finding my feet again

Hello beautiful people,

I’ll be honest, I didn’t know what to write about this month. My creative energy has been coming in waves, and I’m learning (slowly) to give myself grace for that. Even with projects I love, my energy isn’t consistent. And it’s not because I’m undisciplined. It’s because I need to stop treating myself like a machine.

Traveling and living abroad has shown me how many cultures value things other than productivity. The world rarely gives space for emotional processing.

After the organized chaos of India, I’ve been giving myself time to land and settle here in the Southern Hemisphere. I’m deeply grateful for everything India taught me, and also deeply grateful that I had the privilege to step out of that chaos when it was time. I don’t think I realized how much the environment had taken a toll on my mental health until I walked around Melbourne alone with a coffee and a muffin and sat on a bench and… nothing happened. I didn’t hear a single horn honking, no one gawked at me, and I felt at peace.

Stepping into Australia felt like a breath of fresh air. It feels good to call somewhere other than my backpack “home,” for a while. 

One of the biggest lessons India handed me (sometimes gently, sometimes not) was to get out of my own way. The people I met there humbled me in ways I didn’t know I needed. Now, my task is to clarify my message, my offerings, and my online presence. To keep creating, keep sharing, keep living as an artist.

I’m learning how to show up for myself and show up in the world. To find the balance between honoring my creative cycles and still being able to thrive in a capitalist society that doesn’t exactly pause for self-reflection.

If you need gift ideas this season, I’m still offering digital art commissions and custom illustrations or posters for someone you love. They’re easy to print and frame, and I’ll send you a high-quality digital file you can use however you like. Just reply to this email if you want to co-create something meaningful.

As always, thank you for being part of this journey.

I hope you can make someone smile today,
Holly x