I’ve thought of writing you all many times over these last 9 months, and for whatever reason, I haven’t! Will you have me back?

The last time I wrote, Emma and I had been in our studio space for just one month. Now, we’re coming up on our one year anniversary in December. I’m so grateful for the past almost year in the studio, where I get to tinker and play and tidy and more.

Recently, I’ve been watching a youtube channel called Sketchbook Skool in which illustrator Danny Gregory lovingly teaches viewers how to draw. I was drawn to Danny because he didn’t go to art school, and he started drawing “later in life.” He talks about how drawing has literally changed the way he sees the world, specifically he looks for what is beautiful or lovely about the world. He’s a gentle and kind teacher, much like my friend Hope, who I took a drawing class with last winter.

I haven’t nailed down a consistent drawing practice yet, but I will say that in making prints consistently, my eyes are indeed seeing the world differently. I notice colors, shapes, lines and more as I’m moving around in ordinary life. It’s a subtle change, and it adds depth to my days.

“What did you notice?” is a question that I ask my therapy clients during most sessions. The longer I’ve seen them, the less I need to ask the question explicitly. Often without prompting, they gently tease me by raising their eyebrows and saying “I noticed…” Similarly, when I see something that strikes me as beautiful lately, I’m asking myself “what am I noticing?”. I think that people like to be asked about what they’re noticing, at least I do!

In forcing myself to end my accidental hiatus from writing this newsletter, I don’t have an artistic angel of the month to share with you. Instead, I have a question. I am thinking about doing a print project where I practice hand setting type by printing poems. If you could pick a poem for me to set and print, what would you choose? And, would you let me send you a poem print sometime?

love,

mag