Creating an Art Oasis

Sharing some more progress, process, and inspiration behind my latest poetry comics.

Progress on my latest poetry comic “Enough” has continued to be slowwwww (as I discussed last week in my post Why Do We Make Art?), but there has been progress, including the spread pictured below. The left page is complete while the right page is still in the rough sketch stage. These pages start from messy chaos that is basically indecipherable!

Part of the reason this comic is taking me so long is because I’ve allowed myself to really sink into the details. There are so many leaves! But I’m getting close, and I can’t wait to share the finished pages with you!

As I’m sure is evident by all the leaves I’ve been drawing lately, I have been really inspired by nature this fall. I’m so in love with all the colors! Here are some leafy photos I’ve taken recently.

I have been reflecting on the purpose of this newsletter lately. I really value this space where I can attempt to communicate something more meaningful that (hopefully) fosters more of a real connection with people. For me, it feels like an oasis where I can talk about creative work and share art in a genuine way. And that’s exactly what I want this newsletter to feel like for readers — like a creative oasis. Many Substack writers have a name for their publication, but I’ve never been sure what to call mine. After a year and a half of simply using my name, I think I’ve found a better title for this tiny little slice of the internet:

In addition to hanging out in this Art Oasis once a week, I invite you to set up your own art oasis! To help designate the spot, I’m sharing an art print version of the Art Oasis logo with all subscribers. Hang it by your desk, or bookshelf, on the fridge, or wherever you go to escape and be creative. Simply hit the button below to download and print.

Please note that this is copyrighted work that is for personal use only and is not eligible for resale. Please print it for yourself and share with your friends! Occasionally, I share printable art like this with ALL subscribers (because I deeply appreciate all of you!). I share printable art every week with paid subscribers. Upgrade to paid to join the fun!

Thanks for reading

Thanks for being here! It truly means the world to me to connect with you every week. Please feel free to share your thoughts in the comments, reply to me directly via email, or simply give this post a “like” — I love hearing from you.