Celebrating milestones, creative connections, and wild wonders

October has brought a season of celebration and connection, and I have some exciting news to share!

I'm thrilled to announce that my work has been accepted into the Scenic 2025 exhibition! This juried show celebrates landscape art, and being selected feels like meaningful validation of the path I've chosen. You can view the piece and learn more about the exhibition here.

Even more special: Downtown Works is launching Community in Color, a rotating exhibition series featuring local artists – and I have the honor of being the inaugural artist. From October 7 to November 12, my watercolor and ink illustrations will be on view at their Mission Valley location, with new pieces rotating every two weeks. What makes this particularly meaningful is the setting itself. My art has always been about capturing life's small moments. Now, those moments will live alongside people during their workdays, offering pauses for beauty and reflection. If you're a Downtown Works member, I'd love to meet you during their Mission Valley Happy Hour on November 12.

Here's what else is inside:

Art In Progress

And now for something festive: I've started working on a new Christmas collection! It will include greeting cards that blend the warmth of the season with my watercolor style. Right now, I'm in one of my favorite parts of the creative process, the thumbnail sketch stage, where ideas are messy, playful, and full of possibility.

I'm sharing these rough sketches with my newsletter community first, before they're anywhere else, before they're finished, before they're even "perfect." It feels vulnerable to share work at such an early stage, but I wanted to invite you specifically into this holiday adventure.

If you'd like to secure your set before the collection is finalized, reach out to support@swilarts.com to preorder, and let me know what other products you'd love to see these designs on. As a thank you for believing in me and supporting my work at this early stage, you'll receive 10% off your card order (use code HOLIDAYHELLO10). You'll be among the first to send these one-of-a-kind watercolor greetings this holiday season, and you'll have helped shape the final collection. Or you can just use the link below to preorder.

Preorder your holiday greeting cards here

Creative Perspectives

This month, I want to introduce you to Derek Emge, a photographer whose work invites us into moments of tranquility and contemplation.

I met Derek at Art Scene West gallery, where both our works are featured. Not only is he incredibly talented, but he's also genuinely kind – he introduced me to the owner of Sea La Vie boutique, where my products are now available starting this month!

Derek's journey began in 8th grade with his first Pentax ME film camera, evolving from documenting outdoor adventures to capturing his son through surf contests worldwide. What draws me to his work is how he uses light to transform a scene – reflections on water, sunset glow, the soft haze of an overcast sky. His images don't just show us what a place looks like; they help us feel what it's like to be present within it. Many of his pieces feature solitary figures – a lone surfer at twilight, a quiet pier stretching into the horizon – offering moments of peace and introspection that encourage us to pause from the rush of daily life.

Explore more of his work at derekemgephotography.com or check him out on Instagram.

Swilshot of the Month

Early one morning, I was hiking through Los Peñasquitos Canyon when I spotted something unexpected: small, round fruit that looked like melons or squashes, growing wildly in the meadow.

It was a powerful reminder that we don't always need to control everything or hustle for things to happen. Nature shows us that abundance unfolds on its own, without our constant grind, management, or forcing. These melons grew wild and generous, thriving in their own time, in their own way. More receiving than pushing. More allowing than controlling.

This week, I invite you to notice where life is already flourishing around you without your effort, those moments when beauty or opportunity simply arrives, unforced.

What has shown up in your life lately without you having to make it happen?

Thank you for being part of this journey. If you'd like to explore more of my work, visit swilarts.com or follow me on Instagram.

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