The Things I Keep (and the Things I File) 💼✨

It’s only the end of February, yet somehow it already feels like the dreaded tax season has arrived. This time of year is typically slower for me, which makes sense because art is not always seen as essential in the same way as food, water, and shelter. (Though personally… I think it’s pretty essential. 😉)

Despite the looming presence of spreadsheets and forms, things are not nearly as quiet as they were last year. I still have a commission in progress. Full transparency: I have been taking my time on it since there was not a firm deadline, which is not always my best habit. I was also just commissioned again, which I am very grateful for. So while it is “tax season,” it is not exactly dull.

That said, I have officially entered business mode. This means filing my annual report, making sure my QuickBooks expenses and sales are up to date, and tackling all the less glamorous but very necessary behind-the-scenes work. It has also pushed me to keep revamping my online presence by posting more on Pinterest, adding new work to my Etsy and website shop, and continuing the never-ending journey of search engine optimization.

Revamping old art → new life 💘

Alongside refreshing my digital world, I have also been revisiting older pieces in the studio. The piece I recently sold was originally a gift for an ex-boyfriend, and another piece I just listed began as a gift for an ex as well…(lol)

Rather than letting those paintings collect dust, I added gloss and layered hearts over the old initials. Voilà. They have been transformed into pieces ready for a new story. Now they can be customized for someone’s current loved one instead. Why let good paintings go to waste?

If you have something special in mind, I am always happy to customize. 💕

Strawberries, collage, and color mixing 🍓

Last week I also carved out some time just to play. I painted strawberries, experimented with collage, and spent time mixing my own colors, which has been very satisfying lately.

The strawberry piece originally had glitter, which I have learned is not my friend. I ended up covering the glitter with paper flowers, and honestly, I am much happier with the result now. Sometimes the fix becomes the best part.

The Things I Keep — continuing the series 🏡

I am also continuing my series The Things I Keep. The first painting featured the shelves of objects I love in my home, and I have decided to fully lean into this theme. My home is such a reflection of my personality. Everyone who visits says it feels “very Rosalie,” so it feels natural to keep exploring it in paint.

For this second piece, I started by mixing my own greens for the background, which I am excited about. I have been painting in the same medium for several weeks now. This is unusual for me since I usually love to switch things up, but I am enjoying staying with it and going deeper.

What’s next ✍️

This week I am also getting back into drawing on fabric in preparation for an upcoming commission. I will be working on hand-drawn jean jackets that I plan to release for sale, and of course I will be offering custom options too.

As always, thank you for being here and following along with all the studio shifts, both glamorous and not so glamorous. 💗

With love and color,

Rosalie