Tag: gratitude

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Happy Thanksgiving From Rafi And Klee

Happy Thanksgiving, awesome humans. This post may be sappy to some, you have been warned.
Today, instead of a fancy dinner or a table full of side dishes that somehow never come out at the same temperature, Klee and I are spending the entire day doing exactly what we love. We are creating in the studio. We are hanging out with each other. We are sipping something warm. We are ignoring the existence of turkey, stuffing, and anything that requires hours of cleanup. Honestly, this might be the most gratitude filled Thanksgiving we have ever had.

This year has been a wild one. Messy. Beautiful. Chaotic. Full of growth. Full of moments where we said, what the heck was that. And full of moments where we said, wow, I cannot believe we get to do this. So I figured today is the perfect day to sit down and write the giant list of everything we are grateful for.

Grab a snack and let’s dig in. Here is a list of things we are grateful for:

A person sitting at a wooden workbench in a colorful studio, focused on a task. The backdrop features various tools and materials, highlighting a creative workspace.
An artist in a studio, examining a canvas with intricate textures, surrounded by vibrant artwork and creative decor.
An artist painting with a brush in a vibrant studio filled with artworks and creative materials.
A person with short hair and a pink hoodie concentrating on a creative project at a workbench filled with tools and materials.
We love our studio
  • Our beloved studio, also known as the room where good ideas come to life and supplies go to disappear.
  • The fact that we get to create our art for a living. It is not easy running this type of business, but it is a dream come true.
A mural depicting a lively community scene with diverse people interacting, standing, and engaged in conversation, alongside an artist wearing glasses and a bandana, standing in front of the mural.
Artist painting a vibrant mural depicting a lively community gathering on a street corner, featuring diverse figures enjoying music and camaraderie.
Oil City Exchange Mural
An artist kneeling and painting a mural on a wall, surrounded by colorful sketches of people enjoying music and drinks.
Oil City Exchange Mural
Two artists are collaborating on a mural in a studio setting. One artist, wearing a red bandana and a backpack, observes the work closely, while the other artist, holding a palette, paints on the mural depicting a vibrant scene.
Oil City Exchange Mural
A creative workspace with several people working together. One person is focused on a project at a table, using red markers and surrounded by art supplies.
An artist working on a colorful sculpture in a studio setting, surrounded by craft supplies and other people engaging in creative activities.
A group of people enjoying an art event in a studio, with colorful artwork displayed on the walls. The foreground includes smiling individuals taking a selfie, and people mingling in the background near art pieces.
Three people engaged in conversation inside an art studio, featuring brick walls and various artworks displayed. The interior includes a wooden table and natural light coming through the windows.
A group of happy individuals posing together, each holding their own painted canvas featuring a desert landscape with flowers and camels, showcasing a fun and creative art class experience.
A cozy studio wall featuring various artworks, including paintings of trees, bottles, and unique figures, set against rustic brick and wooden backgrounds.
Two individuals engaged in discussion in a cozy studio space, with one person holding papers and pointing, while the other listens attentively.
A lively group of people attending a creative workshop, with a focus on two individuals in the foreground who are smiling at the camera. The setting features wooden furniture and decorative plants.
Three people engaged in a discussion around a table in a creative workspace, with notebooks and project files laid out. One person wears a green hat and another has short hair, while the third person is dressed in a coat. A whiteboard in the background displays brainstorming notes.
A person wearing a mask and gloves stands in a partially constructed space, holding a bag labeled 'SHOP SMALL'. The environment features exposed walls, windows, and construction materials.
An artist standing in a vibrant gallery filled with colorful paintings and unique artwork, including a decorated chair and an exposed brick wall.
  • The giant Side Hustle Brews mural that took us from Abu Dhabi to Oil City without ever leaving the building.
  • The Venango Makerspace project that is slowly turning into something huge and wonderful.
  • The four month project that I swore would take forever but magically got done in a week, because apparently my brain just works like that.
  • Every exhibition, every event, every gallery, every coffee shop wall that held our art this year and made us feel at home.
A female singer passionately performs into a microphone while wearing a brown patterned shirt and pink pants, with a male musician playing keyboard in the background. The performance takes place outdoors on a decorative rug against a brick wall.
  • Better on the Drums, our fearless little band that refuses to quit.
  • Every performance where my knees shook but I played anyway.
  • Every gig where we found fellow awkward introverts and created our little introvert gang.
  • All the moments where music pushed us out of the safe zone and straight into the oh no zone.
An artist sketching a whimsical snowman illustration in a studio filled with drawing supplies and sketches.
  • Our Patreon family who show up with love, humor, support, and lots of creative chaos.
  • Every human who pre ordered a calendar, voted on themes, joined a live stream, or said something encouraging when we needed it most.
A person wearing a bandana and glasses, smiling while holding two books titled 'CREATIVITY: It's Not Always Glamorous' and 'DEAR ARTIST, DON'T GIVE UP!' in a cozy studio setting with artistic decor.
  • Dear Artist, Dont Give Up, the book that survived formatting disasters, emotional chaos, life curveballs, and my tendency to forget what day it is.
  • The ISBN fundraiser where we hit the goal by three dollars which is exactly the kind of dramatic moment you would expect from us.
  • Every beautiful human who came to the book release party, bought illustrations, or pre ordered the book.
  • The growing Rogue Artist book collection that is turning into its own little universe.
A person with glasses and a bandana, wearing a gray hoodie, standing in front of a bookshelf filled with various books and objects, displaying a thoughtful expression.
  • Cutting down the anxiety tree of doom that threatened our house and sanity for three years.
  • The prickly pear cactus saga featuring one squirrel with no shame.
  • Scenic drives, filmed music sessions, and the occasional wrong turn because I do not trust my GPS.
  • Art nights and events that brought people together to create, laugh, and be delightfully weird.
  • My attempt at morning routines to wrangle my brain before it goes crazy.
  • Learning the art of rest and the beauty of saying no when life gets too spicy.
A speaker presents in a cozy venue with a rustic atmosphere, standing in front of a projector screen displaying mountains. Attendees sit at tables, attentively engaging with the presentation.
  • Art classes at St Stephens where kids made creatures, painted worlds, and reminded me that imagination is a superpower.
  • Helping build creative opportunities for this town and watching the community grow stronger.
  • Every small business, gallery, and venue who welcomed our art like an old friend.
A man with glasses and a bandana stands next to a woman in a hospital gown, both smiling and looking at the camera.
  • Klees strength and heart while navigating months of not feeling well.
  • Our ability to face financial challenges head on and keep doing what we love, even when things got scary.
  • The resilience to get back up after long stretches of stress, loss, and unexpected setbacks.
  • The moments where we remembered exactly why we live this creative life.
  • The friends who reached out at the perfect time with the perfect words.
  • And above all, each other. Through the chaos, the creativity, the laughter, the quiet, and the long drives home.

Gratitude is one of those things that sounds simple but will absolutely transform your entire life if you let it. It is a mindset shift. It is a way of seeing. It is a way of saying to the universe, yes, the messy stuff is happening, but look at all of this beauty too.

Gratitude anchors us.
It keeps us from spiraling.
It reminds us that even in the chaos, there is magic.
It brings inspiration back when motivation goes missing.
It reconnects us with all the things we love about being human.

When we focus on what is working, what is growing, what is thriving, we naturally start moving toward more of that.

This year was not easy, but it was full.
Full of creativity, full of community, full of love, full of lessons, and full of moments that mattered.

And for all of it, we are truly grateful.

A whimsical painting of two cheerful characters celebrating amidst falling autumn leaves, surrounded by a vibrant yellow background.

Happy Thanksgiving, You Amazing Creative Humans

Wherever you are today, whether you are having a giant dinner or eating a sandwich over the kitchen sink, we hope you feel loved, supported, inspired, and deeply appreciated.

We will be here in the studio painting, sculpting, creating, laughing, probably changing that old paint water, and soaking up every moment of gratitude.

Thank you for being part of our world.
Thank you for supporting our creative journey.
Thank you for believing in the rogue, the messy, the heartfelt, and the handmade.

We are grateful for you.
Every single day.

Happy Thanksgiving.
With love from our chaotic studio,
Rafi and Klee