After more than 2 years, I finally finished this painting… and it wasn’t easy. In this week’s Artist Diary, I’m taking you inside my studio as I complete *Vibrant Flight*, a piece from my Needle and Brush series—a collection of mixed media paintings created with both wool and paint. What surprised me most about this process was feeling completely stuck at the end. I usually know exactly what the next step is in a painting, but this time, I didn’t. For weeks, I avoided finishing it… until I finally worked through the resistance. If you’ve ever struggled to finish a creative project, this video is for you. I’m also sharing a little behind-the-scenes of my evolving art practice, what’s next for the Needle and Brush series, and why I’m feeling pulled back to my Backwards Beauty paintings (and possibly a new landscape series). And stay until the end—I’m reviewing two new studio products I recently tried and sharing my honest thoughts.
artist thoughts
My First Year on YouTube as an Artist — Was It Worth It?
Is YouTube worth it for artists?
After one full year of showing up, creating, and sharing my work, I wanted to sit down and reflect honestly on what this journey has been like.
In this video, I’m sharing my thoughts after my first year on YouTube as an artist — the highs, the disappointments, and the quiet lessons that don’t always show up in numbers. I talk about what it’s like to create art without guaranteed sales, to launch collections that don’t sell, to post weekly videos without monetization, and to keep going anyway.
This reflection is woven together with footage from a winter getaway and moments of felting — working slowly, intuitively, and with intention. As I work, I share what I’ve learned about creativity, comparison, consistency, and why the act of making still matters deeply, even when the outcome isn’t what we hoped for.
If you’re an artist, creative, or anyone wondering whether YouTube is worth the effort — especially in the early years — I hope this video makes you feel a little less alone.