Hey fam! Just wanted to drop in with an update after a whirlwind of activity on our end (which might seem like radio silence on yours).
We've just returned from a long road trip to visit family, including a stop in Los Angeles to deliver "Sudden Sublimation" to her new owner.
Our departure was preceded by meticulous preparations to ensure our burgeoning garden and its complex systems thrived in our absence. Amid this, I somehow managed to complete 25 illustrations for an impending commission deadline.
Looking back, I’m still amazed at how we pulled it off. The trip revitalized our spirits despite the exhausting prep. Family visits were filled with hugs, laughs, and the usual skirmishes.
A particularly poignant moment was parting with "Sudden Sublimation" in Los Angeles. After months of meticulous crafting, having a seasoned collector carefully inspect the painting, then confess, “I have no idea how you did this,” really affirmed my artistic endeavors.
Honestly, letting go was downright excruciating. I hadn’t realized how much that bird, staring at me day and night, had become a muse.
Yet, no sooner had we said goodbye than my mind was flooded with ideas for new paintings.
Thus, I did what any red-blooded American would do: good old retail therapy. As we drove home through central California, I indulged in a shopping spree for art supplies, gearing up for some serious rebound art.
Now that we're home, it's full throttle ahead: planning the new Scales series (and so many prompt paintings) laying out giant new canvasses, keeping up with social media, and pushing our brand new Scales Print Shop—all while keeping an eye on this beautiful land and trying to take care of myself. Discipline and grit will be my close companions.
As I sit here in my studio, the floor littered with sketches, the excitement is palpable—mixed with a bit of fear. But the thrill of creation is electric.
Sending love and light to all—enjoy the spring, stay hydrated, and as always, make everything art.