I’m sitting here in the studio surrounded by little painted characters, scraps of paper with half written quotes, and a scanner that has definitely gotten a workout today, and I am thrilled to say this:
I am officially in the final stage of creating the 2026 “Love Is” calendar, and we are right on track for the big release party this Friday.
All the original art is finished.
All the paintings are scanned in.
And I’m at that magical point where everything finally feels real.
It’s been so much fun sharing this process with you as it’s unfolded, from sketches to paint splatters to those “okay this might actually work” moments. And honestly, I can’t wait to hang out with you at the release party. It’s going to be such a good time.
What’s Happening at the Release Party
There’s a lot going on during the stream, so here’s the quick rundown:
- I’ll be showing you the full finished calendar every painting, every quote, and all the ridiculous funny holidays I snuck in.
- The originals from the calendar will go live on the website that day. This is one of my favorite parts because every calendar piece starts as a painting with all the little textures and imperfections that make it… well… mine.
- Prints and other goodies will also be available.
- We’ll announce the giveaway winner live on the stream.
If you haven’t entered yet, make sure you do, someone is walking away with a beautiful artist enhanced textured print mounted on wood of “Love Is All You Need”. And honestly, it’s one of my favorites.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ERICA!
It’s going to be fun, chaotic in the best way, and full of art, laughs, and probably me trying not to spill coffee on my myself. Again.
Why “Love Is” Means So Much to Me
This series is close to my heart in a way that’s hard to fully explain, but I’ll try.
Love Is started years ago as these tiny, simple sketches I would make just to express how I felt about the world, about connection, about Klee, about the funny little moments that make life good. They weren’t meant to be anything big, just honest, joyful snapshots of the human experience.
It was around a time when I needed to remind myself that, despite everything life throws your way, there is always something beautiful or silly or meaningful happening right in front of you. I didn’t want to make a series that was sappy or overly sentimental. I wanted to create something that was real.
So the characters became a reflection of that, simple, imperfect, sometimes goofy, but always rooted in the truth that love isn’t grand gestures. It’s the small stuff. The quiet stuff. The shared laughs. The creative chaos. The bizarre inside jokes. The tiny sparks of joy you don’t always see unless you’re paying attention.
And every time I revisit this series, it reminds me of that. It keeps me grounded. It reconnects me to why I create in the first place.
So yeah, working on this calendar every year is more than just designing a product. It’s like spending time with a part of myself I don’t always slow down long enough to see.
I Can’t Wait to Share It With You
This calendar is full of love, creativity, joy, and a little bit of the absurd, in other words, it’s very me.
Thank you to everyone who has pre ordered, cheered me on, watched the process, sent messages, or just been part of this creative madness with us. I can’t wait for you to see the finished result.
See you Friday for the release party, it’s going to be a blast.
Love you, creative humans.
