Turning the Page

Where one chapter closes... 🍂

Hi friends,

Here we are in the last month of autumn. I don’t know about you, but it’s been a period of transition to match the season in our household of late.

This fall I wrapped up two years with Springboard, including a full year of job searching + career coaching, an internship, and work with a startup. It’s been a long season of effort without the outcome I hoped for (landing a new job), so now I’m giving myself permission to breathe a bit and listen for what’s next. Painting and drawing have been the steady stuff through all of it, and I’m feeling more committed to them than ever.

One of the highlights of October was joining Cane Yo’s month-long sketchbook challenge. The goal was simple, but not easy: fill an entire sketchbook in a month. I ended up doing just that, though not in the way I expected. Midway through the month, my dog passed away, and I was simply too heartbroken to paint or draw for the first time in years. My grandfather had passed away not two weeks prior. When I finally returned to the sketchbook, finishing those last pages became a quiet way of closing some significant chapters in my life. I didn’t finish on time, but finished it for myself, in November.

Here are a few spreads from the book:

Lately my art practice has been centered around learning watercolor, which is still proving quite tricky after 8 straight months! But I am enjoying exploring the medium more deeply, building habits, and learning to see as a painter, not just a draftsman. The more I lean into daily or near-daily practice, the the more natural it feels. I’m planning to spend the rest of the year painting, praying, and getting clear about what I want my creative life to look like in 2026.

And since this newsletter is still finding its shape, I’d love your input. What would you enjoy seeing more of?

• My own art and process

• How-to’s, studies, or technique breakdowns (I may not be there yet for painting, but this could be for drawing)

• Thoughts on creativity and the artistic life

• Artist inspirations, quotes, recommendations

• Occasional interviews or conversations

• Something else entirely?

Feel free to reply directly. I’ve got some ideas banging around for next year and I genuinely want to know!

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To close, here’s a sketch from yesterday. I think it shows how painting is feeding back into my drawing, especially in terms of the organization and simplification of values.

So while painting remains an uphill challenge for me, drawing is getting ever easier and more free as I lean into my own style, which is very exciting for me!

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Thanks for reading and for being here. Even in a year of uncertainty, sharing work and connecting with you has been grounding for me and I look forward to doing it so much more!

Until next time,

Kevin