Wonderbeasts Wonderbeasts

Day One     1st Jan 2013

Day One

Day 1 and I have an announcement to make:

It's going to be 4 months, not 3.

 

Go big or go home.

 

Realistically, timings were going to tumble into April.

It seemed wiser to be bold, grab that extra month and just work like crazy for the rest of the year.

 

So here's the plan for the next 4 months:

 

1. Learn

Weekly

Read a book

Watch a documentary

Download a podcast series

Listen to an audiobook

Read a blog archive

TED talks, Seth Godin, Austin Kleon, Guy Kawasaki... consume their wise words and get better at everything.

 

2. Skills

Monthly

Attend 1 course per month

Learn 4 new creative skills

Calligraphy? Lithoprinting? Letter Press? 

New processes, materials and tools.

New ways of thinking and creating. 

 

3. Draw

Constantly

Simple.

 

4. Books (plural!)

March and May

1.‘Secret Garden - an inky treasure hunt' my colouring book published by Laurence King will be released in March.

2. ‘Wonderlands' - My self published inky anthology. A picture book of my illustrations and drawings with some words and photographs. The book I've always wanted to make will be launched in May.

 

5. Collaborate

Fresh eyes, different skills.

Teamwork makes the dream work.

 

6. Share

Daily / Weekly

Daily studio snap shots & snippets posted at www.mydesktoday.com / twitter and facebook

Weekly progress blog posted here.

Stuff I've done, stuff I haven't, stuff I should.

Places I've been, people I've met, things I've learned.

 

7. Archive

Daily

A personal logbook of the entire sabbatical.

The good, the bad and the ugly.

 

8. Talk

Slides and words about my work, going freelance, twitter, pens and epic fails.

2 talks, prepared and ready to unleash on mildly interested audiences.

 

9. Interact!

February

"Wonderbeasts" my biggest, inkiest, most ambitious co-creation project goes live.

Think TwitterPicture gone rogue.

A Kickstarter project with a difference - pledgers become creative directors and together we make a super sized artwork.

More details relesed on this soon.

 

10. Exhibit

May

"Wonderlands" my first solo show opens at the DCA on 3rd May.

Tumble down the rabbit hole and discover my world of inky monochrome magic.

See the fruits of my Creative Sabbatical.

 

It's going to be a busy 4 months.

Let's get started!

Posted in - Sabbatical

Comments

  • Congrats Johanna on getting this time and this plan together to be creative- doing things your way. I look forward to seeing what you do over the coming months, all the best of luck with it!
    Grace Neal     1st Jan 2013
  • Aren't sabbaticals meant to be relaxing? This sounds like a lot! :)
    David     1st Jan 2013
  • Great plan. Good luck! :)
    Muna Abdurrahman     1st Jan 2013
  • You're very brave but more importantly, you've got a plan and enthusiasm. Good luck. Enjoy!
    Dana Carey     1st Jan 2013
  • Sounds like its going to be great fun. Best of luck with it all :)
    Claire Glasgow     1st Jan 2013
  • Sounds like it's going to be a fantastic four months, looking forward to reading all about it! Enjoy every minute!
    Jen Cunningham     1st Jan 2013
  • Very ambitious. Thumbs up. Have a fabulous and productive four months, will follow progress with interest.

    Lorrie :)
    Lorrie     1st Jan 2013
  • WOW - that's A LOT of stuff to do - reading that has given me the kick up the backside I needed :) Although wont be quite as much as that!!!!
    Look forward to reading the tweets :)
    Nik Griffiths     3rd Jan 2013
  • This is pretty inspiring, and great stuff thats you've not only been organised enough to be able to do this, but that you're wanting to improve and nurture your creative self in this way.

    Looking forward to following you on your journey :)

    GO FOR IT! x
    Laura B     12th Jan 2013

Post a comment

Back to top