I signed up for a series of classes using soft pastel. I had played with pastel before, but I had never taken the time to truly learn the material or understand its language. This felt like the perfect opportunity to see what I was made of. I ordered the basic supplies, packed my bag, and headed to class imagining it would feel familiar, like using crayons or pencils.

I am approaching 2026 in a new way, with frameworks that give me choices and flexibility, and defined goals loaded with possibilities

After taking a pause this summer from painting, my latest work has finally emerged. In truth, I never truly stop creating. Even when I’m...