From my desk this week: choosing joy, art I love, and just “letting them”
This month feels like a deep breath. A return. A quiet exhale after a season of movement.
Here’s what I’ve been sitting with lately:
- Art In Progress: What settling back into San Diego has taught me about art, growth, and choosing joy
- Creative Perspectives: A Colombian street artist who stopped me in my tracks
- Mindful Moments: A quote from Mel Robbins that’s been echoing in my mind this week
Let’s dive in.
Art In Progress
After two and a half years of travel, I’m finally home.
Back in San Diego. Back to long walks by the ocean, strolls by our local river on breezy days, and the slow rhythm of painting with the windows open. There’s something about returning to a familiar place that makes me notice how much has changed inside me.
Coming home doesn’t just mean unpacking your suitcase. Sometimes it means noticing where you’ve outgrown your old routines.
That’s one reason I signed up for Make Art With Confidence, a course by Anastasiia Morozova. I wanted to polish my skills, yes. But even more, I wanted to challenge myself to try new things. To make messes on purpose. To loosen up and stay curious.
Somewhere along the way, I’d started putting pressure on myself to make everything great. But this course is reminding me to make things honest. Messy. Playful. Even the pieces that never leave my sketchbook are part of the journey.
I’ve started a series of loose, gestural studies, plants and animals that look a little wild and a little unfinished. And maybe that’s the point. Not everything has to be tidy. Some things just need to be true.
What are you experimenting with lately?
Creative Perspectives
One warm evening in Bogotá, my spouse, their mom, and I were sharing a pizza at Pizzería Famiglia, a cozy little spot that felt like a hug. At some point, I looked up and noticed a painting on the wall that stopped me. The colors echoed my spouse’s purple hair so strikingly I had to take a closer look.
The artist was Gavilán, from Pasto, Colombia. I loved the bold and energetic colors (those complementary oranges and purples!), the funkiness of the scene that felt so retro 60s to me, and the playful twist on the subject - a DJ spinning pizzas instead of vinyls. It pulled me in with its confidence and joy.
Later, I looked him up online and found more of that same electricity across his murals and paintings. A refusal to blend in, and a deep desire to be seen.
Mindful Moments
I’ve been reading Let Them Theory book by Mel Robbins lately, and this quote from it has been sitting with me:
“The Let Them Theory will teach you that the more you let other people live their lives, the better your life gets. And, the more you let people be who they are, or feel what they feel, or think what they think, the better your relationships will be. Learning how to let adults be adults has changed my life. And it will change yours too, because when you finally stop giving your power to other people, you’ll see how much power you truly have.”
There’s something so liberating about not trying to manage, fix, or explain someone else’s behavior. Just letting them. Letting them cancel. Letting them disagree. Letting them not get it. Letting them walk away. Letting them be wrong about you. Letting them be.
It’s not about giving up. It’s about reclaiming your energy. And reminding yourself that peace doesn't come from controlling others, it comes from trusting yourself.
Sometimes, the bravest thing we can do is let people be who they are, and return to ourselves.
What are you letting go of this season?
Thank You for Being Here
As always, I’m so grateful you’re here. If you’d like to explore new art, browse prints, or just see what I’ve been up to in the studio, visit swilarts.com. Every purchase supports not just my art but my values: eco-conscious production, giving back, and building a life filled with beauty, purpose, and connection.