From the Sketchbook: Finding Peace in the Process

Lately, I’ve been craving quiet—the kind that comes with cool mornings, a cup of coffee, and no pressure to rush. I’m feeling more peace-driven than I have in years, and for the first time in a long time, I’m truly excited about the holidays and what’s ahead for my business.

In the studio, I’ve been creating work that just needed to come out—nature-driven, full of movement, created from a place of peace. I’ve been drawing more, studying art history again, and even experimenting with making my own ink from walnuts, Alabama clay, and fallen leaves. There’s something so grounding about that process—connecting directly to the earth and letting it shape my art. 

We spent last weekend camping on my parents’ property. It reminded me that peace doesn’t have to be found; it’s already waiting for you if you slow down long enough to notice it.

STUDIO NOTES

I used to live by my to-do list. Wake up at 4:30, work an hour, go to the gym, get Caedon ready, work until afternoon pickup, then work again after bedtime. I did this for years—from the time he was a newborn until this past July—until my body finally said enough.

Now, I’m choosing something different: intentional living. Space for family, health, stillness, and relationships.

Someone once asked Shonda Rhimes how she “did it all,” and she said,

“Whenever you see me somewhere succeeding in one area of my life, that almost certainly means I am failing in another.”

That line hit me deeply. I’ve given myself permission to not have it all balanced, not have it all “succeed.” Just to be present and that has felt like freedom.

RECENT WORK

These are a few of the pieces I’ve been creating lately—not for a collection or a show, just from the heart. A slower, more natural rhythm of making.

WHAT'S BEEN INSPIRING ME

• Camping weekends and the magical changes that come with fall

• Art history books and trips to art museums

• A quilting show in Oneonta, Alabama

• These podcasts: The Lonely Palette and talkART

• This book on making ink from natural ingredients

CLOSING THOUGHTS

If you’re reading this, I hope you take a deep breath—maybe two.
Step outside for a moment. Feel the shift in the air.
Choose peace over pressure, kindness over chaos.

Thank you for being here: for supporting my art and this small business journey that I'm on.

With gratitude,
Amanda