I knew my Far North Queensland Adventures calendar was on its way, but knowing it was coming and actually opening the parcel were two very different things.
I was so excited that I recorded a reel while I opened it. I wanted everyone to see it at the same time as me, rather than waiting until I'd arranged everything nicely for a photograph. If you've watched the reel, you'll have seen my delight. There was no need to pretend.
The colours and textures
This was the part I was most curious about. I've spent so much time drawing the characters, choosing colours and adding textures, but looking at artwork on a screen isn't the same as seeing it printed.
I needn't have worried. The colours and textures look exactly as I drew them.
That matters to me because the little details are part of the illustrations. I didn't want the printed version to lose the character of the original artwork. Seeing those details on the pages was a lovely moment.
It's lighter than I expected
One of the practical things I like is how lightweight the calendar is.
We have a suction holder on our fridge, so a heavy calendar would have been a bit of a nuisance. This one feels light enough that I don't have to worry about it falling off. It's a small detail, but it's the sort of thing you only really appreciate when you've got the finished product in your hands.
What about using the pages as art prints?
The calendar is printed double-sided, which I really like. It keeps the calendar compact and means you can turn the page to see the next illustration.
There is one trade-off, though. If you want to keep the illustrations and use them as art prints afterwards, you'll have to choose which side of each sheet you prefer. You can't display both sides at once.
I don't think that's a deal-breaker. I like the double-sided format, but it's something worth knowing if you're buying it with the idea of framing the pictures later.
So, was it worth the wait?
For me, absolutely.
I had already seen these illustrations so many times while creating the calendar that I could probably have described every little detail with my eyes closed. But opening that parcel still felt different. Suddenly it wasn't a collection of files or a design on my iPad. It was a real calendar that I could pick up, turn over and use.
And the best part was that it looked like my artwork. The textures were there. The colours were right. All those hours of drawing had turned into something I was genuinely delighted to hold.
If you're curious about the finished calendar, you can see the Far North Queensland Adventures 2027 calendars here. There are Monday-start and Sunday-start options for different regions, and they're AUD $40 plus postage.
After months of drawing my Far North Queensland Adventures calendar, I finally got to hold the printed version. Here's what I thought of the colours, textures, lightweight pages and double-sided design, including one thing to consider if you'd like to keep the illustrations as art prints.