It's Only Been a Month!

Waniwin
Feb 8, 2025
3 min read

February is often seen as the month of love, but if January is any indication, 2025 is already keeping us on our toes. Between new policies, politics, and a lot of chaos, it's tough to feel hopeful. But hey, there’s still room for optimism. While we can’t control everything, we can control how we react, what we say, and what we choose to do. Sure, things are intense right now, but we can only focus on what’s in our power. So, what will you do with the time you have?

BUT for now.. a question!

Will you be spending time with someone special? A date? & what IS your favourite holiday?

Yes
No
Halloween
Christmas

You can vote for more than one answer.

A Look Back at January

One month into 2025, and it’s been a whirlwind. Despite all the craziness, I’ve managed to tick a few things off my list:

Started the Spring 2025 Semester
Got some practice in (even if it’s just a little)
Sketched nearly every day
Managed a weekly Instagram post
Began a big crochet project
Worked on new illustrations
Applied for work-study positions
Started therapy
Had some career chats with professors

January always feels like a warm-up month. The holiday haze, the winter chill, and the adjustment to new routines can make the month drag on. But it’s also the perfect time to rest, relax, and ease into the year. Honestly, mine started pretty rough—both personally and with everything happening around the world. But then again, what’s a new year anymore without a little chaos? I dont know about you guys, but a giant country suicide, oppression, suppression, depression and 2nd Gilded Age was NOT on my 2025 Bingo Card.

In between all the madness, I’ve found comfort in watching Critical Role, painting, journaling and streaming from time to time. My partner and I also began playing SkyrimTogether (modded multiplayer skyrim). So that’s all been very helpful. Nonetheless, it’s been craziness and the Critical Role team having a D&D competition over who can make the biggest splash in a giant pool makes my day half the time.

Finding Solace in Art & School

Despite the chaos, I’ve been finding some peace in my artwork and time at school. It’s been great to carve out time for projects I care about, and honestly, I think it’s key to have something this year that you can lose yourself in—something that brings you joy. For me, it’s been a mix of traditional art and staying busy with schoolwork. Surprisingly, I’ve found myself actually wanting to work, which is a new feeling. The only thing that gets in the way is my need to nap… but that’s another story. With my schedule, though, I’m definitely going to have to wake up early and push through those late-night creative bursts.

Art Career Conversations & Therapy

One of the biggest things I’ve been focusing on recently is my art career. After talking to professors and streamers, I’ve decided to focus more on traditional mediums—like painting, sketching, and using markers and colored pencils. Why?

I just love the feeling of traditional art. It brings me more satisfaction than digital work.
Traditional pieces feel way more rewarding, especially in a world where digital art is so easily replicated (thanks, AI).
There’s something special about owning a physical piece of art—especially one that can’t be easily copied or downloaded.
And let’s be real: not “everyone” can do traditional art. It’s a unique skill.

But don’t worry—I’m not ditching digital art altogether! I’ll still make digital illustrations and work on improving my skills there too. In fact, I plan on mixing both mediums: painting/sketching traditionally, scanning it, and then doing some digital tweaks to finish it. For example, Stephen Oakley (the artist for God of War) uses this approach, and it’s pretty inspiring.

What’s Next?

So, what’s coming up for February?

I’m planning to send out a second newsletter mid-month.
Finish that YouTube video and try to focus more on creating content there.
Sketch and post on Instagram twice a week (if I can!).
Start my first job.
See my therapist more often (trust me, I need it).
Get busier and make more time for art.
Start walking in the morning and work out more.
Find more time to read books.
Make my Twitch streams a little more art-focused.

It sounds like a lot, but honestly, it’ll all fall into place. I’ve got a lot on my plate already—between school, a lot of assignments in 2 of my classes + 2 quizzes every 2 weeks, work-study, and trying to finish 8 paintings in one class. But I’m rolling with it.

Final Question:

After this video im making, what kind of video would you like to see?

co-working video, 1 hour with relaxing music to relax my day
Painting video, 1 hour, same thing.
A week at school with Wani
Sketchbook tours

And don’t forget—if you haven’t already, join my Discord server! It’s a small group, and I know I get busy with school sometimes, but we chat, share our progress, and even do co-working sessions when we can. With you there, I’m sure we can make things happen! https://discord.gg/eQQVtqvW

~ Wani