2026 Love Is Calendar and Getting Inspired by Awesome Kids

Today, Klee and I spent most of the day teaching some awesome kids, and honestly it was the best kind of chaos. We helped them make their own sketchbooks, homemade, slightly wonky, but completely perfect, and then dove into sketching and watercolor painting.

Those kids are inspiring. There’s something about the way they just go for it, no hesitation, no overthinking. They don’t worry if the proportions are off or if the colors make sense. They just make. Watching that reminded me what art is supposed to feel like, free, joyful, and completely in the moment.

Teaching, for us, is something we’re learning as we go. We teach four classes, and each one is its own unique adventure.

The first class is grades K–2, and it’s basically a whirlwind of energy. At one point they were drawing tornadoes, which felt very appropriate because by the time that class ends, Klee and I aren’t even sure where we are or who we are anymore. Then we move on to grades 3–4, who also have a ton of energy, but they focus in hard on their creative projects once they get going. The grades 5–6 group keeps us laughing nonstop. Their sense of humor and creativity are unstoppable. And then there’s grades 7–8, who really push themselves to learn new techniques and try new things.

We love these kids. They are all pure creativity. Inspiring doesn’t even begin to cover it. In fact, they inspired the January design for the Love Is calendar.

You have spoken, and the 2026 calendar theme is officially LOVE IS. Thank you all for voting!

I’m deep in the creative trenches right now, surrounded by sketches, coffee cups, ink puddles, and at least three ink brushes I’ve already lost under a pile of paper. My goal is simple, to give you something that brings joy, comfort, and maybe a few chuckles throughout the year. Right now I’m in the design phase which means I am sketching and designing what the paintings will look like and feel.

Like my past calendars, this one isn’t just about pretty pictures (although they will be pretty, promise). Each month will include:

• Original, uplifting art from my Love Is series
• An inspirational quote to keep you going
• A mix of official, creative, and wonderfully weird holidays including National Absurdity Day, World Kindness Day, National Doodle Day, International Day of Happiness, Talk Like a Pirate Day, and a few Rafi-made holidays that probably shouldn’t exist but definitely do

About the Love Is Series

The Love Is series is my way of celebrating connection, kindness, and those small moments that make this weird world a little brighter. Each piece features two or three whimsical characters doing something beautifully human like Love Is Sharing an Umbrella, Love Is Spreading Joy, or Love Is Being There.

It’s not about romantic love. It’s about the kind of love that makes life better, the kind that helps you laugh when things get messy or gives you hope when the world feels upside down.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ERICA!

This year’s calendar will feature all-new art, bright, colorful, full of heart, and just the right amount of mischief.

Here’s the current plan (and yes, I actually wrote this down so I don’t forget):

Nov 1–5: Prepping canvases and clearing workspace (which mostly means pretending to organize)
Nov 6–13: Design and sketching stage
Nov 13–24: Painting the full collection
Nov 25–26: Graphic design and formatting for print
Nov 28: Official Calendar Release Party on YouTube!
Dec 2, 2025: All pre-order calendars ship out!

Each Special Edition pre-order calendar will be signed and include a little surprise from the studio because who doesn’t love a surprise? (Unless it’s liver and onions. I promise there will be no liver.)

Pre-Order Yours Now

If you’ve been following along with these yearly calendars, you know they’re a labor of love and occasional madness. The Love Is 2026 Calendar is shaping up to be something really special, heartfelt, funny, and maybe even a little weird, just how I like it.

Pre-order yours today, join us for the Calendar Release Party on November 28th on YouTube, and be part of the adventure as this thing comes to life.

Ships by December 2, 2025, right in time for gifting (or keeping for yourself, no judgment).