7.6.26
Studio Vibes
Watching: The Weekenders (it’s finally on Disney+)
Reading: Spoiled Milk by Avery Curran; The Possession of Alba Díaz by Isabel Cañas
Listening: Victory by Madeon
I keep picking up sidequests for some reason. I like the consistency of classes because they give me deadlines to meet. I thought this blog would be a good biweekly deadline, but I think I need stricter, concrete dates. My friend Krista is thinking about doing a personal curriculum. After they told me and my friend Rhiannon what it was, I began thinking about it, and I really loved the idea. It’ll will help give me the structure and guidance that I’ve been craving.
In Progress
It was much lighter on the painting side these past two weeks. I focused more on sketching to get ideas out of my head and into the sketchbook, along with grabbing more rose reference photos.
I did need to grab some more paint (got the wrong brand for rose, though) and grabbed a tiny wet palette. I love painting with acrylic gouache (and I’ve been missing acrylic), but it’s not the best paint to bring for a plein air day. Due to it being water-based, it dries fast, which is great when you want it to dry fast. When I’m working plein air, I don’t want it to dry fast. I’ve been using a larger wet palette for a couple of years now, and it’s a game changer. I’m super excited to use this smaller palette for traveling and plein air days.
I’m vibing with these paintings so much.
As I mentioned earlier, I want to pursue a personal curriculum. I’ve decided that two of my courses would be:
A studio art class (giving myself deadlines to work with for creating work)
A comprehensive look at African art history
I’m extremely excited to take a deeper dive into African art history and the impact it has on contemporary art across the globe. This interest came as a direct result of Anthropeum (East Asian or Southeast Asian art may need to be next). The last course will probably be Japanese to really push myself in the language.
Creative Endeavors
Two Saturdays ago, I spent almost the entire day working on my vest and managed to almost get all of it done. This means I cut the pattern, added the interfacing, sewed, and pressed everything together from about 2 PM to 10 PM. The last step is to add the button (I may cave and buy a button foot for my cousin’s sewing machine). However, I am obsessed with this vest. It’s the same fabric as the skirt, so I’ll be able to wear it with anything. I want to get this done asap, so I can start wearing it asap!
A quick preview of the vest.
The yoke skirt is on pause. I finally got the invisible zipper in, but when I tried the skirt, it fit a little too loosely. Now I have to take it in slightly, reinstall the invisible zipper, create bias tape, and finish up everything with the tape. Despite the headaches that this skirt has given me, I’m in love with it. It makes me feel so feminine, and like the vest, it will truly go with anything.
While sewing has taken up a lot of my creative endeavors, I’ve also gotten back into origami. While I play D&D, I have a bad habit of scrolling (sorry, Rhiannon), so I’ve been trying to work on hobbies that give me something to do with my hands (and easily put down to take notes). I used to do origami a lot as a kid, but it’s not something I’m an expert at. I think it’s fun and the meditative practice helps relax me (for the most part).
Other Shenanigans
One of my 2026 goals was to try a new exercise hobby, and I was split between ballet, ice skating, and rock climbing. Well, after watching the 2026 Olympics, I decided to learn ice skating. This past Sunday (June 28th) was my first class, and I think I have a new hyperfixation. I have ice skated three other times in my life, so everything was completely new for me. I fell once, but they taught us how to get back up. Did I look like a newborn fawn trying to walk for the first time? Absolutely. However, I pushed myself to try something new and accepted that I would be bad at this at the start. Why? Because I’m a beginner. On Tuesday, I went to a public skate to practice staying upright on the ice, along with a couple of other techniques we were taught.
Usually, when I try something new for the first time, I get frustrated for not being perfect right away and reduce myself to tears of frustration. However, for the past few years, with trying new hobbies (sewing, ice skating), I find myself giving in to being a beginner. With sewing, I’ve only had a frustrated cry once, and that was dealing with garment size versus finished size (turns out I was doing it correctly). Ice skating is a good reminder to give in to my novice status and have fun learning. Even if I don’t pursue figure skating as a hobby, at least now I know how to skate!
Starting up another sidequest, because I don’t have enough hobbies to keep up with.
This past weekend, my brother invited me down to Elizabeth City/Norfolk to escape July 4th in DC. Thursday was the most active day - we went up to Busch Gardens Williamsburg because he got free tickets. Somehow, the park was not extremely crowded, so we were on rides within a few minutes of getting in line. The roller coaster I was the most scared of ended up being my favorite. There were two coasters I wish I could have ridden, but by the 6th roller coaster ride, I was starting to feel the effects of the heat, the g-forces, and the 12 am arrival into Norfolk.
On Friday, we went to the aquarium and picked up Aly, my brother’s chaotic border collie. July 4th was quiet: I started playing The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales on my brother’s PS5; we had fried rice for dinner, watched Bob’s Burgers, and dealt with an anxious dog and fireworks (she ended up sleeping in the living room with me). Overall, it was an extremely chill weekend and one of my favorite ways to spend major holidays - chilling with family in the same room.
Top/Left: The Griffon at Busch Gardens (ended up as my favorite coaster)
Bottom/Right: The cutest, most chaotic border collie.
An update in two weeks!