Hi, I’m Libby. I’m trying to find my feet in the world of illustration. I’ve done a load of research and I’m sharing it here, along with my progress on how my illustration journey’s going. I’m so glad you could join me on this bumpy ride!
Hello,
12 months ago, I set some solid goals for my illustration business.
2025 was going to be the first complete calendar year I was working on illustration.
Only in January, I found out after five years of trying and treatments, I had become pregnant.
There’s a lot I could say about pregnancy and the events that followed. But having been on such a journey, I appreciate that it’s a story not everyone wants to hear.
I’ve also gained new insight into parenting.
I felt like I’d been knocking on the door of an exclusive club for 5 years, continually being denied entry.
Only to find, now that I’ve been let in, it’s more like the Crystal Maze: loads of weird rooms with different themes and challenges, and no one has a clue what they’re doing.
In short, 2025 was full of nausea, anticipation, some fear and doubt, pain, lots of joy, love, relief, comfort, discomfort, many appointments and appreciation.
What I gained
2025 brought me:
A new perspective
A home, after four years of housesitting
Weak knees
And unfortunately, due to lifting things and using muscles I hadn’t previously, injured wrists. So I’m in double splints. I’m hoping it doesn’t impact my illustration practice too much.
I also gained my biggest client this year and was able to complete a big project that pushed me outside my Comfort Zone (a project that hasn’t launched yet so I don’t have much to share.)
Oh, and I gained a new name as we decided to change ours now that we have a new family member.
So I am now going by Libby Barr Illustration with a new web address libbybarr.com (that diverts to my old one until I have time to update it.)
What I learned
I started this blog to keep myself accountable to my goals, and if you’ve been following along, you’ll know that I’ve been pretty quiet this year.
Although I’d been so ill in pregnancy, I went to the Labour ward armed with my sketchbook, ready to ‘document every moment’ of the baby’s first days.
I laugh now thinking about it. I was inspired by seeing the beautiful sketches from the sneaky artist Nishant Jain when his baby Rohan was born.
Little did I realise…
Anyhow… I am proud of what I achieved in 2025 in life and work.
I learned it’s ok to steer off course for a while and be kind to yourself.
I also learned it’s ok to repurpose illustrations like this Christmas card commission. Spot the difference!
What’s next
I’ll be taking the next two weeks to review and process the goals I set in 2025 and to decide what I think will be achievable this year.
I want to thank everyone for being patient as I continue sharing my somewhat slower-than-planned journey here.
It’s a joy to see there are 333 of you and that this post from March resonated with so many, with 1277 reads.
I may have taken a pause, but
I’m still here.
And I’m ready for what 2026 has to offer.
Happy New Year!
I look forward to reading, meeting, collaborating and sharing with you in the next 12 months.
Libby
Congratulations for everything you achieved in 2025 Libby, specially your baby 💕 wish you a happy 2026!
Congratulations on baby, new home, new name and big project. And wishing you a good year ahead and some pleasant planning time.