We’re writing to you because—drumroll please —we recently gave our newsletter a bit of a glow-up. Think of it like when you finally replace those socks with holes in them. Yeah, it’s that exciting.
At some point in time (possibly in a galaxy far, far away), you subscribed to our newsletter. Maybe you stumbled upon us because of art, music, jewelry, or just the random chaos that is our lives. However it happened, you ended up here—hanging out with two weirdos who make creative things and overshare on the internet. Lucky you!
Now here’s the deal: we switched over to a different service for sending out our updates. This means we want to make sure you’re still into receiving our shenanigans. If you are—fantastic! You rock, you roll, you sparkle without glitter. If you’re not, no worries. Down at the bottom of this email there’s a handy unsubscribe or manage subscription link. click on it, and boom—you’re free. (But just know we’ll totally imagine you dramatically walking away in slow motion while sad violin music plays.)
If you do stick around (and we hope you do), here’s what you can expect:
Stories about making art, playing music, and surviving life’s circus.
Updates on shows, projects, and community adventures.
Occasional inspirational ramblings about being a creative human.
The behind-the-scenes chaos that reminds you, “Hey, I’m not the only one figuring this stuff out as I go.”
So if you’re still here reading this, congratulations—you are the most awesomeness awesome who ever awesomed. Seriously. High five.
Thanks for being part of this wild creative ride with us. We appreciate you more than words can say (though clearly, we just used a lot of words).
Stay creative, stay weird, and most importantly—don’t give up on your own brilliance.
With paint on our hands and music in our heads, Rafi & Klee
In this Podcast, Klee and I (Rafi) discuss the concept of doing less for more results and productivity. Lately, I have realized that I have been taking on too much and have come close to burn out. I am adopting a new philosophy that more isn’t actually better.
WHO ARE RAFI AND KLEE STUDIOS
Curious about who we are? Visit our website and get to know us and all we do. https://rafiandklee.com/
ARE YOU A CREATIVE HUMAN?
Seeking inspiration, free resources, and a supportive hub to fuel your artistic journey? Look no further! At the Rogue Artist Community, we’ve built a vibrant space designed to empower artists, dreamers, and doers like YOU. Whether you’re an experienced artist, a budding creator, or someone curious about exploring their creativity, our hub has something for everyone. Visit us at https://rogueartistcommunity.com/ to find out more.
Thank you for supporting the Artist Life Podcast with Rafi and Klee! You rock!
In this podcast, Klee and I (Rafi) discuss (among other topics) the unique reality of being artists during the holidays.
We dive into the main mindset shifts, challenges, and realities that come with navigating busy seasonal demands, balancing family time with studio time, and managing expectations during this time of year. Bottom line? Taking care of your well-being and staying grounded is just as important as keeping up with the holiday hustle.
Episode Title: Artists During The Holidays
If this resonated with you, hit that Like button, Subscribe, and let us know your thoughts in the comments!
WHO ARE RAFI AND KLEE STUDIOS
Curious about who we are? Visit our website and get to know us and all we do. https://rafiandklee.com/
WANT TO JOIN US IN THE CHAT FOR THE LIVE PODCAST ON PATREON?https://rafiandklee.com/patreon/
Thank you for supporting the Artist Life Podcast with Rafi and Klee! You rock!
In this Podcast, Klee and I (Rafi) discuss art block and brain farts and how to take lead in your own art career. Especially when you are used to staying in the background. We are joined by our amazing Rogue Artist family from Patreon during this discussion. This one is a powerful one!
WHO ARE RAFI AND KLEE STUDIOS
Curious about who we are? Visit our website and get to know us and all we do. https://rafiandklee.com/
ARE YOU A CREATIVE HUMAN?
Seeking inspiration, free resources, and a supportive hub to fuel your artistic journey? Look no further! At the Rogue Artist Community, we’ve built a vibrant space designed to empower artists, dreamers, and doers like YOU. Whether you’re an experienced artist, a budding creator, or someone curious about exploring their creativity, our hub has something for everyone. Visit us at https://rogueartistcommunity.com/ to find out more.
Thank you for supporting the Artist Life Podcast with Rafi and Klee! You rock!
In this podcast, Klee and I (Rafi) discuss (among other topics) the unique reality of being artists during the holidays.
We dive into the main mindset shifts, challenges, and realities that come with navigating busy seasonal demands, balancing family time with studio time, and managing expectations during this time of year. Bottom line? Taking care of your well-being and staying grounded is just as important as keeping up with the holiday hustle.
Episode Title: Artists During The Holidays
If this resonated with you, hit that Like button, Subscribe, and let us know your thoughts in the comments!
WHO ARE RAFI AND KLEE STUDIOS
Curious about who we are? Visit our website and get to know us and all we do. https://rafiandklee.com/
WANT TO JOIN US IN THE CHAT FOR THE LIVE PODCAST ON PATREON?https://rafiandklee.com/patreon/
Thank you for supporting the Artist Life Podcast with Rafi and Klee! You rock!
Let me paint you a picture of our week—not with literal paint (yet), but with the chaos-glazed watercolor of real artist life when the shit hits the fan.
It all started innocently enough: “Let’s get back in the studio,” we said. “Let’s just ease into a creative flow,” we said.
Reality: HA.
Day 1: Taxes. Nothing gets the creative juices flowing like double-checking spreadsheets and whisper-sobbing as you hit “Submit” on your IRS forms. I think I pulled a muscle in my soul. And because we’re self-employed, the government takes a look at our dwindling bank account and goes, “Oooooh yeah, we’ll take a big ol’ scoop of that, thanks.”
Day 2: Mural Mayhem. We headed to 100 Seneca to measure the wall for the mural I’m working on. I met with Jeff (the awesome human who commissioned me), and we talked timelines—which are tight. Like, “wearing jeans fresh out of the dryer” tight. But hey, pressure makes diamonds… or panic attacks. One of those.
This mural is going to be amazing as long as I get out of my own way.
Day 3: MakerSpace Manifesting. We met with Marcy (who is part genius, part wizard) to talk about the MakerSpace. It’s slow-going, but we’re building something powerful for the creative community. Rome wasn’t built in a day. Apparently neither is a 3th floor Maker Mecca. Who knew?
Marcy is indeed a unicorn… She’s hiding it under that hat.
We are so excited about the makerspace coming to life!
Day 4: Doctor Day. Klee had an appointment, and then we went to the hospital for bloodwork. We turned it into an unofficial date—complete with waiting room magazines and vending machine water. Living the dream, people. Living. The. Dream.
I don’t know how she stays so positive considering how much she’s been poked by needles these last few months.
Day 5: Lights, Camera, Easel. I shot a video for a potential sponsor who sent us an easel to review (yep, that’s a thing now). I said words like “stability” and “adjustable angle,” and only once did I almost trip over the tripod. Professionalism, nailed it.
This easel is ACTUALLY amazing. Our yard… looks like crap.
And then… weekend bliss. Finally—finally—I stepped into the studio. I threw all my responsibilities into a mental junk drawer, turned on music, and let myself create. No timelines. No scripts. No spreadsheets. Just paint, commissions, and a new piece that made me remember why I do this in the first place. It was glorious.
It always make me so happy to see Klee creating.
And even though the studio time was the cherry on top, the truth is… the whole week was kind of glorious. Because I got to share it all with Klee. There was laughter. There were ridiculous inside jokes. There were moments of eye contact across chaotic rooms that said, “We’ve got this.”
But. (There’s always a but.)
I did feel pressure. Like, a lot. Not from anyone else—just from that part of my brain that’s like, “Hey, what if everything falls apart tomorrow and we end up living under a bridge with a broken easel and overdue library books?”
Classic.
So I picked up a book by Dale Carnegie about worrying less. (Because my brain, much like a toddler with a Sharpie, has been all over the place lately.) I don’t consider myself a “worrier,” but somehow I’ve become a full-time, certified, Olympic-level anxiety gymnast. Worrying about Klee’s health, money, letting people down, what our neighbors think of the jungle in our yard, roof repairs, squirrels plotting against us… you name it.
Worry has a way of killing momentum.
But here’s the truth bomb I remembered mid-book: Worrying does nothing… NOTHING. It doesn’t fix problems. It doesn’t make things better. It’s just mental hamster-wheel cardio with zero gains.
So I made a decision: I’m done worrying. Not because everything is magically okay, but because I want to be okay. And not-worrying, as it turns out, is actually the freedom I’ve been looking for.
How am I going to stop worrying, you ask? Good question. Here’s the game plan that has ALWAYS worked for me (when I remember to live life this way):
I’m focusing on what’s going right. I refuse to be consumed by what isn’t. That rabbit hole is dark and deep and leads to a dead-end.
I’m staying in the moment. Not in the future that doesn’t exist yet, or the past that already packed its bags and left.
I’m releasing what people think of me. I have zero control over it, so why am I renting it space in my head?
I’m remembering life is short. And the only thing I can do is make the most of the weird, wonderful, unpredictable time I’ve got left.
And most importantly, I’m remembering this: No matter what, Klee and I face everything together. We are a force of nature. Come what may—we’ve got this.
Oh, and I’m done giving a f–k about bills. I’ve officially run out of f–ks to give about bills. I mean, I’ll pay them like I always do—especially the ones that keep the lights on and the fridge humming—but everything else? Optional. Like credit cards. Nice if you can swing it, but you’re not gonna die without making that payment.
I know, it sounds extreme—but hear me out: the bills aren’t the problem. The worry is. Worry is the real drain on my energy, my creativity, and my will to wear pants. Shifting this perspective has always been a game changer for me. When I’m not panicking about the credit card bills, I can actually focus on painting… and, you know, life.
Besides, ultra-wealthy people dodge bills all the time. If billionaires can “strategically default,” I can “artistically delay.”
I am way more creative when my brain is not consumed by worry.
That’s not financial advice by the way, it’s just a weird perspective that works for me.
So this week was chaotic, beautiful, stressful, inspiring, tiring, and full of color—even if the paint didn’t hit the canvas until the weekend.
Here’s to a little less worrying, a lot more laughter, and the glorious mess that is a creative life.
In this podcast, Klee and I discuss our thoughts about the concept of being a hobbyist or pro when you are a creative individual. At the end of the day, it really doesn’t matter what anyone else calls you. Only what you call yourself.
WHO ARE RAFI AND KLEE STUDIOS
Curious about who we are? Visit our website and get to know us and all we do. https://rafiandklee.com/
ARE YOU A CREATIVE HUMAN?
Seeking inspiration, free resources, and a supportive hub to fuel your artistic journey? Look no further! At the Rogue Artist Community, we’ve built a vibrant space designed to empower artists, dreamers, and doers like YOU. Whether you’re an experienced artist, a budding creator, or someone curious about exploring their creativity, our hub has something for everyone. Visit us at https://rogueartistcommunity.com/ to find out more.
Thank you for supporting the Artist Life Podcast with Rafi and Klee! You rock!
In this podcast, Klee and I (Rafi) discuss (among other topics) the unique reality of being artists during the holidays.
We dive into the main mindset shifts, challenges, and realities that come with navigating busy seasonal demands, balancing family time with studio time, and managing expectations during this time of year. Bottom line? Taking care of your well-being and staying grounded is just as important as keeping up with the holiday hustle.
Episode Title: Artists During The Holidays
If this resonated with you, hit that Like button, Subscribe, and let us know your thoughts in the comments!
WHO ARE RAFI AND KLEE STUDIOS
Curious about who we are? Visit our website and get to know us and all we do. https://rafiandklee.com/
WANT TO JOIN US IN THE CHAT FOR THE LIVE PODCAST ON PATREON?https://rafiandklee.com/patreon/
Thank you for supporting the Artist Life Podcast with Rafi and Klee! You rock!
In this podcast, Klee and I (Rafi) discuss the starving artist myth and why it is bull to believe that artists cannot succeed. We also discuss what it takes to make it as an artist.
WHO ARE RAFI AND KLEE STUDIOS
Curious about who we are? Visit our website and get to know us and all we do. https://rafiandklee.com/
ARE YOU A CREATIVE HUMAN?
Seeking inspiration, free resources, and a supportive hub to fuel your artistic journey? Look no further! At the Rogue Artist Community, we’ve built a vibrant space designed to empower artists, dreamers, and doers like YOU. Whether you’re an experienced artist, a budding creator, or someone curious about exploring their creativity, our hub has something for everyone. Visit us at https://rogueartistcommunity.com/ to find out more.
Thank you for supporting the Artist Life Podcast with Rafi and Klee! You rock!
In this podcast, Klee and I (Rafi) discuss (among other topics) the unique reality of being artists during the holidays.
We dive into the main mindset shifts, challenges, and realities that come with navigating busy seasonal demands, balancing family time with studio time, and managing expectations during this time of year. Bottom line? Taking care of your well-being and staying grounded is just as important as keeping up with the holiday hustle.
Episode Title: Artists During The Holidays
If this resonated with you, hit that Like button, Subscribe, and let us know your thoughts in the comments!
WHO ARE RAFI AND KLEE STUDIOS
Curious about who we are? Visit our website and get to know us and all we do. https://rafiandklee.com/
WANT TO JOIN US IN THE CHAT FOR THE LIVE PODCAST ON PATREON?https://rafiandklee.com/patreon/
Thank you for supporting the Artist Life Podcast with Rafi and Klee! You rock!
In this podcast, Klee and I (Rafi) discuss ways to get people to notice your art, but putting yourself out there in unique and fun ways. We also discuss your web presence and pet peeves that we have.
In this podcast, Klee and I (Rafi) discuss (among other topics) the unique reality of being artists during the holidays.
We dive into the main mindset shifts, challenges, and realities that come with navigating busy seasonal demands, balancing family time with studio time, and managing expectations during this time of year. Bottom line? Taking care of your well-being and staying grounded is just as important as keeping up with the holiday hustle.
Episode Title: Artists During The Holidays
If this resonated with you, hit that Like button, Subscribe, and let us know your thoughts in the comments!
WHO ARE RAFI AND KLEE STUDIOS
Curious about who we are? Visit our website and get to know us and all we do. https://rafiandklee.com/
WANT TO JOIN US IN THE CHAT FOR THE LIVE PODCAST ON PATREON?https://rafiandklee.com/patreon/
Thank you for supporting the Artist Life Podcast with Rafi and Klee! You rock!
In this episode, Klee and I dive into the creative rituals that help us get into the zone in our studio. From morning routines and mindset shifts to music, movement, and a few quirky habits, we share the ways we set the stage for inspiration to flow. Whether you’re looking to shake off creative block or refine your own rituals, this conversation is all about embracing the magic of the creative process!
In this podcast, Klee and I (Rafi) discuss (among other topics) the unique reality of being artists during the holidays.
We dive into the main mindset shifts, challenges, and realities that come with navigating busy seasonal demands, balancing family time with studio time, and managing expectations during this time of year. Bottom line? Taking care of your well-being and staying grounded is just as important as keeping up with the holiday hustle.
Episode Title: Artists During The Holidays
If this resonated with you, hit that Like button, Subscribe, and let us know your thoughts in the comments!
WHO ARE RAFI AND KLEE STUDIOS
Curious about who we are? Visit our website and get to know us and all we do. https://rafiandklee.com/
WANT TO JOIN US IN THE CHAT FOR THE LIVE PODCAST ON PATREON?https://rafiandklee.com/patreon/
Thank you for supporting the Artist Life Podcast with Rafi and Klee! You rock!
In this podcast, Klee and I discuss art experts or anyone who thinks they know better than you on how to do this whole art career thing. Truth is, it’s your life, and only you get to decide how to live it.
In this podcast, Klee and I (Rafi) discuss (among other topics) the unique reality of being artists during the holidays.
We dive into the main mindset shifts, challenges, and realities that come with navigating busy seasonal demands, balancing family time with studio time, and managing expectations during this time of year. Bottom line? Taking care of your well-being and staying grounded is just as important as keeping up with the holiday hustle.
Episode Title: Artists During The Holidays
If this resonated with you, hit that Like button, Subscribe, and let us know your thoughts in the comments!
WHO ARE RAFI AND KLEE STUDIOS
Curious about who we are? Visit our website and get to know us and all we do. https://rafiandklee.com/
WANT TO JOIN US IN THE CHAT FOR THE LIVE PODCAST ON PATREON?https://rafiandklee.com/patreon/
Thank you for supporting the Artist Life Podcast with Rafi and Klee! You rock!
In this episode, Klee and I (Rafi) dive headfirst into the wild and wacky world of imposter syndrome—that sneaky little gremlin that whispers, “You’re not a real artist!” We talk about how it creeps in, why it’s full of nonsense, and most importantly, how to shut it down like a boss. Expect laughs, personal stories, and practical ways to silence that inner critic so you can create with confidence. So grab a snack, tune in, and let’s tackle that imposter jazz together!
In this podcast, Klee and I (Rafi) discuss (among other topics) the unique reality of being artists during the holidays.
We dive into the main mindset shifts, challenges, and realities that come with navigating busy seasonal demands, balancing family time with studio time, and managing expectations during this time of year. Bottom line? Taking care of your well-being and staying grounded is just as important as keeping up with the holiday hustle.
Episode Title: Artists During The Holidays
If this resonated with you, hit that Like button, Subscribe, and let us know your thoughts in the comments!
WHO ARE RAFI AND KLEE STUDIOS
Curious about who we are? Visit our website and get to know us and all we do. https://rafiandklee.com/
WANT TO JOIN US IN THE CHAT FOR THE LIVE PODCAST ON PATREON?https://rafiandklee.com/patreon/
Thank you for supporting the Artist Life Podcast with Rafi and Klee! You rock!
