Studio Sunday (no. 9)

Hello. This week was all about mixing colors and collecting inspiration. As warm days are happening more often, I’m excited to spend time outdoors and be slightly less homebody. We’ve got one week until Spring break so I’m going to cram this week with art.

Currently I’m spending time painting every day. It feels like the beginning of a new era and I’m expanding my work through practice and a series of experiments. I set a goal to become obsessed with painting this season (as a way to distract myself from my novel query, which involves a lot of waiting). The good news is I’m completely engrossed. It’s all I can think about from the time I wake up, so I’m going to ride this wave as far as it will take me.

We’ve been ordering coffee from Keats & Co, which is founded by John and Hank Green and donates 100% of profits to tuberculosis testing and treatment. It’s great coffee!

This week I’m planning to make watercolor postcards (and gouache). On warm days I’ll do it on the front porch. I love the idea of making a collection I can use to send snail mail to friends.

I’ve just realized this can be my travel craft for my sister to do on our Spring break vacation with the kids. I love a portable art project.

I got this swimsuit for our upcoming trip and it’s the perfect mom suit (reminder: mom suit to me means that a kid can’t rip your top off on accident, which has happened to me more than a few times). I also got this suit (in polka dots) and now I’m vowing not to buy anymore for a few years. All set!

I get my news from the daily briefs on Sharon McMahon’s The Preamble. It’s more important than ever to make sure your news is not algorithm-based and is coming from a respectable and vetted source. I recommend it if you’re looking for a way to stay informed and to learn about history.

I have hundreds of family photos overflowing and disorganized. My plan is to organized them into these boxes by decade. For my children’s photos, they told me they would prefer to have an album. Does anyone have a favorite photo album you recommend? I’m leaning toward something scrapbook style so it can fit polaroids, instax, photobooth photos etc (but I don’t actually want to scrapbook, just add photos with photo corners of adhesive).

Monet’s Guide to Venice. This article shows sites where Monet painted where you can still visit today. So inspiring.

I saw a friend link to Mimi’s Needlepoint this week and it’s so cute. I’m not in a place to add a hobby this season, but maybe you are? Looks fun!

I got this set of skin toned paint pens for my children and I’m using it constantly. They are so creamy and lovely.

I want to catch up on my reading goal this month. I’m currently reading Our Wives Under The Sea, Great Circle and I’m excited to read The Astral Library. If you have suggestions of books you loved, I’d love to hear them!

ps. Our most recent podcast episode How To Start Over When You Fail is some of our best work. :))