〰️ No. 19 - July 2022 〰️
Mid-Year Status Check
I celebrated my 33rd birthday this month, just a few days after the official half way point of the year. I’ve always liked having a birthday in July for that reason - it’s like getting my own personal new year. A time to reflect on where I’m at midway through the calendar year as well as where I’m at as I turn a year older.
2022 has been a year of ups, downs, and challenges. I taught my first class at the Pacific Northwest College of Art in the spring (which I’ll be returning to teach in the fall). Teaching was new, fun, difficult, rewarding, time consuming, surprising…certainly a growth experience.
I enjoyed using my illustration skills in a different context and seeing the practice in a new light via my students and their work. I loved getting to know the students and instructors and becoming a part of that community. Looking forward to heading back in September with the first semester under my belt and new ideas for the fall.
Not illustration related, but in further teaching news - I spent the beginning of this summer training to teach barre.
I’ve been doing barre at a studio here in Portland for almost 4 years. During that time it’s become integral to my routine and physical & mental health, especially as someone who works from home and sits at a desk/in front of a screen most days. It’s been fun to be on the other side of the class as an instructor recently.
All this to say - a trend I noticed over the last few years was how small the world had started to feel. Obviously a symptom of covid isolation, I’m sure many of us experienced this sensation. New and exciting things were few and far between and the lack of stimulation conversely led to a low-grade anxiety around many of the remaining activities. I started to feel both stifled and fearful - desiring to be out and about, doing things, yet also afraid and uneasy about the prospect. I felt simultaneously kinetic and paralyzed.
Having been presented with several new opportunities in the last ~6 months felt like the jolt I needed to leave that funk. Not to say it was easy - doing something new, having to get up in front of a room of people, whether that be illustration students or a barre class - is very scary at first. As is anything that includes vulnerability and the possibility of embarrassment, judgement, or failure.
However, pushing through that fear and believing in myself to try something new has been one of the best experiences of my life. If you know me personally, you know I don’t often seek out the spotlight. I’ve surprised quite a few of my friends with my recent endeavors - I’ve also surprised myself. It’s deepened my belief that everything we do in life - activities, interests, travel, relationships - funnel back into and inform our creativity. It all matters.
Reflecting on my previous year of life and the first 6 months of 2022, I’m grateful for the opportunities the universe has sent my way. The process hasn’t been without doubt and plenty of pain points, but we are all capable of growing, evolving, and surprising ourselves. I hope your summer has come with fresh energy, opportunities, and perspective.
New and Improved
Speaking of fresh energy, I’ve finally updated my website. This was woefully overdue as I’ve done some of my favorite work over the last 2 years yet have barely shared most of it.
That includes my first book cover (for Chronicle!), my first book (40 illustrations!), a dream project including cats and robot vacuums (with a 3D component!), and a cover for Portland’s alt-weekly (I loved Portland!).
Each project now has its own gallery page that includes additional images + details. I finally photographed a ton of physical work, which was a nice reminder of some of the fun jobs I’ve been lucky to work on.
Please take a gander, share, and of course get in touch about any upcoming assignments I could be a good fit for - hey@sunnyeckerle.com
Desktop Cat-Vac for Running Press
One project I want to share specifically is the Desktop Cat-Vac for Running Press. This included illustrations for the book as well as the box artwork and design for the physical cat and vacuum. The book artwork is some of my favorite to date - I felt a playfulness when working on it that comes through in the images.
As always, thank you for reading. I truly do intend to keep to a monthly schedule on this newsletter. So far I haven’t done great with that goal but seeing as how Instagram continues to disappoint in terms of showing my work to literally anyone…I want to focus my energy here. More soon!
Reading
A Tale For The Time Being by Ruth Ozeki
How Can I Help? by Ram Dass
Watching
The Rehearsal (HBO)
FBoy Island (HBO)
Hi! Fellow PNW-er here. I enjoy your IG and your illustrative work! I am so happy to learn more about you through this newsletter. :-)