"Grace, not perfection."

A few years ago, I read this quote and it stuck with me. This week, I felt the need to handwrite it and paint.

I am trying the best I can to be the best I can be. Sometimes my own head and body get in the way. I can't churn out artwork as frequently as some artists I follow. I'm still new to learning business and I'm constantly trying to absorb more information about it. I'm still learning how to balance art and business. I'm still trying to set up a lifestyle that works for me, day-to-day. I have days where I just need to zone out and do nothing. I'm constantly afraid of my past anxiety taking over with full force again if I push myself too hard. I'm still figuring out how I want my business and my internet presence to be, because I'm in introvert and I simply cannot post something everyday; I have a need to reflect and be deliberate with what I share. I juggle my art business and life and my part-time babysitting jobs. I know that's how my life will continue to be, so I'm doing the absolute best I can sanely do to establish habits and a workflow that work for me.

I find myself often feeling like I'm not doing enough, despite constantly checking things off my to-do list. I guess I have high standards and hopes for myself. I've always been a little overly ambitious but a little bit lazy. I know I'm capable, so I strive for perfection. I always have. And sometimes that's good- it's motivating. But sometimes it's horrible for my emotional well-being. Nothing is perfect. Perfection is something people perceive from the outside, and the person who created it or the person living in it never believes it's perfect.

So I'm always making an effort to focus on the gracefulness of what I'm doing. Am I creating pieces I love? Am I doing the best I can? Am I presenting a message and a presence I want to present to the world? Am I being deliberate and cohesive and consistent? Am I presenting my work gently and gracefully, not abrasively and desperately? I am working within myself to do things with grace (not in a religious way, but in a refined, gentle, smooth way). I will strive to create work & a life that I'm proud of, and I will strive to be graceful in my actions in all areas of my life. I will always do the best I can, and try to accept that it will rarely be perfect in my eyes.

Whomever is reading this, please never hesitate to share any thoughts with me. I'd love to know what you're thinking :)

xo, Michelle

P.S. Forgot to announce that I re-designed my website quite a bit. Go see the new layout and some new content: www.maryandluna.com

Photo Field Trip!

I FINALLY got some time to blog about this incredible experience I had! From February 28 - March 3, I attended a Photography Field Trip/ workshop/ camp at El Capitan State Beach, California. It was basically 300+ photographers from all over the world "glamping" and learning and socializing. I don't even have enough words to summarize a weekend filled with so much goodness. I summoned a lot of courage to go to this retreat, where I didn't personally know anyone going, only photographers whom I follow & love on instagram. I drove 3 hours in the POURING, terrifying, zero-visibility rain by myself, the furthest I've ever driven alone, and I never drive in rain that hard. But it was so so worth it. For some reason, I only took a handful of photos. I was just in sponge mode- absorbing information and watching people and being present in my settings. I think that was good for me. So here are my favorite photos that I did take!

After I got home, I was inspired to create a little commemorative art piece of all the imagery that stood out the most: tents/cabins, notebooks, cameras (duh), backpacks/swag, and muddy muddy boots! A bunch of the attendees ended up buying prints of it, and it was so so encouraging to know my illustration was well-received by fellow artists.

It was such an unforgettable experience. No one complained about the rain and the unbelievable amounts of mud because we we all just so happy to be there. I met a ton of new, creative people, which I needed so badly. I got so much support and encouragement and positivity. I feel so hopeful. I learned SO much from these professional photographers who are incredible at what they do. I loved being in such a beautiful environment. It felt like camp. Like Parent Trap & Dirty Dancing style. Only with people who love photography & adventuring as much as I do, and no 11-year-old Lindsay Lohan clones or beautiful Patrick Swayze (RIP). It was all just so fun. So unique. Just as I was feeling very comfortable and making friends, it was over. I can't wait to see what happens next year. Thank you, Field Trip, I love you.

To see more photos from EVERYONE who went, browse Instagram: #yeahfieldtrip.

xo, Michelle

P.S. any Field Trippers who still want this art print can order one from me here in my Etsy shop!

New print: Wanderlust!

Whew, it's been a whirlwind over here! This week I'll share my amazing adventure at a photography field trip/workshop I attended last weekend. But today I have a new print available to share with you! Wanderlust (noun): a strong, innate desire to rove or travel about.

I have a wanderlust soul; I always have. Since I was little, I liked to read about other places and states and countries; I poured over and memorized maps. I crave wandering aimlessly, new scenery, exploring places that are not much like where I live in a sunny, suburban California beach town. I LOVE landscapes and nature and staring into open land and looking up at beautiful architecture with wide-eyes and wonder.

I've played with so many ideas of how to use this word in a piece, because I'm aware that it's a common theme. I had one sketch for it about a year ago but I knew it wasn't what I wanted. Recently this illustration just sort of flowed out of me, and I think it's heavily influenced by fairytale scenery. I had a desire to paint trees and a forest.

Here's the original sketch:

Here's the final piece, available as a print in my Etsy shop! 

Hope you like it!

xo, Michelle

My art on a t-shirt!

I got to be a part of something so special on Monday night. My long time friend, Dani Kerry, worked really hard and is super talented, and she released an EP of original music! About a month ago, she asked me to design a shirt for her release party! I want to tell you about it!

Her album (EP) release party was on Monday at the House of Blues in Downtown Disney (which is like, hello, a big deal). Because I designed the shirts, I worked the merch table for her show. It was so insanely busy! Non-stop people buying shirts & CDs! I had to have my sister & mom help me toward at the end! It was a ridiculously huge success, and it was crazy to see so many people buying my art on a shirt! I’ve never done anything like that before. It was amazing. Dani performed her music and some cover songs, and I watched from the back at the merch table like a proud mom. She is a natural performer and sounded so good, and it was just so cool to see a friend I’ve known for over 10 years doing something she loves, in front of so many people.

(It was all very inspirational as a different kind of artist. I saw so many ties to what makes someone successful in a creative field: obviously talent, but also a lot of practice, some business sense,  tons of hard work, a passion for it, and a drive/determination/gusto to make it happen. You have to really want it. There are so many talented people, but to actually make things happen is a whole other challenge.)

So here are some concept sketches and the final t-shirt design I made! I really loved doing this because before I decided to create Mary & Luna, I wanted to do cover art for musicians’ albums. So this was right up my alley!

Dani’s music is very lyrical and emotional. I gathered inspiration from her lyrics and her photoshoot for the album, but mostly just from the feeling I got when I listened to her sing. I actually started sketching this design before I even saw her photoshoot, so when I saw her beachy/gloomy photos, I knew I was on the right track!

 

Here's what the merchandise table looked like. Dani told me to set up my artwork so I could get more exposure.

And lastly, here's Dani up on stage:

I’m so glad I was a part of making Dani’s dream happen. I love being involved in bigger creative projects.

Go follow Dani Kerry’s Facebook page  :)

xoxo, Michelle

The importance of sketching.

I try to post here regularly, I really do. But I've been struck with a bad cold again (one of the joys of working with kids!) and my productivity has taken a giant smack in the face. I'm trying to stay patient as my body heals. I wanted to write out some thoughts I was having about sketching. I have a habit of thinking my sketches have to be perfect the moment my pencil hits the paper. I think I do this for a few reasons: 1) I hate repetition and I don't want to draw something over and over again, 2) I can never seem to duplicate the sketch when it's time to transfer it onto whatever medium I need it on, 3) I'm a perfectionist & I want it right the first time, and 4) I have a habit of sketching only for something I am going to follow through with as a full art piece.

But by doing this perfectionistic sketching, I put myself in a cage where I'm not allowed to make mistakes. I'm depriving myself of a major part of the creative process: experimenting. Last night, I forced myself to just start drawing, letting go of preconceived notions of what I wanted it to look like. I just let my pencil move in an attempt to make something. I only had a concept in my head. It felt much better. It's not perfect, and I wasn't entirely pleased with the outcome, but the process felt so much better, so much more free. I'm going to make a conscious effort to do this more, because it feels necessary to keep my creative thoughts coming out instead of trapped in my head. I cannot, realistically, only sketch final pieces. That's not how it works, I know that from experience. I don't know how I got into that mindset. So I'm trying to break that pattern. Just sketch and see what happens.

xo, Michelle