For the Fun of It - A Year in Review

what a year, what a year

Hi! My name is Ashlyn Anstee, and I tell stories with words and pictures. Sometimes, that’s picture books (like Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Select “Hedgehog”), or graphic novels (my series “Shelby and Watts”), and sometimes it’s animation (I’ve directed at places like Warner Bros. and Cartoon Network).

This column, “For the Fun of It”, will also have words and pictures. Sometimes it will be stories, or how-tos, or thoughts. A little bit of everything. Hope you enjoy!

What a year, what a year.

When I started this column on April 2nd, I really had no idea what Substack was. I was feeling frustrated by Instagram, terrified by Twitter, and looking for something new. Since then, I’ve posted every week (except for one). And I love it here.

This feels like such a return to old school blogging, and it makes my heart sing. It’s been a shining light, to do something every week that can be whatever I want it to be. I even had grand plans to write out many columns ahead of time, but that’s fell by the wayside, and often I’m writing things as they happen- a beautiful spontaneity that feels really true to how I’m experience creativity and the world at this moment.

This year was ~ no bueno ~ for a lot of reasons. There’s been very little full-time work, I’ve been freelance-only since March, the longest stretch of my career. We lost our beloved cat. I’ve had to do a lot of thinking about what I want out of work, and trying to find light and meaning when companies aren’t there to give it to me regularly. For a lot of my friends who have been freelance their whole career- you are so so strong.

But I’ve found work here and there! I’ve created so many things. I’m getting ready to officially launch my art/craft store “art&fluff”! Enjoy the early launch. I’ll be talking about my process designing it soon!

Resolutions

I used to love resolutions. I still do, kind of, but my biggest problem with this year has been the lack of control. Goals and resolutions are harder when you feel like the chances of achieving them are not really within your power. So instead, I’ll firmly lean into intentions.

My word of the year in 2023 was “PLAY”.

My word of the year for 2024 is “AUTHENTICITY”.

I want to strive to create honestly. To create and share what I like, and try not to think about if people will like it or not. That’s been tough- coming from a commercial background like animation it feels daunting. But let’s go for it.

Some of my intentions:

• Do more craft faires!

  • I’m starting this year by researching and figuring out where I’d like to apply. My first experience with a faire was super positive- it’s nice to share my art and my books directly with the people enjoying them!

• Make more books! Tell more stories.

  • And I don’t mean sell more books. I’d like to return to creating little things regularly, without worrying about the market or where they might end up.

• Write consistently and habitually.

  • I’ve started already a little bit! By setting a half hour or so to write, I always end up writing just a little bit most days. Those pages add up!

• Make time for learning.

  • I got deep into craft workshops this year, as well as continuing my certification in Early Childhood Education. I’m going to keep that into 2024- my first workshop is this paintmaking workshop I’ve been eying for ages. I’m also doing some online classes, but aiming to just chip away at them instead of rushing through them like I’m prone to do.

What’s ahead

It’s safe to say that I’ll be continuing to enjoy substack! Some of the things I’m planning for here this upcoming year.

• A gouache deep dive (similar to my fountain pen deep dive!)

• Pattern making for collage

• Painting on fabric aka making shirts for your friends

• How I weave childhood stories into my books

• Croquet and Bocce- two games I never played properly

Is there anything you’d like to learn? From me or just in general? I’ll be sure to have more stories here too.

Substack of the week

I feel like I’ve followed

Jess Keating

to every social media platform there’s been so far. Her thoughts and writings on creativity are so insightful and give me brain buzzes every time. Please check out her substack, “The Brave Edit”!

Thing of the Week

I have sung the praises of Studio 1850 before on a previous column. I’ve been working my way through their worksheets, “The Authentic Voice”, a deep dive into writing branding that has truly made me think about how and why I create. About a month ago, I signed up for their mentoring program.

fearful? that was me!!

Here’s how special it is- I stay up til midnight or 1AM to catch Elaine in the UK. In the dark of my garage, with the possum roaming around, we discuss what I’m working on and my fears and plans.

I call it my art therapy. And it’s been eye opening and wonderful and feels like just what I needed at such a weird inflection point in my career. It’s truly been a highlight of the end of the year, and I can’t wait to continue in January! I’ve never done coaching or mentoring, but if you’re lost and feel like you need someone to bounce ideas off of that’s more focused than a friend would be- I think I would recommend it!

ok love u bye.