Pony Gold 2012 highlights

2012 was a massive year... but there were some serious standout moments and adventures...

New Years Eve at Creekside… a very special, hidden place on the NSW north coast, with a funny boxer dog Rocky and his filthy red clay claws.

Roadtrip south to Melbourne with my baby (part I and part II) -- we moved cities for the second time in as many years, chasing exactly what we have now… a totally sweet and fulfilling life where we live in the same town!

I spent a whole unemployed-month-and-a-half drawing and hanging out with my Bay and Shadow… my illustration benefitted greatly, my bank balance not-so-much… Then I landed an amazing (albeit-creative-industries-unrelated) job, with a super intelligent and professional staff to work alongside, including an editor who is on the same grammatical wavelength as me -- a rare find. Also, it's an early-am refuge for an hour's worth of drawing each day, something that has impacted my process hugely.

We now live in the city that is pretty much Australia's artistic capital, with cool places to explore like Union Lane…

One innocuous instagram post acted as the catalyst for some amazing projects… Thanks, lazy afternoon and a gel pen. And also a massive thanks to Spell & the Gypsy Collective for taking me on for some very special and (to me) hugely important projects.

This logo design for Wild & Free Jewelry feels like a huge achievement. I love it. Also, working with Sugarhigh + Lovestoned, a collective that, just a year ago, I looked up to and saw as so far away, was pretty mind blowing.

I did interviews… weird. Ember, Yen, Loon, Crane & Heron, Coconut, Lemon & Lime.

Something I've wanted to do for years... I made a video of me sketching. Hopefully more time lapses in 2013!

We survived the winter!

And I bought some cool shit this year... This and that.

The Strange Totems series was a favourite of mine… Part I and part II

I got to head home a few times this year, for wildly different reasons -- twice for weddings and once for a funeral. But each time I return home, I remember how much I love my family, and I tend to forget how much we annoy each other when we all tell each other the same things ten times and no one listens. Anyway, I made my mum a drawing because I love her, and she loves Regent bowerbirds and waratahs. And because she heads out into the bush and collects skeletons for me.

I received unparalleled love and support from strangers this year… I'm a bit awkward, so I drew a picture about it… Thanks again for the ongoing support.

For the first time in a long time, I felt like my hand was delivering what my mind was seeing. 

We got comfortable and explored where we live… and found some gemspots, including a cactus garden, a river-meets-the-sea spot and a place with squid.

I started printing and selling works via my online store here.

My design printed on a tote? Fuckin' oath! They're available here.

I got to spend a year living with my beautiful sister... who got married on my parents' farm.

I got to live with this guy too...

And this guy.

As for next year, there's plenty of great stuff to come, illustrations projects...

and we're getting a dog, this Humble Bean!

For now, we're heading up the coast to Eden for New Years... off the grid and into the wild!
All the best for the new year and I'll see you in 2013. 

Raych x