✨ Studio Notes: Whimsy, Monsters, and Meaning

🌳 Commission Reveal: Psychedelic Pastels

I finally got to reveal a commission I completed at the beginning of this month. The piece began as a painting, but halfway through I felt dissatisfied and decided to switch mediums entirely. I was asked to create something psychedelic and include the tree of life, and nothing felt more fitting than the softness and whimsy of pastels.

When I work with pastels, I rarely follow a reference. I let the piece guide me, making sure to use every color I have, blending in unexpected ways, creating new shapes, and keeping everything vibrant. This piece was given as a gift, so to keep it a surprise, I waited to share it until the day it was gifted. The wait was worth it 🌈

👾 Back to the Monsters (and Mooncake)

Last week, I finally returned to my large-scale monster piece and finished it. Of course, Mooncake had to make an appearance somewhere, so I tucked her in as a little easter egg. The monsters are dining at Mooncake’s Café, where you can sip a daydream latte ☕️ and enjoy the cutest pastries.

This piece leans heavily into my recurring themes of childlike wonder and whimsy. As children, we create entire worlds. We are secret agents, mermaids anytime we step into water, and storytellers for our stuffed animals. As we grow older, that kind of imagination can fade as life becomes more routine. I hope my work helps bring that sense of fantasy back, especially for adults. We are still allowed to play 💭✨

🏡 A New Large-Scale Piece Begins

After finishing the monster piece, I immediately started another large-scale work. This piece captures many of the fun objects scattered around my home. I am definitely a collector of all things cute, and I love living inside my own little museum of memories, whimsy, and wonder.

This piece also reflects how deeply Shanghai has shaped the way I live and think. While living in China, I became more superstitious and began weaving feng shui into my spaces. That mindset followed me back home to Venice. I find myself choosing tea more often, making sure to care for my plants, and creating an environment that feels calm and intentional. There is much more to add to this piece, and I cannot wait to share updates as new cute treasures make their way in. Keep an eye out for a Mooncake appearance 🐱

🐾 Commission Corner

As for commissions, I am currently working on painting someone’s dog. Three dogs, actually, though I have only started the first. I had planned to devote more time to commissions last week, but inspiration struck and once it does, it does not stop. That new large-scale piece quickly became my main focus.

More soon and thank you, as always, for being here 🤍

With love and color,

Rosalie