Resolutions for 2024

Happy New Year, she says 13 days into the new year.

Have you decided on a New Year’s Resolution? I have not and let me tell you why…

First of all, I’m TERRIBLE at keeping resolutions. I always go over the top, wanting to change ALL THE THINGS at once, knowing VERY well that I will not be able to keep up with all the different things I’ve committed to.

So this year, I’m resolving to NOT make a resolution - at least not yet. I read somewhere that just like trees and bears hibernate in the winter, we should take the colder months to slow down, rest, and reset. January is not the month to be making big changes in our lives. It is a time to hide away from the cold and snow (if you’re lucky enough to get snow - as of yet Central Jersey has not been so lucky), snuggle up with a book or hobby, maybe purge some stuff that’s no longer bringing you joy.

This is the extent of our snow so far this year, but LOOK AT THE SNOWFLAKES!!

I do have creative GOALS for 2024, and will be working slowly towards them this year. I do have a pretty decent stretch goal of make a brand for myself so I’m excited to see how that works out!

Please make 2024 the year you do something for YOU, and make January the month you rest. Resolutions can wait.

Three Stick Challenge

I’m back at the Three Stick Challenge, but this time I want you to join me!

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A fun challenge AND a rainbow?! Come on - this was MADE for me!!

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I have made a FREE 11-page guidebook all about why I created this challenge, how it has helped me, and how I think it could help others who are struggling with decision fatigue or the worry that every piece you make has to be MAGIC or else you’re a crappy artist (that second part will NEVER be true!).

The guidebook includes this link to a sample supply list if you are interested in some of the supplies I own (note: I do get a small commission at no cost to you if you use the link to purchase supplies).

Here is why I love this challenge - you DO NOT need a lot of art supplies to do this!

• Maybe your thing is pen and paper and that’s it. So for you, you may write different things on your sticks. You could have three separate groups of sticks - one for subject, one for color, and one for style.

• Strictly a watercolor artist? You can still use the color sticks, and maybe you include other items like subject matter or style. You could also use some tools like paper towels, toilet paper rolls, salt, thread, ice, etc. to change up your game.

• Not an artist at all but you LOVE to write? I got you - subject, descriptive words, locations. No two short stories will be the same

See my point here? It’s not actually about WHAT is on the sticks. It’s about what you DO with the information on them. I can pull three sticks right now… standby…

If I asked every one of you to make a piece of artwork using these three supplies, NO ONE WOULD MAKE THE SAME THING. It’s literal magic, and I love it.

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If you’re interested, click here for the guide, and stay tuned for a kit option coming in the fall. I’m thinking like Salad Works - a create-your-own Three Stick Challenge bundle with personalized sticks and options for supplies. It’s going to be GOOD!

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I've Been Working

When I made my last blog post on February 21st, I had an idea in my head. That idea was:

“2023 will be the year that I concentrate on bettering my art practice. I will NOT worry about selling art and will cover my expenses with my full time job. It will be an exploration year, and that is okay.”

I WAS VERY WRONG ABOUT THIS STATEMENT.

Shortly after that, I was contacted by Mel at the Ewing Arts Commission regarding an email I had sent about six months before. I had just found out about the EAC and saw that they used to (pre-Covid) have monthly opportunities for artists to show their work. I was inquiring about the possibility of showing.

When I got the email that I could show my work, I was excited and scared! The opportunity to show my work - all on my own! Holy crap. I chose the July slot because it was the furthest away and gave me the most time to work on my collection because up until then, I only had a few pieces that I felt were “finished” (is a painting every finished? I’m not sure).

I immediately abandoned the 100 Day Project in favor of Michael’s Buy One Get Two Free sale on canvases and bought the biggest ones I could find. I was lucky enough to have some perfect strangers help me load my fiancé’s car when they saw me struggling, and I got them all home.

Ranging in size from 6”x6” to 48”x60”

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And to be honest, in a way that seems entirely impossible now, three months later, I had almost 50 brand new paintings ready to be hung for this show. 50!! I’ve never painted more, ever. Not even in college and I MAJORED IN ART!

Some of my artwork on display at the Ewing Municipal Building in Ewing, NJ

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Once that show was up and the opening had finished, I was exhausted. Mentally, physically, and emotionally - drained. In fact, it’s been about a month and I still haven’t done any painting. I think I’m okay with that, but I’m starting to get the need to get in here again.

The rest of the year might look a bit different, though. I’m finally sitting down and starting to work on art prints now that I have a collection of work that I am proud of. I also recognize that people cannot pay thousands of dollars for original artwork and this more affordable option feels right.

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I am working on getting more consistent as well with posting and emails - so stay tuned and expect to hear more from me soon!

I am ALWAYS grateful for the support of my family, friends, collectors, admirers, and overall supporters of my work. I will never get tired of telling you. <3

My 100 Day Project is....

…. always tricky to decide!

I am doing the 100 Day Project this year! I’ve tried other years, even ALMOST finishing a few years ago (I think I made it to day 99 if you can believe it).

First - What is the 100 Day Project?

• It is a free art challenge. It is simple - pick something, do it for 100 days, share about it (if you want)

• 2023 is the 10th anniversary of the start of the project!

• Use the hashtag #the100dayproject to share your work, and create your own unique hashtag to share yours.

• You can learn more by going to the website, following on IG @dothe100dayproject, or joining the Facebook group here.

Even though I haven’t done (read: completed) the 100 Day Project each year, I have definitely thought about it and learned a lot about how to complete one. So, if you’re interested, I’ve come up with 5 ways to succeed in a 100 day challenge like this one.

In case you don’t know - 100 days is a long-ass time, so if you don’t have a plan, you might not make it all the way through. This brings me to number 1 -

1) Have A Plan

You cannot just pull an idea randomly out of a hat and believe that you’ll be able to do THAT THING for 100 days. You need to have an idea of what to do! Maybe it’s painting landscapes, or sketching objects around your house, or donating 1 thing per day that you no longer need. It can be anything you want, but you need a plan in place.

You should have a pretty specific idea of what you want to work on so that your motivation and ideas don’t fizzle out halfway through.

My main plan with this objective is to fill up the sketchbooks that I have that are just lying around waiting to be filled. but when I think about filling them, my mind goes blank because the possibilities are literally endless.

To help navigate this, we move on to number 2 -

2) Use Prompts

If you go to The 100 Day Project website, you’ll find so many resources that can help you figure out what you want to do. There is the option for a paid subscription as well where you can get prompts to give you inspiration. If you don’t want to pay, there are PLENTY of ideas for prompts on Pinterest and Instagram.

The prompts I’m using come in the form of popsicle sticks. I painted them all the fun colors and wrote on them all the different art tools, art mediums, and colors I could think of! My project, hash tagged #3stickchallange will be to pull three popsicle sticks from a jar and use those three as inspiration for my sketchbooks work that day.

I’m not going to be too strict with this, but it will be a good way for me to not feel paralyzed when deciding what supplies and colors to use, while also pushing me out of my comfort zone and forcing me to find a use for that wire mesh I’ve got lying around. Oh, and orange…

3) Don’t Use Orange If You Don’t Want to

That is to say, if using orange (or X thing) is bogging you down and preventing you from doing THE THING just because you’re trying to push your limits, for God’s sake don’t use it.

This is low stress challenge, in no way meant to cause anxiety or disappointment. If all you want to do for 100 days is draw circles (#100daysofcircles) or write down something you're grateful for (#100daysofgratitude), please do that thing.

4) Please Miss A Day (or More)

No one will take away your paintbrush if you miss days or take longer than 100 days to finish the challenge. This is not the military - we’re chill over here. Don’t want to work on this over the weekends? Don’t. Had a rough day at work or at home with the kids and need time to veg on the couch? Please do that.

It would be better to take 200 days to complete this challenge than to kill yourself to finish it in 100 and not be proud, or worse - be resentful - of what you accomplished.

Speaking of being proud…

5) Share You Work With The World!!!

We (or at least I) want to see what you’re working on! Tell me your hashtag, share your IG with me so I can follow you and turn on notifications and see your progress. Tell people you are doing this thing and you see how fast they want to support you and cheer you on.

And if you don’t have that support system in your life, there is an entire art community that is waiting for you. They are all lovely people and I have never had a bad interaction with a single one of them.

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Are you participating in the 100 Day Project this year? If you are, LET ME KNOW! I want to know and follow and stalk and share/like/comment on all the things!

And I’d obviously love if you’d follow along with me and see where the next 100 days goes! I’m excited!!

It's Been A While...

Oh hi! It’s been a while, hasn’t it?

The last few months have been busy with lots of personal things, and my mental energy has been on the low end. I felt guilty leaving this (the blog and email list) behind, but it was necessary.

But I’m slowly getting back into the swing of things, and ready to get back to it.

My most recent experiment is shown above. I fell in love with these pigment salts from Boulder Colors and bought them THE MINUTE I COULD. I finally found time to play with them over the weekend. They are easy and fun to use - throw some water down, sprinkle a bit of the salt, and boom - magic! What I love about them is their unpredictability. The not-knowing-how-it-will-end-up-ness is what drives my inspiration, for sure.

Three of these hearts from my Peek Into Love collection have already sold, but view the last nine available here - they’re only $20 (including shipping) and will ship same day or next day!

This was just the start of my experimenting with this, so be sure to follow along on my socials for all the play!

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Click the image to see a flip through of my first every sketchbook in a gallery!

Last November, the Arts Council of Princeton announced their first ever Sketchbook Club where people can get a small sketchbook, fill it with whatever their hearts desire, and then drop it off for it to live at the gallery.

I was lucky enough to be one of the first 100 people to grab one, and I’ll be honest - I wasn’t sure I’d finish it. Finishing sketchbooks was never a “thing” for me as I just never had the motivation to do it. This was was small - just 20 pages - so I wanted to give it a shot.

I knew that if I took it too seriously, I’d get overwhelmed (no one is surprised), but I just got to play, and it was FUN! I tried things I had never tried before, and made some really cool things that helped me get back into my art game. I’m super grateful for that.

I handed in the book last week, and this weekend, 2.11.23, there will be an official gallery opening of all the sketchbooks that were returned! I’m excited to find my book, and looking forward to seeing everyone else’s books!

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I’ve really been listening - trying to listen - to what my brain is telling me when it comes to what I want to make this year. Last year I had this BIG goal to become a full time artist by the time I turned 40 (which was last November). As the days ticked by, I knew it wasn’t going to happen.

I thought I’d be bummed, but I’m okay with it actually. I still have a lot of work to do to make art a living, and this year I’m working on that. If it means I don’t sell as much work, that’s okay! Lots of research will be happening this year - I’ll be looking into licensing, digital products, creating an e-book for beginner artists, and streamlining finances so that taxes don’t seem as scary

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So I guess all this to say, I’m planning on 2023 to be a year of learning and growth about me, my style, and my art, and writing about it all here - so that maybe in 10 years I’ll read back on this and see how much I accomplished to be the person I was meant to be!

A.C.M.

When I created A Calculated Mess in 2018, I knew it was the perfect business name for me. I like things organized, but have a hard time keeping them that way, and frequently end up with a mess on my hands.

I can’t even keep the sink clean, and it pisses me off.

I wanted a business name (as opposed to just using my real name) because I was nervous about showing my work and it felt safer to hide behind an alternate name and just see what happens. I didn’t even tell anyone other than Junior for a while!

I have trouble with the term “artist.” I know I make art, so that makes me an artist, but I don’t think it’s ALL that I am. I like to make all kinds of things, and I’m interested in ALL THE THINGS. Here is a small breakdown of the types of skills I have (some beginner, some intermediate, some advanced)

1. Painting

2. Drawing

3. Papermaking

4. Printmaking

5. Silkscreen

6. Lithography

7. Photography

8. Jewelry Making

9. Bookbinding

10. Stickermaking

11. Collage

12. Woodworking

13. Scrapbooking

14. Figure Drawing

15. Digital Drawing

And there are so many “family tree” subjects behind all of those subjects.

AND I LOVE DOING THEM ALL.

I signed up for a craft fair in December at my son’s school. I knew it was time to break out my Glowforge and start thinking of some fun stuff that I think kiddos would like for their family members as gifts at a price point that was manageable.

I made the CUTEST canvas board drawings with Georgia that I hope kids will love to draw and gift

Isn’t this the most adorable little elf??

I knew I needed some sort of branding on the packaging so people had a way to reach out if they liked the items, so I quickly made up the sticker you see above.

The front has my business name and “what I call myself”, and the back has all of my contact and social media information. I made smaller ones for the mini paintings as well. I felt fancy AF.

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It wasn’t until later in the week when I was framing one of my mini paintings to keep for myself (I can’t get rid of ALL of them <3) that I saw it.

Do you see it??

__________________________________
A
Calculated
Mess
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Artist
Crafter
Maker
__________________________________

***insert all the “mind blown” emojis***

It was just another way of showing me that this is what I’m meant to do.

And I’m here for it.

You Didn't Pay For That Art Education, Did You?

I have wanted to be an artist for as long as I can remember. From coloring with my mom on the kitchen table, to watching my dad draw on his drafting table, to going to my grandmother’s house to play with her clay face in the basement (who knows how many times she had to remake that face, but she never let us NOT play with it - I can still smell it), art was always in and around me.

All of these memories are so pivotal to my desire to be an artist. Everyone around me created. My mom used to make my sister and my halloween costumes every year until we were about eight, and she used to make the most amazing cakes - a skill that my sister carried on later in life. To be surrounded by so much creativity felt so natural, so normal.

My sister and I - circa 1980s. I remember the wood paneling <3

The only thing I ever wanted to be was an artist - there was never a question. It’s the only thing I can remember wanting to be. Thankfully, I had a mom who supported me in the decision to go to college for art - I don’t know what I would have done if I couldn’t go to school for fine art.

I was lucky enough to acquire a lot of oil paint from my high school art teacher since we didn’t use oils in school anymore (hello, fumes and zero ventilation!), and my grandmother gave me a lot of pastel chalk and conte crayons. I can’t even imagine how much money my mom spent on supplies for me. The support I received was incredible.  Thinking back on it now I remember my sister even drew a piece for me so I’d have the proper quantity of pieces to show for my “audition” to get into the art school that I wanted! It takes a village?

I always had this desire to be “good” like other people. My work was never good enough and so I tended to do a lot of copying when I was in school. And by copying, I’m not talking about “copying the masters” - I’m talking about copying my classmates. I am of course ashamed of that, but when you’re impressionable in school you think that everyone is better than you. You want to be like them and make choices based on what THEY think is good - not necessarily what you think is good.

My final thesis project - paintings made out of paper! I still have them!

I loved my time in art school - it was honestly some of the greatest years of my life. I made so much art and made some really great friends. Once I graduated though - real life set in, and I didn’t pick up a paintbrush for at least ten years…

Looking back I can’t believe it. Something that consumed my every moment, just done. I realize now what it was. I was going through the motions of what I thought an artist was - trained and perfect in every skill, “formal” complete knowledge of human anatomy, an expert figure drawer, and still life extraordinaire.

I felt like a fake - I wasn’t any of those things. And since I thought that’s what an artist was, I never allowed myself to explore the side of art that I truly liked - abstract art.

I was too afraid of what people would think and how it would be seen. I remember one class  where I did explore abstract. I made three small square canvases - I still have them - they were a bit like abstract skies. My teacher at the time came up to me and said something like “ you better be done soon,”  but he didn’t say it in a mean or frustrated way. It was almost like he knew they were complete, and I was too afraid to admit it, so he gave me a nudge. Since they didn’t take me very long (that was another assumption - that “good” art had to be agonized over for months/years before it was finished), I just assumed I couldn’t already be done!

I guess square canvases and abstracts have always been my jam?

Because I never explored that abstract part of my creativity, I didn’t feel a strong pull to keep creating once there was no grade or class schedule to keep pushing me.

I deeply regret the years I went without creating. I lost so much of myself in that time.

I became a single mother and prioritized work for my kiddo. Once she turned 1-ish, I started to think about art again, but it wasn’t until 2018 when I started A Calculated Mess that I really, truly began making more.

The biggest realization - that my college years weren’t as fruitful as they could have been - was a recent light bulb moment. Again, I don’t regret my time there - it was essential to my growth. But when I look back and see how little I took advantage of the tools I had at my fingertips, I just wonder how my art career could have been different if I went through those four years of art college NOW.

That’s why I choose to create every day - whether I make something good or terrible, I make. I make and make and make some more. I make to keep the creativity flowing, to keep the joy alive.

I make so that Past Jessica isn’t disappointed. To show Past Jessica that even though you thought you were bad, you WEREN’T - and those skills you learned MEANT something. To show Past Jessica that Future Jessica will take the risks that you weren’t ready to take, and I promise you, Future Jessica will show you how good you really are.

Past Jessica never knew how good she was. But Present and Future Jessica know she was great.

But to answer the question, no… I didn’t pay for my art education. I was lucky enough to get it for free. So at least there’s that. :-)

I'm Leaving Etsy!

It’s no secret that I’ve been shying away from Etsy lately (or maybe it is). I haven’t made stickers in quite a while since I’ve been working more on painting, and because I’m not adding new items to my shop, it’s not performing as well- which I expected.

What has been hard is realizing that being on Etsy is actually COSTING me money because my listings automatically renew once they expire, costing me .20 per listing.

That doesn’t sound like a lot, but when I have 60 listings that all renew at around the same time, and not many sales to offset that cost, it can add up quickly!

BUT - I am 100% NOT complaining! Etsy was an amazing place to start and gave me a lot of confidence to build my business. It showed my work to lots of people that never would have otherwise, and I learned a lot about money and taxes.

I just know it’s time for me to get everything together on one platform that I can control, which is why I’ve been working on my website!

Even if I am the only one that reads these blog posts, it is such a fun way for me to record the things that are happening in my day-to-day as an artist-person working toward a dream. In the future I hope to make more blog posts that are more informational, such as mini tutorials and things like that, which could be helpful for those of you who are interested in getting more into art (yay!! you can do it!!)

Having said all that - I’d like to introduce you to the ACM Marketplace! The one-stop-shop for all things ACM, including my works on paper, earrings, stickers, etc. I felt that with me having an interest in ALL THE ART THINGS, it would be fun to have a “marketplace” versus a shop, where each item is separated so the experience wouldn’t be so overwhelming or confusing.

Right?! It’s like my own virtual storefront for all my crazy ideas! I’m even considering at one point offering the marketplace out to others as a way to share their work as well, but that’s a “future Jessica” tackle.

So who knows? Maybe my Etsy will stay open with a few items that sell well as a way to keep my eggs in more than one basket, or maybe I’ll decide to close it altogether. We’ll see!

I Just Got The Best Critique That I Didn't Know I Needed

If you’ve seen this Instagram post, you know I was feeling a bit bummed after the launch of my rainbow collection.

The post was about how people who complete a big accomplishment usually feel lost afterwards because they spend so much time on that ONE THING and then one day it’s done.

And then it’s like… now what?

I spent a lot of time thinking about what it was that I was not happy about. It wasn’t the money. Although money is great, I didn’t make these paintings because of money. I made them because they made me happy.

I let that day be a “sad day” and I busied myself with cleaning instead.

Then this morning I got the best critique I didn’t even know I needed.

I read that and instantly realized why I was disappointed with these rainbow paintings.

THEY WEREN’T DONE!!

Don’t get me wrong- I love these paintings, and the two that I’ve sold are going to great homes of people that LOVE them, but damn that hit the nail on the head for me.

As soon as I could, I went into the craft room, took one of the paintings, and did this:

It’s not black and white, and it’s not done, but man do I like it better already.

Thanks, Brandi - I appreciate it more than you know.

Paint Scraping and Fiber Paste

Recently I’ve been playing with two ends of the spectrum- no texture paints and ALL THE TEXTURE paintings.

Let’s start with the texture- out of the different textures I’ve tried, I am found a correct favorite- this Fiber Paste from Golden Paints. It is the perfect combination of a smooth application and a rough but not too coarse finish when it dries. It’s almost got the feeling of handmade paper- a little bit of texture and tooth.

I like to use this as a base layer to some of my paintings so that it’s already got depth when I start painting. Here are three mini paintings I did using the Fiber Paste as a base layer.

I love that it can be layered thin or thick to create different textures, and so I’ve been playing around with some different compositions using this medium.

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Next up, zero texture! This past week I finally color swatched my GotIdeal Paints that I got as a Christmas gift. If you don’t color swatch, you should start! It’s a great visual to see what colors you have, and sometimes the outside of the tube doesn’t quite match what the actual paint color is.

During this process, I scraped the extra paint onto a piece of sketchbook paper and ended up with the most beautiful abstract landscape!

I was amazed at how much texture and depth was visible even though there was no physical texture on the paper because I used a palette knife to scrape the excess paint onto the paper.

This has sparked a few interesting ideas in me about my art. First, I think I am truly more invested in the process of painting than the actual result, and if it ends up like garbage, I can paint over it and no one will even know. (In fact, it may give the next painting a great base layer of texture to start with!)

Second, I am so interested in the conversation between colors. What I mean by that is, colors react to each other differently, depending on which color they are next to. A blue will look blue next to green, but may look more purple if you put it next to a red.

It’s an interesting idea floating around in my head, and in the meantime, I’m having fun experimenting.

That’s all I’ve got for now! Thank you, once again, for taking the time to read through my thoughts about my art. It feels good to get it out and to see the progress and evolution of my process each time I sit down to write it out.

Have a great weekend <3

Girl Artist Crushes

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Hello! Welcome to my list of girl artist crushes that I started in 2022. I am constantly amazed and inspired by women artists and their talents, and aim to spotlight some of them here. I believe that women artists have earned their spot in the art world, and it’s time that they got their time.

I will be updating this list weekly-ish, or whenever I send out my newsletter, so check back often!

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Melissa Doty | Melissa Doty Art

This was the first piece of original artwork I EVER BOUGHT, probably in 2018?

Melissa Doty is a West Virginia, USA muralist and painter. Her color theory is INSANE. My favorite part of her Instagram page are when, in her stories, she explains why a particular color isn’t working and shows her process on how to change it. Magic!

Lately she’s been busy, you know, painting murals for HUGE columns on overpasses! They are gorgeous and colorful and I’d be scared as hell to have to get on one of those scissor lifts to install it. No way, dude. But she rocked it.

I have a total of four pieces of Melissa’s and each one is so lovely and whimsical and fun. I definitely recommend checking her out. You can even get a head start on Christmas cards by purchasing her sets here - they are cute, colorful, and classy <3

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Amanda Fan |
Boulder Colors

Click the picture to shop!

Pigment. Salts.

They’re straight magic.

See the video that prompted my PROMPT purchase here

Not only does Amanda make these salts from natural ingredients using magic alchemy that she’s learned over time, she also makes her own watercolor paints.

Probably the most interesting thing is her ability to make watercolor palettes from wedding bouquets - so you KNOW I’m going to be overnighting her my bouquet in October and getting myself some wedding watercolors.

If you don’t follow her - please do- you will not regret it.

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Michelle Sparks | Michelle Sparks Art

I’m so “Lucky” she’s mine ;-)

Michelle Sparks is an Australian abstract artist and I am in love with her style of work.

She makes the happiest, brightest, funnest art with the LOVELIEST neon colors and graffiti style marks.

She is constantly trying new styles, but yet somehow makes everything look cohesive.

Michelle is definitely an inspiration to me and I love following her career.

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Deb | The Nerdy Needle

Deb makes the SWEETEST little nuggets, fairy houses, mushrooms and more. These three nuggets are mine, and they make me smile every time I see them.

Her work is so whimsical and quirky and perfectly imperfect in every good way.

I’ve always appreciated sculpture, but never felt like I had the patience or skill level to tackle something like that. But Deb? She does it so well!

Check out her Instagram here, and if you want to purchase some of your own happy nuggets (or an ACORN FAIRY HOUSE!), check out her website.

Her pieces would make the best unique holiday gifts and I don’t know a single person that wouldn’t smile when they received one.

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Kym Fetsko

This one is mine!!

When I first saw Kym’s Instagram page, I was IN AWE.

She uses oil mixed with cold wax to make this most amazing texture. She is doing a course all about her technique in Scranton in September, and I wish I could make it. I’m hoping she’ll make it into an online class because I’d love to get a formal lesson in this style.

As someone who studied strictly with oil painting in college, I’d love to get back into it, and the addition of the cold wax mixed in just gives me ALL the joy.

When I tell you I almost cried when I saw this piece in person…

It’s just beautiful. She still has some (VERY affordable) pieces left in her ITLT collection - check them out here.

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Amber Henderson

A couple of these beauties are MINE!

Amber makes the most beautiful and color artwork I’ve seen! The expressive brush strokes and bright colors make my eyes light up!!

I bought three of her Glass Bead and Resin pieces and when I tell you they are gorgeous - they are GORGEOUS. Shiny, colorful, textures, all the lovely things.

Like she says in her thank you card, “Life is too short for beige.”

Agreed. 100%.

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Sarah Golden Art

Click the image above to head to her IG - she makes still life painting look effortless

I’ve followed Sarah for as long as I can remember and there is not a single piece that she makes that I’m not obsessed with.

She makes still life and abstract painting look so easy and her minimalist style is super inspiring. Sometimes it’s easy to forget that less is more with abstract painting, but she has this style absolutely nailed.

Sign up for her newsletter here and get yourself one of her pieces.

Sarah is on my list of artists I’d love to buy from, and I can’t wait to add one of her pieces to my collection.

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The Creative Rebel

this GORGEOUS rug is available, and there are so many others to choose from if this style/color palette isn’t for you!

I may be a little biased for this week since The Creative Rebel is actually my sister’s business, but come on! That disco ball is everything.

Danielle (or Dan, as I call her) is a fiber artist who has made rugs and wall hangings that are astrology themed, feminist driven, nature centered, and everything in between.

She is currently working on a decade-inspired collection and I cannot wait to see those retro vibes!!

Her Etsy shop is packed full of beauties, and her Instagram has so many satisfying tufting process videos that it’ll keep you occupied for a while!!

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Josie Lewis

Josie Lewis is literally one of the GOATs for me when it comes to rainbow art. I’ve been following her on her instagram FOREVER, and she really helped me navigate my feelings toward wasting paint, saving the GOOD supplies for GOOD work, and generally is an amazing resource for artists at all levels.

I recently enrolled in her course, ARC (Art Revenue Coaching), and it’s aim is to help artists get their artwork SOLD, and all the hurdles along the way. I am really excited to learn from her and gain some extra knowledge and courage to get myself to continue on this art path.

If you don’t already follow her, you should, for all the reasons above, but if for no other reason- she shares the CUTEST and FUNNIEST animal reels in her stories, and they are definitely worth the watch. <3

Emotions, Elements, and Elections

What am I thinking about?

I admit that I’ve been in a bit of a slump lately. I was spoiled with my time off over the summer while I had to watch the kiddos – I got so much done! Reading! Art! Cleaning and laundry! It was amazing!

Now, Junior and I have been back to work full time for about seven weeks now, and I’ve noticed a huge dip in my creativity. I feel like I have no time or energy to do anything creative, and I’m honestly wondering how the hell I managed to make a piece of work every day during the 100 day challenge at the beginning of this whole pandemic!

I know every creative goes through a rut from time to time, and there are SO many ways to get out of it, but right now, I don’t want to hear any of them. Right now I just want to do nothing. I know it’s not the right thing to do. I get it. The weather doesn’t help either. I definitely get a little bit of a seasonal depression when the colder seasons come. And then there’s the election.

I guess there’s a lot going on here. 

What am I working on? 

I have been working on some drawings for my Mood Tracker project- mostly on my lunch breaks. A couple years ago, I started doing mood tracking with Kay as a way to try to track her emotions on a daily basis and see if I could figure out patterns to why she would be more grumpy from one day to the next. We’ve moved away from that more, but I like to think that someone else could benefit from it so I’m working on some printable PDFs with lots of ideas and instructions on how to best use them for your kiddos (or yourself!). 

Now if I could just figure out how to make a damn perfect circle in Procreate….

I am still working on this library- I finished the back and I love it!

I have one more element to finish up on the side, and then I can seal it. I think pretty soon the ground is going to be too cold to dig 18” for the post, so we better get on it! It just needs one more thing on the side and a good seal to protect from the elements and then we’re good to go! Fingers crossed next weekend we’ll get this up and running!

I did at least finish putting resin on my keychains (win!!) so now it’s just a matter of assembling those bad boys so I can sell them!

One day at a time, guys. It’s just about going one day at a time.

What am I reading/listening to?

I’ve been listening and reading to all the election coverage. I’m definitely overwhelmed, anxious, worried about the future of the country.

I have already voted- have you?

The next couple weeks are sure to be stressful for lots of people. Let’s all just try to remember that we are a team. We cannot make the world better if we can’t figure out how to get along.

One day at a time.

Kindness, Keychains, and (happy) Clouds

Happy Friday, friends!

It’s been another long week of work, hasn’t it? Let’s get right into it- ice cream is calling my name!

What am I thinking about?

I’m thinking about Bob Ross today. Randomly this morning, I stumbled across the Bob Ross Channel (!!!) on Samsung TV. I used to love watching him as a kid, and now I remember why. He has the most calming, relaxing voice, doesn’t he? Just a chill, “let’s see what happens” attitude. Nothing is ever a mistake, nothing is ever not fixable. That’s gotta be the best way to paint, I think. Just paint, let the happy accidents happen, and go on from there. It’s amazing how he can make a few brush strokes look like the most realistic clouds I’ve ever seen.

I have firmly decided that my weekend mornings will start with Bob and Coffee, and I’m kinda loving that.

What am I working on?

 I don’t know about you, but I have the worst time finishing things. I’ll start something, get it 95% done, and then- I just don’t finish it. I have no idea why, I just have no desire to do that last 5%. It happens all the time.

With the keychains, it’s physically assembling them. 

With the artwork, it’s scanning them to put on my website. 

With the library, it’s painting the back so it’s ready for sealing.

I. Just. Can’t. Finish. It.

So this weekend is about doing that last 5%. Assembling keychains, scanning artwork, painting the rest of the library. Check, check, check.

What am I reading or listening to?

With a little over a month until the election, I have been BINGE listening to podcasts about the news. Listening, hearing, processing- it’s a cycle. And as it gets closer, I get more anxious about what is going to happen. Because seriously, no one knows. No one freakin knows. It’s such a crazy time right now, isn’t it?

My sincere wish is for the world to get just a bit kinder. Just a little bit. And then tomorrow, maybe a little bit more. Until we all see that we will not move forward until we all agree that progress is necessary, black lives matter, the environment needs our help, women’s rights are valid, and we’re all in this together.

Have a great weekend, friends.

Art, Artist Block, and Another Book

What am I thinking about? 

This week, I’m thinking so much about being a full time artist. It’s something I’ve wanted for as long as I can remember, but damn is it a scary thing to think about. Being a full time artist is not a guarantee of consistent income, it is a lot more work than a “regular” job, and takes a HUGE amount of discipline that I’m afraid I won’t have. 

My job is amazing. I love the work, the people, and the company. I truly do. But it’s not my true passion- it doesn't inspire me. It's just... my job. 

My goal is to be a full time artist at 40. That gives me just over two years. I figure if I can move to part time at my job in the beginning of 2022, then I'll be on track to get where I need to go. I know I can do this- I FEEL it in me. It's what I was made to do. 

What am I working on? 

Still working on the Little Free Library! The primer went on Sunday, and the hope is to get it completely painted by the end of this week. 

Other than that, I'm making progress cleaning up the craft room to make space for SO MANY canvases I have lying around. Time to paint those beauties!! 

I'm also working on something to help with artist's block! It's something I heard on a podcast a while ago, and I'm excited to finish it up (hopefully this week, also!). It's all about random art and leaving things up to chance- two things that make my heart SO happy! Stay tuned for that as well. 

What am I reading? 

I started Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children last week. I had seen the movie when it came out a few years ago, and I was excited when I found this on Free Book Day in my neighborhood in the middle of the summer. 

I'm about 40 pages in and it's so good! I didn't know it was Book One in a series, so I'm looking forward to reading the whole collection. The photos in the book are an interesting addition, and the fact that they are real photos are just incredible. 

Remote Learning, Reading, and Rediscovery

Happy Friday, friends! Summer is over, school is back, and it’s time to get back into a routine.

What am I thinking about? 

It is back to school season- obviously not like any other back to school we’ve ever had before, but back to school anyway. My daughter is starting fully virtual until October 12th, and then (maybe?) transitioning into a hybrid model until further notice. She definitely misses physically going to school and is bummed to be staying home, but she understands why the district chose this way. She IS excited about doing her schoolwork in her room. The school has provided her with a chrome book, and I bought her a dry erase board and cork board to help keep her organized.

She’ll be on her own doing her classwork as we all have to go back to work. Luckily (for now) my sister is working from home and can at least be the adult in the house in case something happens. I have no doubt that Kayla will do great on her own as she is very disciplined when it comes to school. Secretly, I think she enjoys having the independence of doing it on her own, but she knows that if she doesn’t perform to the best of her abilities, we’ll have to come up with another option (which she won’t like) to ensure her work gets done. 

So for now, I’m still lowering my expectations for a bit to see how this transition goes, and hoping for the best while keeping us all safe and healthy.

What am I working on?

What AREN’T I working on should be the real question! 

My Website: I’m finally working through a course I bought a few months ago, Makers Tech University, created by Roben-Marie Smith. It’s AMAZING, guys. Literally, step-by-step instructions for everything from creating a Squarespace website to keeping your social media up to date. Slowly but surely, I’m making my way to each of the lessons, and it’s been so cool to see my website improve!

My Style: This is the hardest thing I am working on right now. I’m just experimenting, experimenting, experimenting. I’m working on figuring this crap out so I can feel more confident about my work. I’m using old notebooks and small Moleskine sketchbooks for now, but know I need to work on better paper in order to get the real feel of what the paint and ink will do.

My “Studio”: I’m still afraid to call it a studio! I call it the “craft room” because the kids do crafts in there! I’m moving things out of here, putting them there, so I can put other things in its spot. I’m repurposing things in new ways, and buying new things to organize. Definitely purging- donating/trashing what I can to make it an inspiring place to work.

My Little Free Library: We got a LFL, guys! I love it so much- we’ve picked the colors and the girls drew flowers that they want to incorporate on it as well. We’re calling it The Pretty Peach Library, and it’s even got its own IG page: @prettypeachlibrary. Follow along if you want! The goal is to get it up and running by the end of September, so I’ll keep you updated.

My Keychains: I found a new way to make the keychains I was making last December, and I’m IN LOVE! Ink and resin are my BFFs for these, and I can’t wait to get them finished and posted on my website (!!!) for sale!

What am I reading?

Since I’ve been home a lot over the past six months, I’ve been doing SO MUCH READING and it’s been so good. I’m reading more BIPOC books that I ever have before, and my daughter has been doing the same for her summer reading.

I just finished reading Trevor Noah’s Born a Crime- wow. To hear all the things a person can go through in one lifetime and see how they came out on the other end; it’s just incredible. I heard he reads the audiobook version, and I think I need to get it just to hear him read it in his accent <3.

 Here are some other books I’ve read this summer as well. If you are interested, I encourage you to purchase your books from an independent bookstore rather that Amazon or Target. They would love our support - click here to find one near you.

My daughter also read a TON of books this summer- I was really proud of how many books she read! Most of these books she chose based on recommendations from her school. Others I picked for her to read. We have a rule in the summer. First, she can read a book she wants to read, but next she has to read a book that I choose for her. This lets her be in control of what she gets to read while also letting me slip in books to challenge her. Here is what she read this summer:

I hope you all have an amazing weekend! Please remember- the election is less than two months away! If you haven’t registered, THERE IS STILL TIME! Please do what you can to get your vote counted. It is SO important.

Pandemics, Paintings, and Planning

It’s been a couple months- a bit of a fail on my part, I get that. Making time to sit down and work on my website it A LOT harder than I thought it would. Here I am thinking I’ll have all the time in the world to sit down and express my thoughts weekly, and nope- it's been HARD. 

And yet, here I am- trying again. So let's see what's going on with me. 

What am I thinking about?  

Right now I'm thinking about what everyone else is thinking about- the Corona virus, and how it's affecting EVERYONE and EVERYTHING in the world. Literally the craziest thing, right? It's new for us all, and we're all taking it one day at a time. It's all we can do. 

Luckily, my boyfriend and I are "essential" and still have our jobs full time. Since the kiddos are home from school and daycare, we've been alternating weeks off to stay home with them. It's been such an interesting experience- half stay at home mom/teacher; half essential warehouse worker. I realize how lucky we are- not everyone is as fortunate. I'm taking advantage of the time as best I can. We're taking lots of walks (thank goodness for warmer weather!), and I'm spending tons of quality time with my family. 

I know so many people are going through tough times right now, and my heart hurts for all of them. We are trying to do our part to help while also staying home as often as possible to flatten the curve. Our once a week grocery shopping trips feel both stressful and a luxury, and we are tipping more than usual when we order delivery (which is also MORE THAN NORMAL).

No one knows when this will be over... it's a nerve wracking time for sure. 

One day at a time- that's all we can do. 

What am I working on? 

I am fourteen days into The 100 Day Project. If you're not sure what that is, check out https://www.the100dayproject.org. Simply put, you pick a challenge (art related or not- doesn't matter!) and commit to doing it every day for 100 days, posting daily on social media with the hashtag #the100dayproject. 

People usually come up with a hashtag of their own that works with their personal project. This year, I chose #100mixedmediascribbles - I'm working on playing with abstract painting while also experimenting with the TONS of supplies I bought at ACMoore during their closing. 

It's been the most amazing project! Even though we're only just over a tenth of the way through, I'm loving the way my work is going and have even had some inquiries for sales! 

I am keeping my work the same size, 6"x9" (I think that's the size?) and am letting myself just PLAY! I love the smaller size because it doesn't feel overwhelming, and I commit to 15 minutes each night. If I go longer than that, great! If I stop at 15 minutes, great! It's about getting the work done each day, regardless of the outcome. 

I look for inspiration in photos, nature, and my every day life. Sometimes I open the windows and just LISTEN to what's happening outside, other times it's 9:30 at night and I'm just trying to get it done #truth. 

After just two weeks, I'm super in love with my progress and can't wait to see what the next 85 days bring!

What am I reading? 

I've been reading a little bit of this, a little bit of that... I haven't been able to commit to a single book right now, but aim every day to spend SOME time reading. 

Currently, I'm:

-catching up on my magazines (in her studio, Where Women Create, HGTV, DIY magazine, Reader's Digest- SO MANY MAGAZINES, but I love them all and read them all so it's not a waste of money for me)

-finishing up Big Dreams, Daily Joys by Elise Cripe. Elise is such an inspiration to me- she just does it all! I have her book as well as her planner, Get To Work Book, and have been pretty good about keeping track of my things and keeping myself accountable for finishing them. 

-giving The Virgin Suicides an honest shot. I read the first chapter and couldn't follow all of it, but I want to give it a couple more chapters before I give up. I'm not one that HAS to finish a book just because I started it. I'd rather ditch it and move on to another book I'll LOVE and can't put down.

Basically the theme I’m working with until all of this is over is “lower your expectations”. It sounds counterintuitive, right? But it’s actually been so freeing! Imagine not stressing over getting something done, kids eating three healthy, balanced meals, keeping the house spotless, etc? Saying- today I will get done what I can, and BE OKAY WITH IT. Try it if you haven’t- it’s the best!

Spies, Styles, and Swatches

Happy Friday friends! It’s been a crazy week. I won’t even get into the details, but let’s just say I’ve officially crossed off the first “Learn something new” for my 2020 goals (“learn what to do when your identity is stolen” CHECK).

Let’s get into it- I have ice cream calling my name!

What am I working on?

I went a little nuts a couple weeks ago and bought almost EVERY COLOR of craft paint at Michael’s. I previously had a mismatched mess of acrylic craft paint- some of it was good, some was garbage. My overall desire to have all things match brought me to spend over $70 (in gift cards) on a complete set of craft paint.

I chose the Craft Smart Premium Satin acrylic paint because it had the best reviews in my research.

I am hard at work making a swatch board so I can see all the colors at a glance, and I am SO excited to see this finished. I bought a clear acrylic 12” x 12” sheet, painted it with clear gesso, and marked everything out. My daughter is going to help me paint it this weekend, and seeing all those circles colored in is going to give me all the hearts in my eyes!

My goal for this weekend is to get some serious progress done on making keychains! I have all the supplies just WAITING to be painted. I’ve even got something fun planned for them when they’re all made. It’s something that’ll take some bravery, but I’m up for the challenge!

What am I thinking about?

I am definitely thinking about painting again. By my last check on Instagram, October 10th was the last time I posted a painting!

Bro! That’s not okay!!

I’ve been working on other things since then, of course, but I do miss painting. The quiet. I miss the quiet. Just the sounds of nature (either real life nature or podcast-induced nature ha!), closing my eyes, and seeing what happens. It’s literally the most relaxed I’ve felt in a long time.

I’m excited to work on my process. I’ve been thinking conceptually a lot- about things that bother me, things that I love, things that make me think. I’m so looking forward to thinking through some of these things.

I’m learning that the process is so much more important than people think. I’ll often look at people’s artwork and be so impressed and jealous that they are able to just product all of this incredible work, and also forget that it likely took them YEARS to get to the point where they are. It took years of trying and failing, over and over, to get to a point where they love their work and feel like they’re created a style that’s THEM.

I have a lot of work to do to get there, and I can’t freakin wait for it!

What am I reading?

This week, I’m reading my first ever Paulo Coelho book, The Spy. I always knew he was an amazing author, but never made time to read any of his books. My sister had this one and let me borrow it as a “quick read”. I can barely put it down- it’s so good! I recognized the name Mata Hari, but never knew her story, and he makes reading about her life so interesting! If you haven’t read a Paulo Coelho book, please do yourself a favor- go to the library this weekend and borrow one. You won’t regret it. This one is next on my list!

Thanks for keeping up with me here- this is more for me to keep track of what I’m thinking/doing/working on, but if there’s something you’d like me to talk about, let me know!

See you next week(ish)!