Studio Note 09/25

​

Hello Reader,

I realized too late that I had labeled August's Studio Notes as "July". I couldn't correct this after the newsletter went out, so I hope it didn't cause much confusion!

I can't tell if fall is approaching, but there are more leaves on the ground than expected for this time of year. Perhaps the summer heat has made the trees give up? I'm personally ready for sweater weather. 🍂

August was filled with easing back into old routines (ie, school) and work work work. I did have some fun at an estate sale in my neighborhood though when I found this antique sewing machine. It needs some love and freshening up but the pedal and wheels work, so if I can replace the belt, that means I have a functioning sewing machine! The decorative events on the machine are just beautiful, and they’re still in pretty good shape.

Art Notes

I completed my first oil painting in a very long time away from the medium! When learning new things (or coming back to old ones), I go to my comfort zone subjects to make the process less intimidating (so usually, plants and animals).

I haven't painted with oils in...15 years, I think. It felt very different from my normal watercolor/gouache work. These were water mixable oils, too, which was even stranger. I didn't hate it, though. I don't know if I want to jump to this medium just yet. As much as I love watercolors and the like, I've realized that my art style is changing a bit, and I'm not certain the translucency of watercolors is best for those changes. I'm also not liking the fragility of the medium on a finished piece. If I don't seal it and protect it with something, any exposure to water can move that unprotected paint and ruin it. It isn't a super durable medium, in that regard. I've seen artists like Tran Nguyen use acrylics and colored pencil on paper, and I'm curious about how using acrylics in that way would feel.

I decided to dedicate the rest of 2025 to creating as much art as I can, whether it be sketches or finished pieces, in whatever medium I choose. After a long time of being a bit lost, I feel like I'm finding parts of myself I'd forgotten about again. Parts like curiosity and spontaneity and adventurousness. Even as an elder Millennial professional creative, I'm feeling like a young budding artist again, and it feels pretty good. :-)

Right now I'm participating in Folktember just for fun. I started on "Mapping Faerieland" on the 3rd and hope to finish it by the 4th. It's a cutre, whimsical piece and I will likely share it on my Instagram page when it's complete. I'm taking Instagram a lot less seriously these days, by staying away from it and with a mindset shift of treating it more like an informal portfolio and nothing more. The time away from it has continued to help me mentally, but I had to reinstall the app to schedule a Reel I had planned (I wanted to use specific music available only on the app, hence the scheduling). While I had it reinstalled, I realized pretty quickly that I cannot have it installed on any mobile device at all, AND I need to put more boundaries between me and it even on a browser. Such a dangerous little app for my creativity and motivation!

Shop Notes

New prints and originals have been added! I think this Wild Berry and Bunny piece is my favorite from this drop.

Shop Prints and Originals

Extra Notes

I like subscribing to other artists' newsletters, partially because I have interest in their work and how their creative lives are being lived, and partially because I'm nosy about how they run their newsletters.

I recently received one from Louise Stigell (she's great, check her out) and in it, she referenced an essay. If you also struggle with social media and being mindful of how your time is being spent, it's a worthwhile read and definitely gives you something to think about.

​How Social Media Shortens Your Life from The Prism​