🎂🎨 Growing Older, Making More Art & Keeping Life Fun

🎈 Apparently Nothing Is Funny After 26

Chandler turns 26 today, and lately we’ve been seeing all these social media posts that are clearly targeted at us saying, “Nothing is funny once you turn 26.”

Guitar pick holder I handmade out of clay and painted.

Life is getting serious, the bills are stacking up, and some might even think I’m applying to grad school just for the health insurance. Trust me, there’s a lot more to it than that, but the health insurance is definitely a bonus.

All jokes aside, life really is getting harder, but I think there’s something beautiful about realizing that we have to try a little harder to make it fun, too. Chandler and I have both been returning to old hobbies and becoming more intentional about how we spend our time.

Time feels more valuable now, so we want to fill it with more meaningful activities, conversations, games, people, and experiences. I think growing older is partly about learning how to appreciate the little things a bit more.

🌈 Islands of Imagination Is Finally Finished!

As for art, I finally finished my worlds piece, which I’ve officially titled Islands of Imagination!

The piece feels absolutely full of life, and I think I can finally call it done. I spent so much time looking over every little inch, making sure I was completely happy with it, and I can confidently say that I am.

Nothing feels more me than this finished piece, with all its colors, monsters, little worlds, and, of course, Mooncake features. It feels like so many of my favorite things and ideas have come together in one painting.

🌻 A New Commission & A New Challenge

On the commission side of things, I have two lined up and one that I’m currently working on! The piece I’m working on now feels somewhat similar to my Bird of Paradise painting, but this time I’m painting sunflowers with a more textured background.

Interestingly, this sunflower piece reminds me a lot of my commissioned dog portraits. Not because of the subject matter, obviously, but because of the texture. And texture, especially the rougher, more organic kind, is not exactly my area of expertise.

I mentioned in a previous newsletter that I think of my work as somewhat cartoon-like, except instead of drawing cartoons, I like to paint them. I love clean, pristine lines, smooth shading, and a kind of softness.

My Bird of Paradise painting ended up capturing that style really well, with defined shapes, smooth transitions, and a softness that still felt playful.

🎨 Making a Sunflower Feel Like My Sunflower

Sunflowers, on the other hand, are a little trickier. Much like fur, their petals and centers have a natural roughness and irregularity that I find harder to translate into my style.

Right now, the painting looks like a sunflower, but it doesn’t quite look like Rosalie’s sunflower, and that’s what I’m working toward.

I think one of the biggest challenges of developing your own artistic style is figuring out how to make something recognizable without losing what makes your work yours. I still have a lot to learn when it comes to that, but I’m enjoying the process of experimenting and figuring it out as I go.

🐱🥢 Cartoon Cats Are Coming Next

The next commission I’ll be starting is going to be completely Asian-inspired and filled with cartoon cats, so needless to say, I’m VERY excited about that one!

I already have so many ideas and can’t wait to get started. I’ll be sure to keep you updated on both pieces as they come together.

💗 Here’s to 26 & Beyond

For now, here’s to getting older, making more art, finding joy in the little things, and remembering that life can still be funny after 26. Even if the internet seems to disagree.

With love and color,

Rosalie