Person writing in a notebook with a pen on a white desk.

Inside the Blog

Thoughts and stories written by the artist
Artist Crystal Clarke with her daughter
Crystal Clarke: A Journey of Healing Through Art and Advocacy
From the depths of personal struggle to the heights of artistic expression, discover how one artist transformed pain into purpose. Through the delicate strokes of pastel and the powerful presence... Read more...
The Beginning Stage
The Beginning Stage
Let's get one thing out of the way.Without a reference photo, my drawings look like bad cartoons.There. I said it.Not the charming, nostalgic kind of cartoons either — more like... Read more...
When Art Finds It's Forever Home
When Art Finds It's Forever Home
Some pieces fly off the wall.They speak so clearly, so loudly, that someone sees them and just knows—that one. That’s the one.And if you’re lucky, you get to witness the... Read more...
I Quit
I Quit
Handing over the written notice to my beloved boss did two things immediately.  Instant fear - what was I thinking? The economy is hard. Gas and food prices keep increasing. How many people will... Read more...
From Tan Lines to Turbulence
My Family's First Flight VacationWe're back from our first 'flight' family vacation! I hope you didn't miss me too much while I was away . . . You did notice I was away, right? Right?! Well, I missed you!The weather was magnificent, the food delicious, and the travel was about what you would expect with a three-year-old. Honestly, she did incredible. Braving the flight like it was nothing and swimming her way into bliss! When it came to sleeping, and the last few hours on the flight home we have... Read more...
The Good, the Bad, and the Learning
The Good, the Bad, and the Learning
Oh, sweet mother of pearl, the year is almost over. Yup, it's officially true - the older you get, the faster the time goes. I can vouch for it. Often, this can... Read more...
The Christmas Tree Rule
The Christmas Tree Rule
Do you know that there's a rule?Yes, a rule! A rule that if you live with someone else, you have to decorate the Christmas tree TOGETHER.Anyway, I clearly relapsed on... Read more...
The Wholesale Experience - Day Two
The Wholesale Experience - Day Two
Did you hear me? I'm pretty sure you did!When I started jumping for joy, where my smile overtook my entire face and where I contemplated a cartwheel but decided I... Read more...
The Wholesale Experience - Day One
The Wholesale Experience - Day One
Before the sun shone gently through the trees, our eyes were open knowing today was the first day filled with newness. Five minutes later, when the second alarm went off,... Read more...
The Piece that Changed it all
The Piece that Changed it all
I have always loved beautiful art on walls- it can make a house feel like a home and determine the aesthetic and feel at a glance. But the day I... Read more...
Outgrowing the Art on Your Walls
Outgrowing the Art on Your Walls
Take a good look around and ask yourself "Have you outgrown the art on your walls?" It can be a bit of an uncomfortable conversation, as we hung them up... Read more...
Pastels; A Love Affair
Pastels; A Love Affair
Being a pastel artist is a category of its own. A painter paints, a sculptor sculps, and a pastel artist paints, no draws, wait - both!We create artwork that resonates... Read more...