Issue No. 11: Notes From The Studio

Giving Art Space to Breathe

Notice When It Passes By

Let me start today’s message with, “I have a lot to share with you!”…and I’m not going to share it all today. Not even close.

I’ve been reading so many things lately — books, articles, people chatting on Threads and Instagram — that keep bringing me back to this question:

What is the BEST way for me to share my inspiration and art online in a virtual world that just keeps speeding up faster and faster?

Where do my stories live?

Where is the narrative?

Where is my archive? Right now, only here, sort of.

I mean, yes, I have a (pretty organized) website with an About page. But over the years everything I’ve shared became so splintered off from my blog to my newsletter and social media (my website has blog posts from 2009 that have been moved over repeatedly!) and I hate that there’s no solid path of creativity, inspiration, and progress to guide people through who first see my work.

How I Move Through The World

I love sharing here on Substack. I feel like I have a lot of room to dig deep into the things that I’m thinking about, the inspiration behind my art, and the ability to let you know when I have new art collections and events. But what about those times that I want to talk about something but it doesn’t feel “big enough” for a newsletter or blog post?

That used to be when I’d go to Instagram or other places like that, but I don’t have the same connection to those places that I used to. Just last night, I went on Threads and I realized how AWKWARD I feel posting on social media now! It’s such a weird thing considering I used to spend so much time doing it!

I know that I have to use it in some way to be able to share my art online. Whenever I create the new “whatever” on my website that’s going to tell the story of me and my art, I’m going to need a way to get people to see it. But then my brain starts thinking about all the splintering off of my art and my story, and that everyone only sees things for one second and it’s gone, and there’s so much noise, AND, AND, AND…

And I get overwhelmed. And then I do nothing. I mean, not NOTHING nothing. I’ve got a lot of stuff going on (again, that I’ll tell you about another time — just because I’m trying to be more focused, not because I’m trying to tease a reveal! 🙄), but mostly nothing in terms of sharing myself and my work on social media.

This is what’s been occupying my mind these days. That and the new print shop I’m working on for you. I thought I’d have it done before I sent out this newsletter, but honestly, I’ve REALLY missed writing to you and I don’t need to cram everything in at once.

I’m allowing myself and my art to have room to breathe.

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New FRAMED Paintings

I’m so excited to finally be able to offer you framed paintings! I received some framed canvas samples from Blank Inspiration and I LOVE them. Both of these new paintings are available on my website. If you order one soon I’ll be able to ship or deliver it before I leave for France next Wednesday. Otherwise they will ship in May.

Notice When It Passes By

Notice When It Passes By is inspired by a feeling of beauty and movement, not different from those moments when we experience something fleeting — an emotion, a place, a memory. In the physical world, we might encounter this sensation when we’re traveling from one place to the next, only able to observe what we’re experiencing in the briefest of moments — through passenger seat windows from a car or train. These glimpses, while brief, can be powerful.

How I Move Through The World

How I Move Through The World is inspired by the colorful bougainvillea I’ve encountered on recent trips to Puerto Vallarta, Maui, and Los Angeles. I love the vibrancy of those flowers and it felt great to revisit their beauty this spring. I wanted to create a sense of movement in the piece, the essence of what it feels like to be walking around a new destination and suddenly be brought in front of so much beauty.

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Thank you for joining me today! Let me know if you have any questions about my art. Also let me know if there are any topics you’d like me to share in future editions of this newsletter or on social media. I’m always wondering what you’re most interested in hearing more about.

Have a great rest of your week! You’ll hear from me again in May, when I’m back from France! Unless I happen to finish my print shop before then — if I do, I’ll send you a quick email, but honestly it is taking FOREVER to set up so I’m not sure if it will happen soon. :)

xo,

Melanie

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