My Ten Years as a Fine Artist—Reflections + What’s To Come
It’s always around this time each January that I feel a sense of nostalgia. And while a part of me wishes I could go back and relive my favorite moments from last year, I can’t help but feel excited as I anticipate the year ahead.
This upcoming year feels especially monumental, as it marks ten years since I officially began my career as a full-time artist back in 2016. Ten years ago, I couldn’t have predicted what this path as an artist would look like. I didn’t have a road map, a five-year plan, or a precise definition of success. However, what I did have was a desire to create meaningful art and a hope that my paintings might find their way into people’s lives.
As I look back over the past decade, with all its milestones, unexpected turns, and moments of joy, I’m filled with gratitude. Thank you to those who have collected my work and shared it with others. I wouldn’t be here without you, and I’m truly honored whenever my art finds a place in a collector's home.
In the spirit of celebrating these last ten years, I want to reflect on the highlights, lessons, and rhythms that have carried me and become an integral part of my journey as a professional artist. Join me as I reflect on my art career and share my dreams and inspirations for the future.
10 Highlights from 10 Years of Creating Art
When I look back over the past ten years, it’s clear that no single moment defines my journey as an artist. Instead, the last decade has been shaped by a collection of meaningful moments — some long hoped for, others completely unexpected. Together, these highlights have been the stepping stones of growth, perseverance, and creativity that have allowed my artwork to move beyond my home studio and into the world.
Sales and Shows
Selling hundreds of original paintings and thousands of prints over the years
Having the opportunity to show my work in a wide range of venues and art shows
Discovering what it means to share my work publicly and the joy of connecting with collectors
Collaborations
Having the opportunity to work with great designers, art consultants, and design firms
Collaborating with my brother to write, illustrate, and publish a children’s book
Displaying My Work
Having my artwork purchased for public spaces like resorts, hospitals, retirement homes, and office buildings, in addition to private spaces for family homes across the country (and even the world)
Licensing Opportunities
A new licensing partnership with a Sedona resort
Having my artwork featured soon in over 200 guest rooms
Feeling the joy of creating art that becomes a part of someone’s experiences and memory
Publications
Having the opportunity to share my art and vision in:
Blue Magazine
Traverse Magazine
In Her Studio Magazine
Boardman Review
Creating Meaningful Art
Completing over 15 collections of artwork
Embracing the opportunity to paint from a place of inspiration, gratitude, and joy
Creating Products
Expanding beyond my original paintings and prints to create a line of products that go with my art: journals, notecards, block print patterns, and calendars
Branching off to create special products that are especially near to my heart, such as the Advent reflection cards.
Online Art Course
Creating an online painting course
Hearing how students gained confidence, joy, and excitement about painting
Witnessing the positive, creative transformation in my students
Wholesale Business
Growing my wholesale business and relationships
Our children’s book is carried in over 15 stores
My gift products, including journals and notecards, are now available in over 20 shops nationwide.
Grateful for the small, independent stores that carry my products and make it possible for my work to be part of their customers’ lives.
Community and Connection
Building meaningful connections with collectors and fellow artists
Meeting people I never would have crossed paths with otherwise
Appreciating the richness found in fostering a creative community
Building a Business with Intention (Not Hustle)
I learned early in my career as an artist just how easy it is to burn out. When you’ve made sacrifices to pursue something you’re passionate about, there’s an instinct to pour all your time, energy, and resources into making your business successful.
However, I quickly understood that if I was in this for the long haul and wanted to make a real career out of creating and selling my art, I couldn’t take the “hustle-at-all-costs” path. In order to build a business that was sustainable, I needed to move forward slowly and intentionally. After all, I wanted a business that supported my life, not one that consumed it.
Choosing a slow, sustainable growth wasn’t always the obvious or glamorous choice, but it was the right one for me. I needed to be the tortoise, not the hare. It was essential to create intentional margins in my life with space for reflection, rest, and family.
Over time, I’ve also realized that success, for me, is about making meaningful art that resonates with people. It’s about the Advent reflection cards that help families slow down during the busy holiday season and rekindle that sense of wonder, or a painting that brings someone a sense of peace when they walk into their living room after a long day. It’s about who I am becoming through my work as an artist — not just how I show up in my studio, but also at the dinner table with my family.
In many ways, embracing a slower pace feels like an act of resistance to our current culture. Hustle culture is hurting our bodies, our mental health, our families, and our relationships. I want to live a life with enough margin to stop and chat with a neighbor on my morning walk. To play boardgames with my kids on the weekends, and not feel pulled to keep checking my phone. And to pursue those spontaneous moments of inspiration and curiosity.
Small, consistent rhythms matter; they build a foundation that will last. And so it’s with this mindset and steady pace that I step into a new year, grateful for all that I’ve learned and eager to embrace what lies ahead.
Looking Ahead | The Next Ten Years
I feel both excited and curious when I think about the future and what the next ten years could bring. I’m eager to continue creating new art, and I look forward to collaborating with new designers, brands, and creative partners in ways that align with my vision and values.
And while the unknown has always carried a mix of anticipation and vulnerability, especially as an entrepreneur, I’ve learned that some of the most meaningful chapters unfold without a detailed plan. My favorite art has been created by chasing my joy and curiosity and by following the inspiration to the farthest point on the horizon. Just as the last ten years weren’t carefully mapped out, the next ten years don’t come with a roadmap either. I’m hopeful they will surprise me and continue to bring joy, growth, and connection.
As a business owner, I’m beginning to ask new questions about sustainability and scale: how can I build on what I’ve already created, while continuing to stay true to the slower pace that has shaped both my art and my life? What will my artwork look like as it evolves? How can I expand thoughtfully, without compromising my vision and values? What excites me the most isn’t necessarily having all the answers in this moment, but continuing to show up with wonder, eagerness, and a deep love for the creative process itself.
What’s Inspiring Me Right Now?
Right now, curiosity continues to be a guiding force when I paint and create. With each new collection, I find myself eager to experiment with evolving color palettes, new compositions, and changes in light. I’m fascinated by the ways color communicates and can evoke emotion. Stepping into this new year, I’ve been especially interested in exploring how different color palettes and levels of saturation completely transform the mood of a landscape. I am still striving to create the perfect balance of peace and wonder in my work.
The more I paint, the more I realize how deeply I’m drawn to light — especially morning light. The way it streams through tree branches in the forest. It creates patterns and textures, and exciting compositions. I am hoping to bring the untethered, raw joy and hope that I experience in glimpses into my paintings this year.
Nature has, and always will, remain an integral part of my life, greatly influencing my work as an artist. Watching the winter sunrise over the snowy hills on my walk one morning might move me to explore light and shadows on the canvas. While on a family bike ride along the lake’s shoreline, I love to notice how the trees frame the beach in a certain way, creating an entryway to the water. My work is constantly shaped by what I see and experience in the natural world.
As an artist, I see the natural world as its own work of art, full of color, texture, light, and emotion. Over time, my approach to landscape painting has moved beyond simple representation. It has grown into a contemplative practice that invites attentiveness to moments of awe, quiet presence, and deep connection. Rather than documenting a specific location, I want to convey the felt experience of being there. My paintings are shaped by memory and emotion, and by a deep gratitude for the beauty woven into everyday moments.
All photos taken by Ben Law Photography
Looking toward the years ahead, I hope to continue bringing the joy of nature into the homes of others, so that they, too, may connect with the wondrous artistry of the natural world. I look forward to sharing new collections as I continue to explore the timeless beauty of nature with curiosity, creativity, and a deep sense of awe.
Thank you for being here and for all the ways you have made my art a part of your life.
With gratitude,
