The Painted Pixie

I just finished up this piece titled “Tidings of Comfort and Joy.” My friend Lindsay Shedal from The Coffee Press took this photo of a drink she made & I immediately knew I wanted to draw it!

I am unsure if this will be my final submission for the Artist Showcase I have coming up (as I am working on a few other pieces currently) but I’m super proud of how this turned out! It’s been a few years (ok, decades) since I picked up some Prismacolor pencils and played & I forgot how much I missed it. In a strange way, pulling out my art and creating something just for me felt like coming home. I don’t really know how to explain it fully…

The odds were against me this week with teaching, car trouble, Halloween prep and a puking toddler, but I still made it happen… I’m convinced moms can do anything! 💪🏻👏🏼

Our class pet, Lucy Goosey, said she needed an outfit change for Trunk-or-Treat! SJRS families, hope to see you there this Saturday from 1-3pm! I’ll be there dressed up as a Red Crayola Crayon🤣

Marked safe from Red Ribbon Week (with a different dress up day every single day), Halloween Week AND a full moon. What a week!🫣(I am so thankful Halloween is on a Saturday this year!)

Well friends- I did a thing & I’m not sure if it’s brilliant or delusional, but I entered my first artist showcase in my adult life. *DEEP BREATHS* Ever since I can remember I have struggled with imposter syndrome- maybe it’s that perfectionist streak inside of me. I am ARTISTIC and super creative but I have struggled to consider myself an ARTIST. It sounds funny even to say it out loud, but I’m just being vulnerable. I realized how much my soul ached to create again & this time, I’m cutting back on external demands and commitments and making MY OWN ART in my “free time” (I say that in quotes because I have 4kids, a job & a very busy schedule, but I’m actively working to make time and create space for my own art). I encourage my art students all the time to show me their work and even give incentives if they will bring in outside artwork that they did at home. I suppose this is my way of showing them an artist at work on her craft. So here’s to being bold & doing the thing even when you’re scared. I have exactly 3 weeks to create a work of art that I’m proud of- zero pressure 🫣. Any encouraging words would be welcome!

I have a bit of a sad announcement: I will no longer be booking face painting birthday parties. This was a difficult decision, but I have kids in sports on the weekends now & I don’t want to miss out on their games/ meets. If you have booked a party with me thru the end of 2026, I am still honoring those commitments, but I will not be booking any more.

I am currently in talks with someone about buying off the facepainting side of my business & I will keep you updated. I will still keep a small kit so I can continue to do events at my 4 kids’ schools and local community/ corporate events, but birthday parties are now a thing of the past😞. It makes me sad because I enjoyed it so very much and made so many great connections, but I am not willing to train people and travel and turn it into a full-fledged business. I do not have the desire nor the bandwidth for that. I am a wife and a mom (x4) first, a teacher second, and I’m excited to be pursuing other artistic endeavors.

Thanks for your understanding!

(Pictured is my sweet six year old who asked to be painted like me before I left to paint for a party this morning.)

An extra special banner I was asked to make for our church a few weeks back to welcome home Owen. So glad to have you back home safely! Thank you for your service- we are all so proud of you.

Congrats to Jules on 1,000 assists (as a JUNIOR!). Way to go👏🏼. I was excited to get to make this ball to commemorate her accomplishment. Need a special custom hand-painted ball? Send me a DM and let’s chat about the details!

The kind of notes that you will treasure forever 💕 Thank you, - made my day! You have wonderful kids and I’m so glad I get to be their teacher.

I volunteered to paint faces for Pumpkin Day in the UPK at my local YMCA today for the third year in a row. Those teachers really are some of the very best💕

I registered today for the 5for5 challenge! So proud of little Miss Emma (and her mom ) for organizing this to raise money for the Autism Nature Trail at Letchworth State Park in honor of her little brother Henry, who has autism. This girl is going to do BIG things, just you wait and see! Cheering you on 👏🏼