2024 Year in Review

Well friends, it's that time of year once again! 2024 has come to a close. I started the year with really bad burn-out and some health complications from overworking myself. It took a long time to recover, so I spent the early half of the year really focusing on that recovery. 
I also switched paths and left the toy industry after 4.5 years. I decided it was time to revisit my love for cartoons and my new job has been such a great dive back into that world.  The last few months have been so transformative for myself in both my mental health & creativity.  I can't wait to carry this energy into 2025 and continue this journey! It's going to be a strange year because *gestures at everything* but I'm trying to make the most of my personal bubble. I have a lot to be grateful for. 

Lows:
- Like I mentioned above, I dealt with quite a few health issues this year. I continued to experience that wrist pain I was experiencing at the end of last year. I never really got a straight answer on besides it not being carpal tunnel. Regardless, with lots of rest & stretching I am on the mend from this, but I do have some occasional flare ups. I also had a few other medical firsts such as my first trip to the ER & first CT Scan (1st kidney stone woohoo lol) And lastly, my whole family got COVID for the first time in May. I think I slept that entire week straight. It was so awful! 

- Mom and Dad also dealt with a lot of health issues, and we have a lot of unanswered questions. I'm just so glad I am still able to live with them and help out where I can. ❤️ (shout-out to remote work!!!) 

- We lost our pretty girl, Jasmine, in April. It is always so hard to say goodbye to a pet, but at least we know she's not suffering anymore after being sick for so many years. Jasmine had a long and wonderful life with us, and I'm so grateful I had so much time with her these last few years while living with my parents. 

Highlights:
- My "nephew" Toki was born in January! (technically I think he's actually my 2nd cousin or something of the sort) I'm officially Aunti Kati!! It's been so special being able to watch him grow up all the way across the globe in Japan. I'm so grateful for video chats! I did get to meet him in person though, too, in September. It's also so incredible having been able to see him play with toys I designed. I'll always have little Toki in my mind whenever I make kids content forever and ever. I'm doing it for you, lil man! 

- At the end of April, we adopted our kitten, Ringo! He is now 10 month's old and so full of energy! He and Felix get along great and love to play together. 

- As I hinted to above, I started a new job! 🎉 In September I was hired by Huntress as a Production Artist for their Security Awareness Training (SAT) cartoons. I know it's kind of a big jump to go from designing toys to telling stories about Cyber Security, but it's been so fun being able to work on something story-based after all these years. I can't wait to see what cool stories we tell in 2025! 

- With my new job comes some opportunities to travel! I got to visit Washington DC in October and it was wonderful getting to meet my new co-workers and dive head first into what Huntress is all about. I can't wait for the next one!

- Finally got myself an iPad!! This has been a HUGE game-changer the last 2 months in fixing my burn-out. It makes it so convenient to draw away from my desk and feels like a nice separation from my work life vs my art life. I also got some new bookcases to re-decorate my office. It's coming along nicely! Finally gonna properly display my dolls in a curio cabinet! 

- Deleted my twitter account after 13 years for some much needed social media separation. I mostly just use Instagram now and it's helped me spend less time scrolling tbh! 

Here are some of the goals I achieved this year!
GOALS FOR 2024
- Read 55 books ✔️
- Fill a 100 page sketchbook (Got halfway there!) 
- Crochet 10 projects (5/10)
- Develop my portfolio with more character design exploration and toy and prop designs too! ✔️

(Due to my wrist pain, I wasn't able to draw & crochet as much as I wanted to early this year, so those goals weren't met, but I'm going to set them again for 2025 and hope for a better outcome!) 

So with that, here are my goals for next year!
GOALS FOR 2025
- Read 35 books 
- Do at least 10 craft projects (crochet, painting, clay, etc) 
- Go to at least 5 events / shows! (Movies, Plays, Concerts, Travel, etc! I want to spend more time on experiences this year) 
- Join a virtual 5K walking challenge with a 1 year completion goal. 

And of course our favorite part - let's revisit my art reviews from New Year's past! (see below!)

I hope you all have a wonderful 2025. Cheers! 
Happy New Year!
XOXO
​ - Kati

​ART SUMMARIES (2011-2024)