01/02/2026
I am at once grateful for the overwhelming success of the last month, and very much struggling to juggle the immense workload on top of life, a sick kiddo, and the holidays. I lost a key week of productivity due to said sick kiddo, and one of many ramifications was my 16+ hours at the gallery on Wednesday (which turned into Thursday).
As I drove home at 5:30 am, feet, back, fingers aching, brain fuzzy, and painfully aware I had about two hours till my kiddo woke up and about 4 until I'd be back on the same road going in the opposite direction to be back in the gallery for another six hours. I wondered for the millionth time in the last 10 months if I had made a huge mistake letting my very driven brain say "A solo show in January will be incredibly hard, but I can do it, and it'll be worth it".
I cannot express how touched and grateful I felt, when I realized the family waiting on the corner outside the gallery was not only waiting for it to open - but were there for ME. They'd seen my work in the anniversary show in August, but it had all sold out. They took time out of their New Year's vacation to be there and get the first look at my show. That in itself meant the world to me, but the subsequent sales throughout the day were a cherry on top.
My neurodiverse brain has a rigid pattern of thinking that emotionally ties success with sales (facts over feelings). Even though I KNOW I do this for so much more than that. I love what I make and it is indescribably meaningful to see it resonate with other people, regardless of sales. My paintings are intricate and deeply time-consuming, but I intentionally price my work and prints as affordably as possible because in my world where I rarely have the right words my art is my language. Seeing something so deeply personal bring a smile to someone else's face, remind them of their own special memories brings me so much joy and makes every long hour or struggle with the tedium of framing worth every single second.
Happy New Year to you all. If you're so inclined, join me anytime from 12-9 today for the first First Friday of the year and take a look at SO. MANY. DOTS.
