Reflections, Art, and Embracing Neurodivergence: A New Chapter

Looking Back at 2024

It seems like I only managed to post once last year, and, funnily enough, it was back in February 2024. In that post, I talked about my plans for the year ahead and how I was going to focus on more manageable projects so I could actually see them through. And then… silence. Not a single word posted.

The thing is, while I didn’t post on the blog, I did paint! Though, admittedly, not as much as I would have liked. Still, I managed to finish several paintings over the year. Even though they were all quite small, I genuinely enjoyed creating them, and the process was a lot of fun.

My Creative Projects

One of the most delightful projects I worked on was my set of mini magnet paintings 🧲. Inspired by some of the Paletteful Packs products I had reviewed, I created tiny magnet canvases and painted a series depicting forest creatures on a summer morning. It was such a rewarding experience! I’ve just realized I never added the entire set to my gallery, but I’m fixing that now—you can see them below.

These mini canvases measure just 6×6 cm, so they’re truly tiny! If you’re curious about how I made them or how I worked on such small pieces (complete with magnets attached), let me know—I’d be happy to share more about the process. 😊

Surprisingly, that’s not all I painted last year (though, admittedly, it was most of it). I also completed two other artworks in 2024:

• An acrylic painting of a kitten as a birthday gift for my little niece. I hope she’ll treasure it as she grows older.
• A colorful dog portrait in colored pencil. This one was vibrant and a lot of fun to create!

Of course, there are other paintings and drawings I’ve started but haven’t finished yet. For now, I’ll keep those under wraps as surprises until they’re ready to share. 🤫

Last year, I also dipped my toes into a completely new creative endeavor: embroidery! 🪡 It’s surprisingly relaxing, and I was shocked by how much I enjoyed it. I spent the last month of 2024 unraveling its secrets (see what I did there?). 😄

Personal Growth and Neurodivergence

On a more personal note, the most significant events of 2024 for me were receiving my ADHD and ASD diagnoses. Some people say a diagnosis doesn’t change anything, but for me, it was groundbreaking. It helped me understand both my strengths and limitations and provided clarity about so many things from my past. With this knowledge, I feel better equipped to plan for the future, recognizing potential challenges and finding ways to overcome them.

What to Expect Next

Looking back, 2024 wasn’t a bad year. Sure, it wasn’t my most prolific creatively, but it was far from wasted. I learned new things, tried new media, and gained a deeper understanding of myself. And that understanding has led me to make some changes—including changes to this blog.

I’ve been considering these changes for a while, but it’s only after receiving my diagnoses and coming to terms with them that I feel ready to make them happen. So, what can you expect from this blog going forward? 🤔

Until now, I’ve mostly shared my artwork, work-in-progress (WIP) photos, and Paletteful Packs reviews. Going forward, things will shift a bit. I’ve canceled my subscription to Paletteful Packs, so there won’t be many new reviews—maybe an occasional single product here and there. I’ll still post my artwork and WIPs, but I also want to delve deeper into topics like managing neurodivergence as an artist. I plan to document my art journey, including my learning process, thoughts on various subjects, tips and tricks, and even the tools I use to stay organized. I’ll also share the challenges of managing social media as an artist when dealing with shutdowns or feelings of overwhelm.

I have some plans already in motion and a few exciting ideas that I’m not ready to share just yet. But rest assured, you’ll hear about them when the time comes.

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Thank you for your support,

Kat