Just A Girl And Her Flowers (26)

Last week was a tough one for me.  In fact, these flowers, although beautiful, were covering trails and trails of tears pouring from my eyes.  My pot-bellied pig passed away early in the week, and for those of you who know me, you know how much this destroys me.  For those of you who don't, I can see how odd that sentence may seem.  Yes, I had a pig.  For a very long time.  He was my best bud throughout quite a few milestones in my life (and was even in my wedding pictures). I had intended on writing the deep, sentimental post about life and its hardships, but the words are just not coming.  I am still too sad. 

And just as I was struggling to get through this photoshoot and feeling uninterested in it and unmotivated by it in the previous weeks, it feels appropriate with this new chapter of my life to just retire it.  It was, after all, just supposed to get me through my 52 project of 2015 (you can see more about it here).

So today, I am just going to take another deep breath (I've been taking quite a few) and bury myself in my work.  Because sometimes life is hard.  And ugly.  And not beautiful.  I'm currently finding comfort in these words:

"For a seed to achieve its greatest expression, it must come completely undone.  The shell cracks, the insides come out and everything changes.  To someone who doesn't understand growth, it would look like completely destruction." -Cynthia Occeli

For those of you int he middle of the complete destruction, embrace it today. 

Just A Girl And Her Studies (47)

I am FINALLY back into the flow of things after these past few months have been endlessly crazy.  It's funny how sometimes monotony can get to you because sometimes it's EXACTLY what you need.  And right now, it's just that.  It feels SO GOOD to have a workflow again.  New prints.  Inspiration.  Endless ideas to test out.  Man, it feels good. 

Just A Girl And Her Sketchbook (6)

A few weeks into my sketchbook and so far I realized two very important things.  First, there's nothing better than starting your day with your sketchbook.  I notice such a difference in the days that I do versus the days that I don't.

And second, when you give yourself freedom to do whatever it is you want (for once) and try to not limit yourself, your sketchbook somehow streamlines itself (where in the past it never did).  Funny how things work out.  Freedom is a good, good thing.

Just A Girl And Her Paint (5)

Isn't it funny how each Monday you can feel invigorated to take the week and kick its butt? And then more often than not, it's just the typical week like every other week.  Endless to do lists, days going by way too fast, and workloads piling on to the next week to come.  Even if that is the outcome 99% of the time, I still enjoy that fearless, constructive and overachieving mood Mondays tend to bring out in me. 

Just A Girl And Her Studies (46)

I've been working on a new series for quite some time, but keep pushing it off because I am waiting for the spring to come around again.  These three are the first few ALMOST finished pieces.  They can go together, but they don't HAVE to go together. Oh the possibilities.  They aren't done yet, but they sure are close and it feels mighty good!

Just A Girl And Her Studies (44)

I've been craving simplicity.  In everything. In my life.  In my work - both in theory and in practice.  And it feels VERY good.  I think simplicity is everything.  Because I tend to overthink things.  Overwork things.  And that leaves me completely OVER most things.  So here's to my new venture in simplicity. 

Happy Friday!

Just A Girl And Her Paint (2)

FRIDAY FEELS GOOD.  We're settled (for the moment), I'm inspired, and I've got my little work station set up.  It's officially beginning to feel like a new year with a fresh start.  Hey, it may be a little late, but we can't all be on the same schedule. 

HAPPY FRIDAY!

Currently

I like that instagram makes me think in grid formation.  And I like that I can grab any set grid and it's a good depiction of what my studio has been looking like.  This one is from a few weeks ago, but these colors still feel so inviting to me.

Just A Girl Holding Flowers (23)

The cold weather has finally hit and I am surprisingly handling it very well.  We're officially moved into our temporary home, although we still have lots of cleaning to do at our house before closing, and it feels refreshing to be in a new space even though it's a bit of a sterile atmosphere.  I mean it's only temporary and I (we) can handle anything knowing there's an end date.

I'm anxious to set up a little studio corner here and get back to work.  It's been too long! Here's to a very Happy Monday!

2015 Best Nine

I am madly in love with instagram, so I of course was curious to see what my 2015 best nine were (I succumbed to the pressure!).  It feels like a very good depiction of my year, which makes me very happy to see. 

This has been, by far, the best year spent in my studio, even with some hiccups, a studio move, and now a second MUCH BIGGER move.  And it feels only appropriate around this time a year later that our precious pup Ollie made it to the top nine because we're about to celebrate a full year with him.  And man, oh man is he a sweet puppy. And what's better than puppies and art.  2015, you treated me well.  Thank you.