January Newsletter

NO. 18 | January 2023

Reflection at this time of year feels natural. When I opened up this newsletter, after spending the majority of this week thinking about my life forwards and backwards, I knew there was nothing else I could write about.

Most years, I journal a bit about my life and make some general, emotionally-based goals looking to the new year. I don’t usually try to nail down specific resolutions or make a long list of things I could be doing better. But this year, I did take my reflections to a new level. I wanted a way to journal that was also easy to look back on through the year—a way of reflecting that still felt freeform and intimate, but that could have value to a future self looking for guidance. I also felt the need to set some goals around money.

So, I opened up a word document, did some freeform journaling, then broke that down into bite sized bullet point summaries I can look back at. I found it very rewarding to be a little more scientific about what I hope for the next year. Having that document makes me feel grounded. This month’s blog post is all about that process, and I share some of the goals I set.

I also looked backwards. There’s really very little I could complain about, and more than that, I feel like I have achieved some things that really matter to me and are helping me find joy and meaning in my life. I was recently reading the writing of my friend Judah. He wrote that in an in area of his life that is important to him, he managed to “unlock some sort of feedback loop that made it easier for [him] to keep moving forward.” I love this sentiment, and it’s something I’ve been trying for a couple of months to describe in relation to my 2022 creative practice.

It feels like something cyclical has opened up for me in the past year, a positive feedback loop that forges creative energy and then passes it around, softening it sometimes, alighting it other times, and overall shaping it to fit the many different ways I’m making. A lesson learned in writing may well be a lesson that applies to illustration. Inspiration here is inspiration there. Ease in this is ease in that. I have been writing a lot about this subject, and I’ll certainly be sharing more because it feels like a foundational development for me. How pleased I am to look back and see that growth in my year.

Maybe you have already done your reflecting and are also sitting warmly with the feeling of all you’ve enjoyed, or all that is to come. Maybe you are disappointed in one thing or another. Maybe you have moved through the end of the year like any other month. I respect wherever you find yourself camped out. Take comfort in knowing we are all out there sitting somewhere, leaning in so the heat of the fire can reach our cold noses, stretching out our fingers and toes after a long year of work, and breathing in and out while the sun rises on an unfamiliar day.

Happy new year!

P.S. I am conducting a poll for reference in my next blog post. Give me an answer:

Consider: Setting (Creative) Goals

This month’s blog post is all about setting goals for yourself, creative or otherwise. I also share goals I’m working towards in the coming year(s). P.S. I have started cross-posting my blog posts on Substack, so if you prefer to read it on the Substack platform, head to The Desk of Madison Moore!

I’ve always sort of been a long distance fan of Beatrice Blue, but this month I joined her Patreon and actually dove into exploring her work, which made me realize how truly stunning it is. She’s a master at transparency and g l o w in her colors, which makes much of her art feel magical and ethereal. She has written and illustrated a series of magical picture books that I hope to get my hands on in the new year. Most of her art is digital, but she also paints with gouache and shares some lovely sketchbook tours on Patreon.

four little selfies

This month has been finishing up a few things, and then trying to get my melted brain to still show up work. But, finishing some stuff is pretty frickin’ exciting. I have a kiln load of pots (four mugs pictured) that are truly the most beautiful I’ve ever made! I can’t wait to put them in the shop! I also finished another version of the top pattern I designed, this time in a deadstock sparkly blue fabric from A Thrifty Notion. Hoping to learn a lot about pattern-making in 2023!

P.S. The shop update will be at the end of this month (a little unlikely), or sometime in February. Expect a specific date to come to your inbox first—I am devoted to you, my newsletter friends!

☆ I’ve been thinking about sewing sweet little baby rompers like these to sell in my shop. If you’d be interested in this for a baby in your life, let me know!
☆ White Lotus twitter made it worth being on that platform (also watch the show).
☆ A very interesting newsletter on the way Agatha Christie took notes (from an interesting newsletter that explores note-taking practices of lots of famous people!)
☆ When seeking mindless entertainment this month, I’ve been playing Forager—it’s a trance-like farming/crafting game that is an easy trip to no-thinking just pushing buttons land.
☆ Kendrick is slowly releasing amazing videos for Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers songs.