What I'd Like to Do in 2022

Welcome to 2022! It’s that time of year again where everyone is talking RESOLUTIONS and GOALS. Oh boy…

Usually I really like to make lists and plans and all that fun stuff. I mean, I still do. It just all seems a little overwhelming at the present moment. Lately all my carefully laid plans become last-minute panics and rushed content with half-hearted effort.

I saw a lot of growth in 2021 as far as my Etsy shop and art output and am really happy with the progress I’ve made, but I also had some setbacks in other areas of my freelance work and business. I’m still constantly wondering what I can be doing better.

Toward the end of December, my head was full of ideas and goals for the new year. However, I was a little all over the place and couldn’t really find a focus.

To summarize, I don’t really know what I’m doing.

Then I stepped back and thought, maybe this is the year to just…go with the flow. For now, I’ll be happy exploring new ideas and see what comes of it, while putting less pressure on myself to do all the things. If there is one goal I have right now, it’s to KEEP THINGS SIMPLE.

And as a side note, I’ll be having my fourth BABY in just a couple months, so I already know that any goals made at this point would be sabotaged shortly anyway, LOL!

So, I just wanted to share these New Year’s thoughts with you. :)

Best, Nicole

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Oh, and by the way, I did manage to get some new Valentine card templates out. Yay! Check out the bundle here…

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Looking Forward to What's Next

Take a look at this picture…

This is my daughter after she walked in covered in diaper cream. I share this not only because it’s funny, but also because it’s a great representation of what my life is like. Not the Insta-worthy, picture-perfect artist life one might wish to have—it’s messy and makes me want to laugh and cry all at once (like this picture).

I’ve had a hard month dealing with a lot of frustration personally and professionally. For those who don’t know, I work mainly in book publishing as a freelance designer. I’m proud that I have those skills and that I’ve built a business from it, but I LIKE it—I don’t LOVE it. It’s not painting and drawing for a living, which is what I WANT to do. Sure, I’ve had a few art jobs here and there—little successes—but I’m not quitting my “day job” anytime soon. Even so, the art that I share with you here on this site, that is my passion.

Why am I telling you this? Because I’m sure there are many of you who are in the same boat. Maybe you're striving to achieve a creative dream that hasn’t happened yet. Maybe you’re jealous of all the talented artists on social media with perfect studios and lots of followers. Perhaps you’re a stay-at-home mom striving to build your own home business. I’m here to tell you that I am with you. I get up every morning, put on my ugly sweats, and work by myself in my humble apartment that needs cleaning. My desk is overcrowded, I often have screaming toddlers around me begging for snacks, and I’m usually working on jobs that are not so much fun.

I guess I just wanted to remind myself, and you, that no one is as perfect as they might appear on Instagram. Life is messy and chaotic and takes a lot of work. Everyone has their own journey and struggles. I hope you enjoy the art I share because I put my heart into it. It is what I love to do. Maybe one day I’ll find that elusive “success,” but maybe not. For now, I’m happy to have fun making and sharing with you, and looking forward to what’s next!

M is for...

​Meditation

My new monthly theme! I am looking forward to making time for some relaxation this month. I’m headed on a cross-country road trip to visit family for a few weeks, which should be lots of fun! I’m going to use this time off to breathe, refocus, and get back to creating for fun.

Monopoly

This page is from a fun alphabet book that I illustrated called E is for Economics by Veronica Goodman, and it’s available now. Check it out HERE.

May

After a busy April, I’m excited to see what this next month will bring!

Motherhood

I always enjoy celebrating all the wonderful mother figures in my life on Mother’s Day.

Mandala

Last month’s personal project (book designs) got put on hold due to time issues, and I will return to it—but not quite yet. Since I’ll be on the road a bit in May, I’ve chosen to do something more portable. I recently invested in an iPad and have been exploring various art apps. I absolutely LOVE apps like iOrnament and Amaziograph for creating mandala art, so I want to experiment more with those. I might work in some traditionally drawn mandalas as well. Follow along on my Instagram (@nicolejonessturk, #sturkartchallenge2018).

Welcome to May, everyone!

Sincerely, Nicole

Blessed with Work

Holy moly, this month was hard.

I think every client I have hit me with jobs at the same time. Work piled up, and I was so overwhelmed that it literally brought me to tears. I worked early mornings and late nights to get things done, and it wore me down. Then there were my daughters. My oldest is living up to the “terrible twos” with countless tantrums and mischief throughout the day. My younger one-year-old has been especially prone to whining lately, probably from lack of attention due to my heavy workload. So imagine long hours of stressful work + lots of screaming. Not fun.

Yet despite all this, I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how lucky I am. The past few months have been some of the most productive and fruitful in my short career as a freelancer. With my husband in school, I’ve taken on a major role in our financial support, and it gives me great pride knowing that I can take care my family by not only working hard, but also using the creative skills and talents that I’ve built over the years.

I know there are a lot of hard-working mamas out there who struggle with tedious jobs, or not making enough money, or being away from their kids, or putting dreams on hold in favor of family, so it’s not lost on me that what I have is special.

While I cannot wait for my girls to grow out of their tantrum stages, I love that I get to spend all day with them. I wouldn’t want it any other way. I know that work will level out soon (and, hello, vacation...), and there are bound to be slow times again. With so many people working jobs they hate out of necessity, what a luxury it is that I’ve built a respectable career that I love, that I am good at, that I can do at home, and that provides for me and my family needs, and then some. I am truly blessed.

Anyway, those were just some thoughts I’ve been having. It helps to keep this in the forefront of my mind during stressful times. I’m not always great at remembering to do that (did I mention the tears?), but as with anything, it’s up and down. The key is to try to stay up more than down. Everyone’s circumstances are different. We all have our struggles, but I would encourage you to pause and take stock of the blessings in your life because we all have those, too.

Sincerely, Nicole