The Juggle is Real

Projects upon projects upon projects... Oh my!

Jan 05, 2025

I’m gearing up for the year ahead—psyching myself up, movie montage style. It’s going to be a busy one. Actually, it already is!

This year, I’ll be using this Substack to share insights into my creative adventures across the many mediums I work in. I’ve always loved making things—whether with pencil, paint, words, or wood.

In the past, I felt like I had to keep my projects separate to make them ‘fit’ my various socials. And while that might still make sense for my social media, I want this space to reflect the full picture of my creative, multidisciplinary life.

I’ve already got several projects lined up this year.

Pride, Prejudice, and Deadlines

I’m currently finishing illustrations for a reprint of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. I’m illustrating eight key scenes throughout the book, as well as the cover and chapter headings. I’m collaborating with Hipkiss Publishing House, an incredible Australian publisher creating beautiful, high-quality books. It’s been such a rewarding experience—working with a team that’s so clearly invested and passionate about what they’re making.

This is all done digitally in Procreate. It was a fun challenge trying to emulate drawing with pencil and took quite some experimentation.

Here’s a sneak peek of one of the chapter headings. I suggested custom placing hand-drawn numbers for over fifty chapters…brilliant idea, Kim! Needless to say, I’ve got a lot to do before my deadline at the end of January. The style is very time-intensive, and I’m pouring hours into it. But I love every minute and wouldn’t trade the experience for anything.

(Fingers crossed I’ll soon have a contract to illustrate Emma next!)

Back to the Workshop

While all that’s happening, I’m also tackling a few documentation jobs—because your girl has to pay the bills somehow! Two of these projects are custom architectural features for Levi’s headquarters in San Francisco. I’m freelancing for a fabrication workshop I used to work with in SF, and it’s been so nice to reconnect. I love getting into the nuts and bolts—literally.

Book Babies

When I finally manage to steal a spare moment, I also have an illustration sample to finish for a publisher and a dummy book to prep. One of my big goals this year is to submit my dummy book and portfolio to overseas agents.

Speaking of picture books, on March 1st, I’ll be celebrating the release of my debut picture book as an illustrator! The Jolly Swagman is written by Bec Nanayakkara and published by Woodslane Press. I got goosebumps the first time I read the manuscript and still loved it after months of working on the illustrations.

Here’s the publisher’s description:

Will dreams of going waltzing Matilda with Ollie—the Indigenous swagman who comes to shear at his family’s station. But then Ollie disappears… Like Banjo Paterson’s Waltzing Matilda, this story encourages us to see swagmen not as criminals, but as people who needed support and compassion. This book will give young readers insight into this chapter of Australian history and a new appreciation for Banjo Paterson’s Waltzing Matilda.

Pre-orders are available now! I’ll share some more behind the scenes soon.

An extra sneaky preview of one of the endpapers.

Are you tired yet? Take a deep breath because…there’s more.

Saying YES to Opportunities

At the end of May, I’ll have my first ever solo art exhibition at the Curl Curl Creative Space on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. I’ve had access to a studio space there for the last few months and have slowly been exploring my art practice. I applied for the exhibition space last year, aiming for a late 2025 slot to give myself plenty of time to prepare. But when they had an earlier opening to fill, I said YES—because why not?

Because its crazy…thats why not. But apparently, so am I. So now, alongside all of the above—and mumming two kiddos full-time—I have an art exhibition to pull off.

Please send help.

And creative juju.

And snacks.

Big Goals, Bigger Dreams

It’s only just the first week of 2025 and it’s already shaping up to be a crazy ride, but I’m excited to dive into all these projects—and share the journey with you along the way.

What about you? Do you have any creative milestones, big goals, or projects lined up for the year? I’d love to hear what you’re working on. Drop a comment below and share—it’s always inspiring to see what other creatives are dreaming up.