My fourth year: a review!

“It is important to remember that we all have magic inside us” JK Rowling 

My business anniversary is this week – it’s been 4 years since I started creating and selling my art!

I’ve written a review for each year so far: here’s year 1, year 2, and year 3. Year 4 has brought more clarity and more art, plus so much living.

Here’s some of my completed artwork from year 4:

Another year of learning to balance parenthood and business, self-care and art-making. Another year honing in on the style of art that makes me happiest, the colorful and whimsical storybook feel that keeps leading me in the direction of book illustration.

It seems appropriate that I recently shipped out this original painting to a new home, one of my earlier pieces about celebration and journey-taking. It was a message I needed years ago, at the beginning of my artist path, and one I continue to need now. Celebrate each step, each breakthrough, each setback. Find the joy and hold onto it for the harder days. Keep putting one foot in front of the other and be open to the possibility that comes.

This year has also been important on a personal level. Eric graduated from school (after 7 years hard work!!), we celebrated 5 years of marriage, and our kiddo turned 2. I learned a big lesson this fall / winter about trying to do too much when I felt sick and depleted for months (pushing through isn’t always the answer!), and allowed myself to take a big step back. Always value hard work and perseverance, of course, but also value rest and the quiet space needed to hear your own heart. What rings true: our journeys are never linear or predictable, but each step has a lesson to teach. The lesson I keep coming back to: rushing ahead never produces the best results. Work with intention, live with intention, and the path will unfold with time.

Here’s my little family who I’ve dedicated much of my time to this year. Raising a child (and staying home with him full time) has been incredibly gratifying, humbling, and at times, overwhelming. He is my biggest teacher and my favorite tiny human. What a wild ride!

Speaking of parenthood, I recently shipped out this framed print and a sticker set to some new parents-to-be. I hope this little elephant brightens both their walls and those early days of parenthood (which are so disorienting!). I just love supporting families with art (for comfort, inspiration, celebrations, and more), and year 4 taught me a lot about how I want to serve families and kids with my work moving forward.

One of my favorite quotes sums up this year so perfectly:

And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it (Roald Dahl).

I continue to believe in magic, in the ways that being an artist mama has shaped my outlook and my goals for the future, and in this world full of beauty and struggle in equal parts.

Thank you as always for being on this journey with me! I can’t wait to see what the next year will bring.