reorganizing my art supplies...

and it wasn't because I was procrastinating!!

Before I was a career artist, I was just an artist. Every colored pencil and paint pallet I had were at the forefront of my creative process.

Over the past 10-ish years since I reluctantly and then gratefully transitioned into digital drawing as my primary medium, and then became a career artist and creator, my collection of physical painting and drawing tools have grown and dwindled, moved with me to many homes and then thrown in corners and boxes and arranged in various nooks and crannies whenever the time allowed.

But this year I’ve begun with creating a clear and concise space for the supplies that sing to me to come back more often. This has been an ongoing process that required space the proper storage vessels and time. There’s no such thing as perfect organization, but I do believe in efficient and intentional spaces where things are easy to access and, for a neurodivergent like me, visible enough to remember they exist (without feeling too overwhelming at the same time…).

My current studio that will probably be my place for the foreseeable future is just a small room about 10 x 10 square feet. I have absolutely maxed out the space every corner and wall is covered in inspiration, reminders, artistic tools, and spiritual offerings.

My work desk and desktop for design designing, and formatting is literally in a closet where a built in desk shelf was already present when we moved in.

My creative drawing desk is in the opposite corner of the room, facing out a window with a bunch of inspirational knickknacks on top of it to form my creative altar.

In another corner is my main working altar, and the rest of the wall space is pretty much taken up by bookshelves with altars a top them and space for my art supplies.

But like I said the past 10 years of growing, my artistic career have been focused on designing and creating products that always begin in a hand drawn form, but ultimately end up being refined through my iPad and design software on my computer in order to make it reproducible to reach the hands of others like you.

So my drawing and painting supplies really resemble the raw beginnings of the creative journey, the space in which I can explore freely without having to think about the business side of things and the ultimate truth that although my art is a balm for myself and others, it is also my means of making a living to survive.

I’ve been dreaming of getting lost in the paint again. Two years ago I saw someone local on fb marketplace selling a lot of canvases and paint supplies for a low price comparatively to what it would cost to buy all new in store, and I bought it even though I knew I didn’t have the time to use it because my heart was calling for what it represents.

But I asked my family for a little desktop easel for Christmas and I’ve been dreaming (or like laying in bed before sleep mentally planning) Where I set up my little paint station in my room that was already so full.

So yesterday and today I did some rearranging, which included pulling all the sketchbooks and paint pads and supplies out of their hidden and scattered nooks and crannies, and putting them all onto the centralized shelf that I can see everytime I walk in this room. from which I’ll find a place for its books later… :)

All this to say, I’m ready to re-center my art again.

This might sound weird to you because everything I share and do is my art. Yet it has been service-based art, projects with a purpose and an end goal and vision.

Don’t get me wrong I love what I do SO much… so much that I am constantly over-working because it doesn’t feel like work to me. I love having a vision and creating design designing and refining it until it’s something that feels ready to share an offer to all of you in a way that’s reciprocal and can support both of us while keeping my business and ability to keep creating a float. It’s how Cycles Journals and the almost-in-production Embodied Ecosystems Tarot were made possible.

But I want to be just an artist sometimes too. I want to just play with paint and make a mess and feel like it’s enough so I don’t burn out.

Creating for creating sake has just been sprinkled here and there through the years and painting has really only taken the form of tiny watercolors in my sketchbook on the go.

My days have gone from 90% computer work between administrative, logistical, marketing and design work to about 70% and I’m really ready to finally let the creative process that is off screen and off-line take up more than half the space.

To do this I am sacrificing social media and the pace of content-sharing that is expected on there. I haven’t decided if I’m going to just be inactive or occasional or completely deactivate my accounts… but I do know I’ve been divesting my energy and focus from there. I’m going to experiment with marketing less and trust more and see if slower sharing, what i’ve already shared, and word of mouth can be enough.

And I don’t think I would be where I am today or have the nervous system capacity to even try this if it weren’t for all of you here today, who have helped me grow my business from teeny tiny to overwhelming to what now feels closer than ever to becoming sustainable (even if i’m still figuring things out financially).

Thank you for every share, every bit of encouragement and witness, every bit of resonance. Thank you for every sale that meant you or someone you know said yes to my art and what it stands for.

THANK YOU. To be an artist in this world is a strange blessing. When people thank me for what I do, my doubts of if what I do matters or is enough are blown aside for a moment.

This year more than ever I’ll be focused on sharing my channeled art and writing and practices Through slower and more intentional spaces like my Rooted Reminders Patreon - where I’m very excited to offer regular art, channelings, and even the option for mailed art. There’s even a tier for a new devotion of a seasonal art & poetry Zine mailed to you!

The monthly Rooted Reminders & astro-tarot calendars are reflections of my dedication to creative rituals that feed my soul beyond expectation. Your support for $5+/month (or $4+ if you join by Sunday!) allows you to receive these while also supporting my ability to create freely - which I always share at some point to make sure it benefits more than just me. 💚

So here’s to more looking out the window than at the screen, and holding my paintbrush or pen more than the mouse.

Here’s to creative resilience and imagination as our hope for weaving a more interconnected future.

I’m excited to see what comes through these hands this year. I have plans, but I also have planned space for the unknown to unfold.

In Grounded Gratitude,

Rachael Amber of Cyclical Roots