Books, Clay & The Beautiful Balance of Making

⚽ A New Team to Cheer For

As I'm writing this, the World Cup final is about to begin... let's go Spain!

I was originally cheering for Switzerland, but after Argentina knocked them out, I had to choose a new favorite. Truthfully, I probably would've ended up rooting for Spain anyway, so apologies to any Argentina fans reading this. By the time this newsletter lands in your inbox, we'll already know who won, so here's hoping the best team came out on top. 

🍋 My First Painting on Gift Wrap

I can finally share one of my newest commissions, which also happens to be the very first painting I've completed on craft paper.

This isn't ordinary paper either. It's beautiful lemon-patterned gift wrap that's normally meant for wrapping presents. I've used this type of paper for pastel drawings before, but painting on it with acrylics was an entirely different experience. The paint interacts with the paper in such an interesting way, and because the lemon pattern stays so flat, the book I painted almost looks like it's sitting right on top of the page. I love when the material itself becomes part of the artwork.The little details painted onto the book cover also tell the story of the person receiving the piece.

🌿 Switching Between Clay & Paint

Last week wasn't my most productive week, and honestly, I think I needed it. This week I'm feeling much more excited to jump back into making.

I've started a new mixed media piece for my portfolio that combines acrylic paint with clay. I didn't get very far on it last week, but working on it sparked an idea that found its way into my newest commission.

I'm currently painting a home for someone who absolutely loves their plants. As someone who's equally attached to mine, I completely understood what to do. Instead of simply painting the plants, I sculpted them from clay so they actually stand out from the surface of the painting.

One of my favorite parts about working this way is how different each medium feels. Clay lets me build real dimensions with my hands, while painting asks me to create the illusion of depth using color, light, and shadow. I love switching back and forth between the two because it keeps both my hands and my brain thinking in completely different ways.

🎨 What's Coming Next

Alongside finishing the house commission, I'll be starting a large-scale commission for a leasing office here in Los Angeles. I'll be getting more direction on the project this week, and I'm excited to see where it goes.

I'm also patiently waiting for a Levi's jean jacket to arrive because I'll be illustrating directly onto the fabric. Drawing on clothing feels surprisingly similar to digital illustration. It's flatter, a little more graphic, and lets me focus on linework in a way that's completely different from painting.

I love that no two weeks in the studio ever look the same, and I have a feeling this one is going to be full of new experiments.

With love and color,

Rosalie