Reading: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
Watching: Nothing rn.
Playing: Blue Prince
Listening: Tyler, the Creator

The first third of this year really got away from me. I spent it mostly in a haze of depression and anxiety, hence the lack of updates/upkeep here (and the defeatism of my last blog entry). Thankfully I got on anti-depressants and things slowly improved. The spring has been immensely helpful, and I'm having fun planning all the things I want to accomplish in the warmer months.

2025 SO FAR:

• Got prescribed sertraline! I was a bit nervous about this but it's been going pretty well. Though the pills hurt my throat sometimes. I have to not only swallow them with water but immediately drink a full glass of water with them or my throat burns.


• I'm getting used to my job. I felt really defeated about it the first few months but It's not too bad and it's helping Margo and I get by. Of course I would rather be spending my time drawing, but I'm trying to focus on the freedoms it does offer me.





• I've been drawing pretty consistently! Though it can be a bit tricky keeping myself on task while working full time. Check out this drawing to the left I drew last week, I'm really proud of it and feel like it embodies a lot of what I want my art to be. (You can view it larger on Soren's page, or by opening it in a new tab.)


• My finances are still pretty unstable, but we're making it work. I've been the breadwinner of the relationship for the last 5 months since Margo's last job ended, and so we're living off one paycheck until she gets a response to the (at this point probably hundreds) of job applications she's sent out. Thankfully we have a good support network.


• I might actually not be going to trade school in the fall? I'm still on the waitlist but honestly I've felt more empowered to dive into my art and try to make that work. I just need to put in the effort!

HOPES FOR THE SPRING/SUMMER:

• Become more involved with local arts spaces. I've been thinking my time renting in the city might be running out with the rising cost of living, so I want to make the most of my proximity to an active artist culture. Going to gallery openings, art markets, and other events around the city when I have the time off work would encourage me in my artistic practice, let me meet other artists, and help me get a sense of options to pursue in my own career.


• Explore low/no cost hobbies! I have a lot of equipment for things like sewing, knitting, cross stitch, and embroidery, yet I almost never do them! I would love to do a simple project like embroidered handkerchiefs or a poet shirt to help ease out of the mental block I seem to have around those hobbies.





• Help these little sunflower sprouts grow up big and strong!!! --->
  for Christmas Margo and I recieved three "eco-cubes", little biodegradeable wooden cubes with flower seeds inside that you water. We recieved two with forget-me-not seeds, and one with sunflower seeds. With the weather warming up we finally started the sprouting process on them. Unfortunately nothing has come of the forget-me-nots (very sad because they're one of my favourite flowers) but the sunflowers have been steadily sprouting! They're a bit spindly right now. I'm following the instructions on the eco-cube but really I should look up proper care tips for them, the instructions say not to repot them for 8 months and to just bury the cube, but I feel like for proper sunflowers they'll need a bit more space? And I don't know how trustworthy this company really is on plant care as these cubes feel very gimmick-y.


• Read as much as I can! I've been reading a good amount recently. I have a bad habit of having too many books on the go though. I'm trying to finish the ebook of "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" before my hold runs out on Libby. I was reading "Letter to my Daughter" but my hold ran out halfway through it. I had never read Maya Angelou before (I know, I know, for shame) so it's been incredible finally diving into her work. I've also been re-reading "The Artists Way" after failing to finish it last year. I was trying to do the 12 week course it outlines but I found it a bit stressful with the time limit of a week per chapter. I do find it to be a useful resource regardless! Two other books I started and need to finish are "The Creative Act" (Rick Rubin) which just didn't hook me but I want to try it again, and "The Bookseller of Florence" (Ross King) which is a historical biography of Vespasiano da Bisticci and the Italian book trade during the Rennaisance. The latter actually did really hook me but I got distracted by other pursuits and it's been sitting on my bedside table for the last month, so I'm eager to pick it back up once I finish my current read.


• Build a proper artist portfolio, and really plan out how I want to pursue an art career. I feel like there are so many potential paths to take, and it's a bit paralyzing to decide between them. Do I want to do commissions? Commercial illustrations? Concept art? Printmaking? Do physical markets or online sales? Maybe pick comics or game dev back up? it's rather daunting. I've had more luck not thinking about it too much and just making whatever I make, but that's also not a great business model. I suppose what I really need to do isn't just plan, but MAKE more things (what good is saying "I want to make comics" if I haven't made a proper comic in 5 years?) I guess this goal is more: Finish projects and take opportunities. Pursue passion yes, but also pursue completed projects and try not to burn myself out while working retail full time.


• Oh, and of course keep working on this site!

That's all for now, I'll write again soon!