The wrong direction

 

I made this earlier today feeling frustrated and yes, somewhat hopeless. I won’t pretend to have the answer, but I KNOW this is not normal.

I feel lucky to have art to lean into when there's something I need to work through.

My husband is an immigrant from Chile. Who just got his citizen last April knowing it was now consequential if he didn't.  I see the hatred, the fear, the bullying (of even small children) and it makes me wonder why we are pretending this is normal.

We can still correct the course. Midterms can't get here fast enough. In the meantime, I'm going find ways to be a little kinder in my everyday interactions. 

We're all going through a lot! Especially those without privilege or power.

 

A flashback to 2016

 

 

I’ve been enjoying the nostalgia of looking back to 2016. This was the year my first two Hello, World! books Solar System and Weather hit the shelves. Making Hello, World! ten years old!

 

 This project with Random House Kids, Doubleday books changed me in the best way. As I’ve mentioned before I never considered myself a writer. Being dyslexic I shied away from writing but somehow, I would always find myself adding words to my surface designs wanting to tell a story. The words in these first two simple, non-fiction board books took me longer to craft than the art. Art seems to flow out of me, words are not always the same case. Making these books is a fun, sometimes scary challenge that has helped me grow in lots ways. I feel honored to have my books shared and loved by many. ♥️

I’m so glad that shy, convinced I couldn’t write, me took this opportunity when it was presented. Take a chance… you never know! 

We need more love. 💙

Spread love and kindness— A couple quick ideas...

-Offer help in a small way, holding a door, reaching for a high up item, saying, “HELLO”!

-Write a letter or text to a family member you’ve been thinking about.

-Let someone cut in front of you in line if you can see they’re in a rush.

-Share your favorite uplifting book or podcast.

-Bake something & give it to a friend.

-Be kind to yourself and know that you’re showing up in a time when the world feels harsh, with an abundance of bad news.

 

Love and kindness can be a soft spot to land or at least visit a couple times each day. 

January

 

Winter, when the days are shorter, the shadows longer and the color quieted by it all.

 

 

 

Nonetheless, there's a beauty to it. Somehow, I thought these two went together well.  

Done Chillin

 

The winter is long and cold, the holidays are over, and who really knows what day it is anymore?

Here's to finding your way back into the routine this week.

(Watercolor on Arches cold press paper with a few real flowers from my garden sprinkled in.)