything to lift my mood and energy!

Energy also makes MOVEMENT happen! And if I look at the overall picture of the year and big events, I think that really came through in an unexpected way!

So much has happened this year for me. It feels like a year of transformation in the direction that my life is taking! I started off the year imagining my life going one way but then suddenly that all flipped when we realized the best thing for us was to make a big move! I've already mentioned it, but I'm excited to find out what the new flow of things is going to be.

That is why my 2025 one word theme is going to be FLOW.🌊

Flow🌊 is all about natural ease. Movement and things happen but at an unforced but still efficient pace. It doesn't require tremendous effort. And it feels good to be in the flow. Ideas flow, moods flow, creativity flows. Flow creates the best art that resonates with the soul. I'm ready for flow and ease! Good things will flow our way.

🎨Quick Art recap for this year:

• about 59 New Illustrations w/rewards(I think I counted them all but I could have missed one or 2)

• 15 New Tutorials

• 7ish (I may have missed a couple) bonus podcasts/voiceover commentary videos

• Released my first How to Draw Your RPG Character book in May 2024!

• Finished my second How to Draw Your RPG Character: Armor, Weaponry & Creature Companions! (Release date is planned for Autumn 2025!)

• Completed a few fun commissions for authors and publishers that I love!

• Relased 2 calendars and had the best calendar sales yet! (thank you so much guys!!!)

• And I'm sure lots of other stuff but I don't want to go through and count everything!  hah!

What is in the works for 2025?

I love what I do here on Patreon, so for as long as you'll have me I want to continue making more fantasy and mythology artwork here and tutorials for you guys! 🌌

Since I finished my second How to Draw book in 2024 and haven't signed for another book, I have my eye on personal projects that were postponed last year! I'm looking at you, coloring book and tarot project! I had actually chatted with my publisher about doing a coloring book with them, but for now, we weren't able to work out a deal that suited both of us, so I think I'll go with either the self-published or even a little coloring zine route!

Since my theme for the year is FLOW🌊 I want to make sure to leave some flexibility and space for my personal illustrations. I love being able to follow my whims a bit and draw what feels good. Some of my most impactful illustrations come out of that flexibility!🎨

For live-streaming🔴, my schedule around the move has obviously been a little sporadic, but I have been enjoying having our extra work-with-me streams that are a little more chill! So I hope to continue those and as the holidays come to an end, I'll figure out a more consistent schedule. We will probably continue with Wednesdays, but I haven't decided yet if we will keep Saturdays or switch to Fridays for our "yapping and drawing" stream. Haha! Stay tuned! twitch.tv/chrissabug 

Anyhoo, I would like to talk about you!

Let me say again how grateful I've been for your support but also for a lot of your kindness over this year. 🌟 Maybe you don't realize, but I definitely recognize the kind comments, and messages from you guys and notice who those comments and messages come from. 💕 When I am packing up envelopes to send off every month, I see your lovely names month after month and am reminded how lucky and honored I am to be able to pack up and send off your rewards. 💌 In fact, I just finished stamping the last of December envelopes before I deliver them to the post office and felt such a rush of gratitude for each and every one of you! I feel incredibly lucky! So thank you! 🙏

I'm also so proud of you and all that you've been able to do this past year. 👏 It isn't an easy time, but you keep going and have such a hunger for learning and making the world a more beautiful place! It is inspiring! Ifeel really lucky that I've been a small part of your journey just like you have been a part of mine. 🌟

🌟 Whether you made a bunch of art or not any at all, it's an accomplishment to make it through and you have been doing your best! 💪

I'm getting all sappy now, but moving into 2025, let's all keep doing our best.  🚀 And remember to be kind to yourself and take care of yourself too! 💗

“People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.”
-the great sage and master Winnie the Pooh

🌠 So believe in yourself! haha! I'm wishing you the best in 2025! ✨ AND don't forget to take action on those dreams!  It's those who keep going and trying that make what seems impossible happen! Let's keep drawing! 🎨

Love,

Chrissa