The Things I Keep (and Where They Go) 🌸

A Little World Travels Far 🌍

I recently finished a commissioned pet portrait and sent it off to Saudi Arabia. This marks my second international shipment, which feels surreal to say. I think I can officially call this a global business now.

This piece felt especially like me. Alongside the pet portrait, I brought back my little monsters. They appear as keychains attached to cat toys, adding a playful and personal layer to the work. It felt like a way to reintroduce them into my world and into yours.

The Things I Keep, Piece Three 💌

Last week, I completed the third painting in my series “The Things I Keep.”

This piece captures a collection of perfume bottles as tiny worlds of feminine whimsy. Each bottle becomes its own elixir or potion, filled with color, pattern, and imagination. Nestled among them are my one of a kind monsters, adding personality and a sense of quiet mischief to the composition.

This series continues to feel like a reflection of how I live. Surrounded by objects, memories, and now a little more fantasy than before.

Bigger Than They Look 🎨

Now that I have three large scale works in this series, I am realizing how hard it is to capture them in photos. They feel so much bigger in person. Not just in size but in presence.

It made me think it might be time to start reaching out to galleries.

There seem to be two paths as an artist. One is to promote your work locally through markets, shops, and in person interactions. The other is to pursue gallery representation, where you give up a portion of sales but gain access to a network and collectors.

If I am honest, I would love to stay behind my screen and paint quietly in my studio, sharing my work through social media alone. But I know that is not the full picture of what building a career looks like. So I am trying both.

This week I reached out to Artspace Warehouse, a gallery that helps artists step into the gallery world. Hoping for good news.

A Full Circle Moment 💫

I also submitted a piece to an auction at the Mint Museum in Charlotte, my hometown.

It feels really special to be part of something connected to where I grew up. I believe there is now a pet portrait by me available to bid on, which is a little surreal to say.

Passover Here and There 🕊️

This past week was not just about art but also about celebrating Passover.

It is one holiday I have kept close to me no matter where I am in the world. I started in Los Angeles, then flew to North Carolina to celebrate again with family, friends, and my Rabbi.

There is something grounding about returning to traditions that have stayed constant while everything else changes. It reminded me of what home feels like, both where I came from and where I am building it now. And of course, Mooncake came with me 🐾

With love and color,

Rosalie