Hi!
When asked what I do for work, I’m always a little surprised by how strange it feels to tell the truth.
Up until about three years ago (when I went ~freelance~), I considered drawing my hobby. I doodled in the margins of notebooks. I illustrated intricate notes for friends. I even once turned my high school agenda into an accidental art project, adding patterns and bubble letters to each weekday’s square. My art teacher loved it. “You could submit to a contest. I don’t know what contest, but a contest,” she said, flipping through the pages. I blushed and shrugged, sure she was just being nice.
I guess that’s why talking about my career as an artist leaves me feeling as if I’m playing the role of someone else — someone who should be dressed in paint-splattered overalls, preparing for her upcoming gallery exhibit or a reading of her best-selling graphic novel. But in reality, I’m usually just sitting at the kitchen table, sipping a mug of lukewarm coffee while I wait for my iPad to charge.
I’m working on the imposter-syndrome-ness of it all, but I realized the other day that my career as an illustrator left me feeling… hobby-less. Drawing is no longer the escape it used to be. In fact, it’s the opposite, something that comes with deadlines and emails and revisions. This isn’t a bad thing, but I do miss having something I do just for fun. No expectations. Doing something just to do it.
So! I’ve decided I want to try out some hobbies. And maybe I’ll document some of these attempts here. But first, I need to test a few out.
With those stipulations in mind, here are some hobbies I’m considering:
Stay tuned!
And Now For Some Recommendations:
A show to watch: Everything I Know About Love (inspired by Dolly Alderton’s memoir of the same name) is one of my favorite series I’ve watched in the past year (the book is also a treasure — I recommend to anyone wading through their twenties/dating/friendship/work — so everyone, really). Linking to the trailer here, and the absolutely superior soundtrack here.
A song to listen to on an overcast day: My Ego Dies at the End by Jensen McRae — this has been my sip-coffee-and-look-out-the-window jam lately. Ooh, and it’s featured on this year’s fall playlist! An honor, I know.
A tea to sip: It wouldn’t be the start of autumn without a recommendation for a hot bev! A recent favorite is the Apricot Amaretto loose leaf tea from Tea Forte. I’m usually not keen on fruity flavored tea, but this one has notes of almond and honey that make it — dare I say — perfect.
A sweater to wear: Inspired by Haley Nahman’s recent callout for the perfect sweater, I thought I’d share my favorite here: Le Bon Shoppe’s “Envie” sweater. I wish I could put into words how comfortable this piece of clothing is: soft, not too heavy, perfect for layering, boxy (but not in a bad way??). And while I shout this out, I want to note I first discovered it at a boutique in Seattle called Pipe and Row.
Okay, I’m off to become a hobbyist. If there’s an activity I left out that you love, please please please share! I’m all ears.
See you in October!
I think crochet is easier than knitting and once you understand how it works you can create your own thing. With knitting you have to concentrate a lot, I don’t know how relaxing that would be for you.
Oooh, I'm with Mel! There are so many ridiculously fun and simple cross-stitch patterns & kits out there. Not your grandma's cross-stitch anymore :) Plus, you get to stab something! (There are days that's a bonus, ngl.) I recommend Subversive Cross Stitch (online) for fun stuff (patterns, kits, accessories, supplies - they have it all), and Etsy has a ton of shops with modern, hilarious, creative patterns and kits.