2024 recap + 2025 goals (long post, open if you like to read) 🐸 (Patreon)

Hello Patrons,

I hope you had a great weekend !

I'm a bit late but it's still January - so I thought I'd do a little recap of 2024 and let you know about my goals for 2025 !
Reading what I wrote, it kind of feels like I'm complaining but I am not ! I'm usually sharing happy news with you guys but I thought I'd be transparent to start the new year right 🌸

2024

2024 went by so fast ! I started the year with two surgeries, which kind of brought me down a bit. Also there were some complications and had to "rest" for two months (because I had a drain coming out of my stomach until March... yup), which wasn't planned initially ! It was frustrating but I still was able to make some paintings for my solo show at Gallery Nucleus that was supposed to happen in July 2024. When I asked them (back in March I think) if the show was still happening, they realized forgot to tell me the show had to be postponed because of San Diego Comic Con happening on the same weekend.🫡
The show was postponed to April 2025. Now, looking at the bright side, I already have some pieces ready and won't have to paint 20 new paintings !

Some paintings I like from January to March 2024

Looking back, what I painted from January to April I really like. But I felt the burnout coming in May ! I wanted to paint some mermaids for Mermay (of course), and I couldn't find an idea that I liked. I felt stuck and it was the worst. At that time, I also didn't pass my driving theory test which added another weight on my shoulders (when in reality, it wasn't that bad since I could take it again whenever I wanted). For a month, I drew, tried to find good ideas for my paintings. And decided to stop posting on Instagram because at that time, it didn't feel like it was good for me.

When I started posting again in June (I was gone for a month), my posts and stories didn't get as many views (and likes) as they usual do (even though it's been declining for a while now, it was getting worse). It didn't help with my burnout but I decided to keep posting anyways. I felt like Instagram was punishing me for not posting for a month. So I asked someone from Meta and he said "yes they are ! If you don't post at least twice a week + 2 stories a day, Instagram will hide your content from your followers". He told me that now, with the new algorithm, our main goal as creators should be reaching new people, not our actual followers. Oh well !

In the summer, I painted witches for the Coven show at Gallery Nucleus. I wasn't inspired by the spooky theme but I came up with 6 ideas (instead of 8). I didn't like the paintings while I was doing them, I like them now ! 🙃 the brain can be strange sometimes.
The show happened in October. I was invited by Lightbox Expo so I went to Los Angeles with my husband and my sister Apolline ! I did a t-shirt design for the convention, and it was surreal to see my drawing on shirt at the merch booth. I closed the Coven Show with Loïc Locatelli on that same weekend with whom I was sharing the Coven exhibition with. I signed my artbook Rêverie, met some of you !! It was nice to meet people in real life since my job can be pretty solitary ! (if you came by my booth, or at the gallery, thank you !!) 💓

After that, I had a solo show in Bordeaux (France) in November. Not gonna lie, this year has been intense !! I had some pieces left from 2023 and 2024 for this exhibition, and planned on having 20 pieces but ended up having 18. Which was enough because I shared the gallery with my good friend Maëlle (Maison CDP) who is also an illustrator. She started her silk scarf business last year and had her latest scarf exhibited at the gallery. It was fun sharing the space with her since we've always wanted to have a gallery show together !

Maëlle & me + Apolline & me at the opening night in Bordeaux ✨

After that, I started planning the future pieces for the solo show at Gallery Nucleus for April 2025. I feel like I haven't been able to rest in 2024 ! But I am so lucky I got to do pieces for gallery shows, travel, spend some quality time in my studio with my sister, Apolline. It was our biggest dream to work together when we were younger (we didn't know what we'd do, but we knew we wanted to be together everyday and have fun working on projects). That's what we are doing today, thanks to you !! So thank you for supporting my work, for your kind words, love letters and interest in my little paintings. It means the world to me and I feel very lucky !! 🥰

An another note, I wanted to let you know about something that I never mentioned before because it affects my work and my life in general.
I've always had migraines, and I finally saw a neurologist last week ! It's really bad, sometimes I can't get out of bed for a few days. And these severe migraines that last 3-7 days happen at least twice a month. I've tried everything, treatments, medication - nothing works (I'm pretty sure it's hormonal but unfortunately we can't know exactly where it comes from yet). I have had migraines for my whole life (since I was 13 maybe). It used to be annoying, but now whenever I have one, I also have nausea, fever, my stomach and my muscles hurt... Like my brain is panicking and the body can't deal with the pain. I never talk about my chronic migraines here, but it's such a big part of my life that I thought I'd share it with you. Whenever I mention I have been sick for a few days, it probably means I've been in bed because of migraines for a week 🙃
I started a new treatment this week, hopefully it will help me enjoy life in general more (I permanently have a migraine to sum up the situation). It's supposed to reduce the pain down to 30% maximum (that's the best they can do currently since migraines are still a mystery).
If you have them too, big or small, I send you lots of virtual hugs 💓

2025 goals

Ok now, here's what I have planned for 2025 !!

• 10 new paintings for my solo show at Gallery Nucleus

• A new artbook for this special event (it will be the same size as my first self published artbook "Osmose" (2019)).

• I'd love to make tshirts and crew neck sweaters for the shop !

• A tarot deck (finally)

• A graphic novel I am writing with Apolline ! We want to finish the script this spring/summer and hopefully start drawing it in September. I'm always super busy with gallery shows, I can't focus 100% on our story. But after the solo show in April, I'll have more free time to work on it 🥰

Personal goals

• Read at least 25 books (3rd year in a row 🤞), starting with Robin Hood by Alexandre Dumas (1872).

• Cook more and eat healthier

• Spend more time with Marty and Cosmo (my dogs)

• Keep exercising (and be consistent !)

• Pass my driving licence 🫡

• Spend less time on my phone !!

What's your plan(s) for 2025 ? Any good resolutions ? 
I really wish you the best for this new year, and let's remember to rest and take care of ourselves as well. We deserve it !!

Okay, talk to you soon !!
💓 Hugs 💓

Sibylline