At the end of every year I like to use the quieter days between the years for winding down, reading and for a bit of reflection: what did I do this year, what went well, what didn’t and what are my plans for the next year. I do this for my art (where it’s often also business-focused since it’s my livelihood), but I also try to look back creatively and personally.
A look back on 2022
I like to sit down with my notebook and a nice cup of tea and go through my (also often handwritten) notes from that year – and I write down every major project or achievement that I made. This is also an important reminder for me that I did actually move things forward, and I finished some projects. Often the blurred perception of work and every day life leaves me with the feeling I haven’t done anything at all. This year, I’ve created two big sketching courses that I feel really good about quality-wise (Sketching Fundamentals and Intro to Botanical Sketching, you can find both courses here), and I’ve already gotten lots of feedback that they’re helping students as well – seeing other people make progress with their art skills is so rewarding and it’s one of the main factors that keeps me motivated to put out things like this. I also noticed it takes a lot of energy and time to give these kind of foundational courses the quality I want them to have, so creating more than two big courses per year (and running though them with students) seems unrealistic.
I also like to leaf through some of my sketchbook work from the last year, just to see how my art has changed and what direction I’m going in. This year, I’ve discovered colored inks for line work, which I’m still very excited about.
Other aspects of the year ended in a bit of a blur. I’ve yet to make a full recovery from my Covid-19 after-effects, so I still have to take it slowly, and the economic situation for online teachers and creators has also just become a bit frosty. It was such a crazy year.
Skillshare, the platform I partially share my online courses on, has (again) massively reduced their teacher payments, which will probably lead to me making less classes for that platform – it’s just not a fair compensation for all the work I put into my classes. Another reason for me to focus less on Skillshare is that they will soon introduce “achievement badges” and other engagement gamification stuff. I’ve been really conflicted about the entire topic – I don’t think it’s such a great platform for students or teachers (anymore), and I don’t like the entire direction the platform is heading in. Until now I tolerated it, but their recent payment cut has been a wake-up call for me, and I no longer want to recommend the platform.
As a teacher, you never know how they redistribute the money paid by subscribers and how much or how little ends up with the teachers. Right now I don’t know if I can afford to move away from them entirely at once. I’ll keep you in the loop. For now I’ve taken down my referral links to their site. If you want to take a class from me, please consider purchasing it directly through my website, because that helps me a lot more and you get to keep the video material – no subscription!
All in all, costs and fees are generally going up in every other area, as we all have probably noticed. So I suppose it’s going to be a very challenging and interesting next year.
My plans for 2023
I already have a bunch of plans though. I have two cool new science art projects I want to share more about soon (as well as one from 2022 that I haven’t had the time and energy to share yet), I’m planning to finally offer some prints of my work, and there are always new subjects to sketch in nature (and to show you!).
I want to find more wild orchids next year, as well as carefully explore more habitats locally. I’d love to draw more birds of prey. I’ve discovered colored inks for myself. I’d also love to paint landscapes en plein air again, and I also have a growing backlist of topics for courses and blog posts and videos formats etc (I’m sorry if I haven’t gotten around to answer some of your questions, I’ve saved them all!).
I’ve also planned in more run-throughs for the Sketching Fundamentals course and the Botanical Sketching course with feedback from me. I will announce the dates here on my blog.
You could say my ideas and the projects are endless, and I have to find time and energy to tackle them bit by bit.
Seeing all that, I have been thinking about a more independent system to allow people to support my art directly, because being dependent, even partially, on fluctuating income from platforms like Skillshare, which can change their rules arbitrarily, isn’t that great to be honest. Putting all your eggs in one basket also means a lot of stress (if that income source dwindles), and I’ve noticed recently that I need to be more aware of my health and make my art business more resilient against these type of changes.
First and foremost: I want to keep this blog free of charge to everyone. And to continue to do this and not having to rely too much on exhausting client work or corporate teaching platforms, I’d like to set up a small community donation system on Patreon (yes, I’m well aware this is also a corporate platform, but they make it easy for people to support artists directly, and you know where the biggest part of your money goes).
If you enjoy my work and blog and would like to support it regularly with a small amount of money and make it possible for me to continue showing you my sketching adventures and work on in-depth online courses without additional stress, you now can do this through Patreon.
The support I already have received from you over the years really means a lot to me, and I really, really appreciate each and every one of you who has helped in the past (by buying classes, original artwork, and yes also watching a lot of my stuff on Skillshare). Your support is what keeps my blog and a my work going. Thank you so much!
Overall I feel very grateful to everyone in this small community – and that’s one of the things I would love to make stronger next year. I always love hearing about your explorations and finds in nature, and any creative experiments that you have tried. It means a lot to me to have these exchanges.
One thing I want to mention is: please don’t feel pressured into giving me money when you need it for yourself and your family – that always comes first, and this is also why the blog and my Youtube videos will always stay free. I don’t want to hide things behind a paywall.
This is also why I’m a bit hesitant to offer additional bonuses for those supporting me (I know many artists who use Patreon do this) – I’d love everyone to benefit, and I’d rather give you more free posts, or show more art projects or better courses, than just making exclusive things for a small number of people. I’ve thought long about this aspect. Right now I’m also not sure how regularly I can produce extra material for supporters due to my health. This is something I need a bit of time to think through, and I’d love to hear feedback from you about it. Let me know what you think about the entire idea and what you would be comfortable with.
In any case, with everything that’s changing, I want to keep as many things as possible as they are: money should not a requirement to read this blog, so it will always stay free of charge! Thank again for being a part of this, everyone!
With all of that said, I hope you all will have a lovely end of the year and enjoy a bit of time off for relaxation and reflection.
See you next year!
Support my work though Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/juliabausenhardt
More ways to support my work: https://juliabausenhardt.com/ways-to-support-my-work/
Purchase online courses directly from me here: https://juliabausenhardt.com/courses/
Julie,
I’m sorry to hear that you are still feeling the effects of COVID-19. I hope you can take the time your body needs to heal fully. I so enjoy your classes, your newsletter, and your art. I have heard a lot of concerns about the new direction of Skillshare. I’m also distressed about the direction because I have learned so much using the platform, and I detest the idea of badges and gamey social media-type rewards. I would rather support my favorite artists directly, so I’m happy to hear you’re creating a Patreon account. I will follow you there. Good luck with this new venture. I hope 2023 is filled with good health, good friends, and new directions that are rewarding (emotionally and financially).
Happy New Year,
Cindy
Thank you kindly Cindy! Right now I’m resting a lot and I hope that will lead to a full recovery.
I can relate to your concerns about Skillshare. Up until now I’ve always found some positive aspects, also from a student’s perspective (the variety of available classes, the possibility of sharing work), but they keep changing the platform and not for the better I think. From what I’ve heard and seen they intend to make Skillshare even more like social media, and all of this on top of giving their teachers less money than before.
Thank you for your support, I really appreciate it a lot! <3 Happy New Year to you too!
Hi Julia. A Patreon account is just perfect, I will join you there. It allows me to show my appreciation for all the effort you put in writing your blog and newsletter. I always enjoy reading it, each time it strikes me how honest you are in all of your reflections. Take good care of your heath and all my Best Wishes for 2023.
Thank you so much Ingrid, I really appreciate your support. Good to hear that Patreon is something people are already familiar with. All the best for your too in 2023!
Hi Julia! Honestly, I invested in Skillshare (it is expensive) and I’m really disappointed with it. Unfortnately I’m stuck with it until May. I’ve bought a course from you in the past, incidentally just before I got covid too. It took me almost a year to fully recover, so I have a good idea what you might be going through. I hope you can take all the rest you need. I’m looking forward to know more about the prints. I do like your art a lot. I also really enjoy your blog, so thanks for still sharing this for free. I wish you all the best for 2023.
Aline
Aline, I can completely understand, I haven’t taken a class on Skillshare for quite some time – I’ve always found their search a bit confusing and some of the classes very, well, basic…I think it’s because they encourage teaching at every level. I hope you can still get some enjoyment from your subscription – I found that searching directly on a teacher’s profile page can show you their classes you otherwise wouldn’t have noticed.
I’m glad to hear you’ve fully recovered from Covid – I try to get a lot of rest right now and hope it will just go away entirely.
I’ll hopefully have the print shop ready very soon, I’ll definitely share it here once it’s open. 🙂
All the best for you in the next year, too, and thanks so much for being a part of this small blog community!
I’m very excited to hear you will offer prints of your work! I will definitely get at least one. 😉 I’ve admired your work and overall style for a while now since discovering your videos on YouTube. You are inspiring! Have a great New Year!
Thank you Dory! Once I have the prints ready I will announce it here. If you have something specific in mind you would like to see as a print, definitely let me know. 🙂 All the best for you in 2023!
My favorites are your lovely watercolor landscapes. The small scale scenes from your sketchbook tours would make nice mini prints or cards as another commenter suggested. The local park paintings from the Autumn 2022 sketchbook tour are very eye-catching — I’d order larger prints of those! I look forward to whatever you decide! Happy New Year, and thanks!
Thank you Dory for your feedback! I’ll make a note – landscapes. :-)) I wish you a wonderful 2023!
Julia,
Looking back on the past year, taking your Sketching Fundamentals class last spring and receiving your feedback was a very valuable learning experience. Besides the actual techniques, it taught me how lovely it can be to just sit and draw outdoors. Since then, walking through the world even without a sketchbook feels like an adventure. Lines, perspective, colors, shape, shadow -so much to notice and be alive to!
In the autumn, I happily began your Botanical Sketching class and then, well, the weather became less friendly, the days got shorter, my teaching load unexpectedly increased and I wasn’t able to devote enough time to it. If you offer the class in the springtime with your feedback, I would really welcome that. Having weekly assignments as small goals could help keep me on track.
Thank you for sharing your honest thoughts and your beautiful art! I have just become a subscriber on your Patreon site. I wish you many many sparrows and blackbirds to flock there and to support you. Have a healthy and wonderful New Year!
Yours,
Laura
Dear Laura, thank you so much for your ongoing support, I truly appreciate it! It is wonderful to hear how these sketching prompts have changed how you see your surroundings.
I will definitely offer the botanical class with prompts in the spring, I’m already looking forward to it!
All the best for you in 2023!
Hi Julia, I hope you continue to recover and gain strength & energy! I appreciate your candidacy about Skillshare from the perspective of a teacher. I had no idea that the payment reductions were happening behind the scenes. I’m so sorry that is happening. From the perspective of a student, I have enjoyed many Skillshare classes and the format of shorter lessons within the total class time really works for my schedule. However, hearing about the changes in their structure is eye-opening to me. Another idea is to offer a “buy me a coffee” or “buy me a paintbrush” option on your website where people can support you with periodic donations if they are not comfortable signing up for Patreon. Lots to ponder, and thanks for the update!
Hi Karen, thank you for your kind words! I too think there are still some positive aspects to be found on the Skillshare platform, and this is really a hard step for me. I will probably share a few more thoughts about this entire topic shortly, I think people deserve to know.
I love your idea of having another option for donations on the website apart from Patreon, I will definitely implement that! 🙂
All the best for you in 2023!
Hullo Julia
Thank you for all the time and effort and honesty that you share through your blog. As well as your prints, I wondered if you would consider using your botanical and landscape paintings to be printed on (blank) greeting cards? I think they would work very well if sold in bundles of six.
Hope this suggestion helps,
Cheers,,
Julie in Australia
Thank you for this idea Julie, I will see what I can do! 🙂
Me inspira mucho tu trabajo y me anima a salir a dibujar y pintar. Te deseo una buena entrada de año Julia. Recupérate bien. Un abrazo desde Cantabria, España.
Dear Marta, all my best wishes for you in 2023 and keep on making art! Greetings from Germany 🙂
Sigo en Patreon a Alicia Ardilla, acuarelista española. Me agradaría mucho seguirte también. Un “pero”. Sería muy difícil publicar en Español también? Alicia pública en español e inglés. Pienso que muchos españoles te seguiríamos encantados. Es una sugerencia solamente. He adquirido tus cursos y me parecen maravillosos, pero me pierdo muchos detalles sobre mezclas y colores por el idioma. Lo dicho un abrazo y Feliz Año. Te seguiré.
Yes, I understand it can be difficult to follow someone who posts in another language. I try my best to keep my English easy and accessible – it’s not my native language either and I apologize if that makes it hard to understand sometimes. That said, I don’t see an option to publish anything in Spanish – I don’t speak the language (I translate your comments with Deepl) and since I’m just one person doing all of this, I don’t have enough time to provide translations, not even in German which would be easier for me since it’s my native language. I’m so sorry about this – but at least for my written posts you have the option to run them through translation engines like Deepl or Google Translate. But thanks for bringing this up, Marta!
suelo poner los vídeos para traducir, aunque no siempre sale bien. En alemán, uf mas difícil. Gracias de todas formas. Te sigo.
Hi Julia,
I support the changes you want to make and will join you on Patreon. I follow you both because I enjoy and learn from your content, but also because you are so kind, gentle, thoughtful, and caring. I always feel better and uplifted after reading your blogs. I am also trying to fully recover from Covid, it seems to be a long journey. Please continue to care for yourself.
Best wishes for a peaceful, happy, and rewarding new year,
Patrick
Hi Patrick,
somehow your kind comment slipped through my radar over the holidays. I just wanted to say thank you so much for you support, I appreciate it a lot. I really hope we both will find a good way to fully recover from Covid – it’s a long way indeed. But the rest over the holidays has helped a little.
I wish you a creative and fulfilling 2023!
Hello Julia! I really like reading your blog, because of the honesty with which you speak, and I understand you, it is a big job to create content, maintain the platforms and be updated. I have not yet started to monetize my art for this reason, so I appreciate knowing what the reality of online teachers is like. I think the contribution you make is great, thank you very much for the classes in skillshare, for the articles on your blog. And I hope your health improves! and greetings from Patagonia Argentina (sorry for my English)
Nadia
Hey Nadia, thank you for your comment and your kind wishes! Yes, keeping up with everything can be a lot of work, which is why I like to focus on a few platforms only. That has helped a bit. All my best for you and your creativity in 2023!
Hi Julia. I am loving your Skillshare courses and will definitely be watching out for new courses posted on your site.
I’ve been admiring your colored ink work in your botanicals and I was curious what brands/colors you are liking at the moment.
Regards! And, happy 20203!
Lisa
Hey Lisa, thank you, I’m glad to hear you’re enjoying my classes!
Ah, I should really write a post about the inks I use at some point. I’ll make a note. 🙂
For fountain pens, I like Rohrer & Klinger SketchInk, they come in many colors and are mixable, and they don’t clog the pen feed. I also have a few acrylic inks, they’re waterproof too, but only for dip nib pens. There are several brands who offer these, I like Liquitex at the moment, they have good pigment documentation.
A happy creative year to you too!