It’s a new year!

New Years is one of my favorite holidays.  During the year I’m so busy and there never seems to be a time to relax and look at the big picture.  What could be better than a holiday dedicated to contemplating what I’ve done this past year and planning what I’d like to accomplish in the coming year.

This coming year will definitely see more chickens for my Chicken A Week project.  For this project I’m creating hand-carved, hand-printed block prints of all types of hens and roosters.  My goal is to not only capture the beauty and variety of chickens, but also to illustrate the variety of people who own chickens.  I post a small story about the chicken and its owner to accompany each print.  This project is so much fun because I can experiment with color, which is another one of my goals this year.

Also this year I’m looking forward to working with more brides and expectant moms to create custom letterpress invitations and announcements.  This past year I’ve found the process rewarding and fun, and a really great application for my illustration and printmaking.  This photo shows a particular favorite design, which featured a hand-carved sprig of wild mustard blooms.  I’ve always found wild mustard to be beautiful, so it was such a pleasure to be asked to create an invitation with it.

Of course, the year wouldn’t be complete without more dogs and cats for my collection.  I have a great set of Valentine’s letterpressed cards on the way, and more plans for great custom items.  I really like this upcoming Valentine’s collection because even after the big day is over, you can still use the cards for your everday letter-writing.

I am also kicking around the ideas of creating more really large circus prints.  I have plenty of new poster ideas that have been bubbling away on the back burner.

Besides that?  I want to cook more (maybe expand my line of veggie/fruit prints while I’m at it), play lots of soccer, find time to travel and make more time to relax with my family and friends.

That’s a tall order!  I’d better get crackin’.