Finding a Rhythm
Blooming new art, new words, new passion
When I last wrote, I was dabbling with constraint and expansion. Well, be careful what seeds you plant because they can soon fill all available vacancies in your garden.
I guess something just clicked for me, and I’ve been generating A LOT of new and fun artworks. My curiosity has acquired a bit of passion behind it. Where shall I begin?
Prints are now a thing
For many years, people asked if I make prints (reproductions of my original artworks). Thus far, I’ve said no to prints primarily because making and selling prints is a whole big can of worms I haven’t had the time or energy to open.
But I, too, love prints because they’re usually available on paper or canvas at a variety of sizes. They can be purchased any time, when one is ready, vs. original art, which is a one-of-a-kind, buy-it-before-someone-else-does deal.
Prints are relatively less expensive, too, making the art vastly more accessible to those of us with a big appetite for art.
So….I opened “the can.” I’ve vetted and partnered with a trusted printer. I’ve set up a Print Shop on Etsy. The very first art prints are now available on fine art paper or framed canvas at a variety of sizes. TellMe Insight Cards can be found there too - now with free shipping in the U.S.
Every print is made to order. Customizations are welcome.
Getting into a rhythm
It’s important to me to make sure the print business doesn’t overtake the joy of simply making art. It takes constant care and promotion, and that can get overwhelming.
Also, a day job, going to school full-time and trying to be a healthy human who cooks and squeezes in a workout most days, there must be time and energy for it ALL.
The plan is to release new art (originals and/or prints) every week, even if it’s just ONE artwork.
What do you think? Can I do it? It feels like molasses right now.
Refreshing some things
For the last few years, I’ve had two websites - one on Squarespace and one on Shopify.
I decided to combine things into ONE website (Shopify). So there’s been a nice refresh of at Of Ink + Insight.
One caveat is the addition of Etsy for the Print Shop. I will continue to sell original artworks on my website and use Etsy mostly for prints. For now, it seems to be a good way to test the waters.
I’ll let you know about new releases here on Substack, but you can also find a page on the website that gives you a snapshot of what’s new in the Print Shop.
What’s been difficult
Maybe the most challenging thing for me is not succumbing to the hustle.
In so many ways, making art has saved me, redirected my attention toward something that felt incredibly meaningful when nothing else did.
Marketing isn’t super meaningful. The times when my art practice has gotten pushed aside are the times when I couldn’t separate the pressure to sell things from the simple joy of making them.
It’s lovely to sell an artwork and watch it go off to its forever home, to see the love in the face and voice of someone who has found art that moves them. But I don’t think that can happen unless there is first a love affair that begins in those initial layers.
Like marriage, it takes work to keep the flame burning and not fall into the trap of productivity and getting through it. We need it to be efficient and planned and predictable - but we also need there to be the essence of why we are here…..passion, surprise, delight, disappointment, failure, resilience, discovery, the color and texture of imperfection.
If I lose my house, my friends, all my money...I hope I can still make art. And if I can’t make art, I will be so relieved I once found a way to make it for a while.
-excerpt from a recent journal entry
Other hard things:
Figuring out how to calibrate my monitor
Figuring out how to create test prints on my Canon Pixma (hint: the paper matters!)
Figuring out how to work with a print partner so the outcome is as spectacular as my imagination.
Saying goodbye (for now) to my Squarespace website
Contemplating Pinterest as a marketing tool (oh man - this is nuts!)
Finding and nurturing the supportive friendships I crave in my art practice and beyond
What’s been easy
Waking up at 4am to make art every morning.
I don’t seem to have that intense, pesky need to make something GOOD in the morning. I’m happy to have my cup of coffee and just get into whatever mess is calling.
Morning is definitely my prime time for creativity. By the end of the day, I’m a ball of judgment and angst - better for balancing a checkbook or doing some sort of mindless cardio.
Playing with color.
Mixed media includes technology. And that means I can play with color with much more ease and courage. Maybe you’ve noticed this shift in my work lately. Color evokes a feeling and changes the whole vibe of a room.
Which is your favorite?
Naming the art.
I love Scandinavian design. It shows in my home and in my art. It occurred to me that the names of my artworks could also be Scandi-inspired. Plus, I get to learn new words (giddy)!
Solveig (pronounced SOHL-vay) is a Scandinavian word meaning "sun strength" or "strong house of the sun." It reflects the artwork’s radiant palette—deep forest green, petal pink, fig, coral, and chartreuse—and its quiet resilience. This is a piece for those drawn to contemporary nature-inspired art with energy and depth.
The name Linjär (pronounced LIN-yair) is a Swedish word meaning “linear,” honoring the visual architecture of the palm and its sense of natural order. This is nature distilled into abstract form—both contemporary and timeless. Sunrise or sunset?
Vindur (pronounced VIN-dur) is the Icelandic word for “wind,” chosen to reflect the sense of breath and natural movement in the work. This piece invites pause and presence—a contemporary botanical print with emotional depth and atmospheric clarity. Expect more shadows to appear in future artwork.
A lovely commission.
I was honored to complete this amazing commission for a dear friend. We collaborated to include personal design elements and name the piece, Russet Truffle.
Collaborating on a custom work of art was a new adventure for me, nerve-wracking and exciting, and incredibly rewarding. I’d love to do it again - is there an artwork you’d like to customize the size, palette, or design? We can co-create it!
Can you give me a lift?
Getting seen on Etsy is really challenging. I’m patient for it. The shop will grow in time. But there are a few things you can do to help.
SHARE a listing on Instagram, Facebook or Pinterest and tag me @ofinkandinsight
BUY art - a small print on fine art paper costs around $24, including shipping in the U.S.
FOLLOW the Etsy shop by clicking the follow button at the top
REVIEW artwork you purchase and include a photo - this is an important way to boost the shop's credibility and visibility!
I appreciate any little bit of love you can spare. It matters to ME, not just to the algorithm.
What’s next?
Well, I think it’s more of the same.
I want to spend June making a lot of art, because I get better with every single piece. I want to capture my favorites and make them available for anyone to enjoy. I want to practice some routines and find a rhythm that feels like a good balance of making new things, doing the work, getting through failures, and taking good care of myself.
There are already new artworks lined up, pieces that integrate media and come alive with new color palettes. So I hope you’ll stay tuned and enjoy the journey with me.
xoxo
Cyn