New Website, My Artist’s Journal, and Things That Have Made Me Happy
January 2025 | Notes From The Studio | Issue 19
Hi Friends,
In some ways it already feels like a long year. It’s been hard to get started — to move into a place of creativity and inspiration. I’ve been glued to my phone way more than I’d like to be and need to come up with ways to put it down a lot more often.
From the end of November until early January I was not in my studio. This was the longest amount of time that I’ve been away from painting ever since becoming an artist! It was weird and hard sometimes.
Part of the time I was out was due to illness. My whole family got a horrible stomach virus and I had the added pleasure of fainting and hurting my ribs. I’m okay now, but it was rough for a while. Since I didn’t feel well enough to work in the studio it was the perfect time to complete a huge project that I’ve been putting off forever — redoing my entire website.
I mentioned in my last issue of Notes From The Studio that I had learned to be proud of the duality found in my art. When I created my new website, one of my goals was to truly showcase that difference and celebrate the newfound pride in the variation of my work.
If you have a chance to explore it, let me know what you think!
IN MY ARTIST’S JOURNAL
I’ve started using my Artist’s Journal more on my new website and I’m loving the process. I’m planning to spend a lot more time there and really dive deep into the entire “vibe” of my artwork through visual tools like mood boards. My first example of that is The Evolution of Wintering: How Subtle Changes In Art Can Transform A Space.
The best way for you to stay connected with what I’m sharing on my Artist’s Journal is right here in this newsletter! If you’re a not a subscriber you can sign up below.
Here are direct links to the other stories I’ve shared so far in 2025:
Revisiting a Pivotal Collaboration: The 2020 Abstract Landscape Collection
There will be a spot for my Artist’s Journal posts in each issue of Notes From The Studio so you’ll never have to miss anything.
ON MY MIND / INSPIRING ME NOW
If you’ve been here for a while, you know how special Los Angeles is to me. It’s one of my “home” cities and a place that I return to often, literally and creatively. Seeing a city that I love face so much devastation is incredibly painful to watch. My heart goes out to all of the people, animals, and communities who suffered loss. Mutual Aid L.A. has put together a huge list of resources/ways to help.
I’ve been thinking a lot about this quote from artist Alma Thomas:
“I’ve never bothered painting the ugly things in life. People struggling, having difficulty. You meet that when you go out, and then you have to come back and see the same thing hanging on the wall. No. I wanted something beautiful that you could sit down and look at. And then, the paintings change you.”
— Alma Thomas
One of my goals for the next four years — well, forever, really…as long as I am here — is to offer beauty to the world. Whether it be through my own art or sharing books/music/images/places that I’m inspired by. That’s the kind of space I plan to take up in the world.
Right now at least, there are plenty of reliable sources to find out what is going in the world. But I’m not here to regurgitate the news or share my opinion on everything that occurs. This is not to say that I don’t have opinions or vehemently disagree with so much that is happening. Or that I’m not worried. It’s just not the energy that I want to, or feel like I can, contribute.
It’s also why I have to start limiting my own screen time and the news that I consume. I want to be able to continue to be a place for you to find beauty and to keep creating the kind of art that I make. There is a lot of darkness and I can’t hold it all. I’ve seen what happens to me personally and to my work when I stay there for too long. I hope that you understand.
Here are a few things that I’ve enjoyed lately:
The Husbands by Holly Gramazio: This debut novel was such a unique and fun read! I enjoyed it so much and have actually been wishing it was still the book I’m reading when I crawl into bed every night.
Beachtown Bohemia: A Substack newsletter celebrating coastal California from Santa Barbara based writer and illustrator Olivia Joffrey. I first learned about Olivia and discovered her wonderful stories when she had a line of caftans that served as a love letter to her mother. I’m so glad I found her!
The Handsome Podcast: If you’re looking for something hilarious, I can’t recommend The Handsome Podcast enough. Hosted by comedians Fortune Feimster, Mae Martin, and Tig Notaro, this podcast makes me actually enjoy my commute home from the studio. My husband and I carpool and it’s our go-to comedy escape that regularly makes me laugh out loud.
WHAT’S NEXT
I’m planning to launch my first painting collection of 2025 in February! There’s a sneak peek of a mood board featuring bits of two of them above. The next time that I email you I will have six new paintings that will be available for you to collect. Stay tuned and be sure to share this letter with a friend if you think they would be interested in my work.
Thank you so much for being here!
xo,
Melanie
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