On being myself

“Here’s some simple advice: always be yourself. Never take yourself too seriously. And beware the advice from experts, pigs, and members of Parliament.” - Kermit the Frog

Hello! And welcome. I think a re-introduction is in order, don’t you think?

If you’re seeing this email, it means you’ve subscribed to my newsletter somewhere along the way, or bought a print, ornament, puzzle, or calendar from me sometime in the last decade (decade?!) and I can’t tell you how much that means to me.

I’ve drafted so many newsletters over the years, and ultimately deleted almost every single draft. I’m quite confident behind the brush (well, maybe not quite!), but behind the keyboard and the camera is another story. It’s taken me years to warm up to the idea of putting myself out into the ether, vulnerable to the elements, and truth be told, I’m still not very good at it.

So who am I?

I think the real answer to this question will probably unfold slowly the more newsletters you open from me.

Little me, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Happy as ever.

The really boring answer to this question is that I’m an illustrator with a knack for painting complex and illustrative scenery.

The fun answer is that I’m a cat whisperer, knitter, bookworm, Broadway buff, ballet dreamer, Library advocate, Pilates-obsessed, almost-Rockette, wannabe hiker, lifetime Muppet enthusiast, amateur gardener, Star Wars nerd, vintage and antique shopper, with an ability to find color in places you might not usually see it. These things and all the things I forgot to mention here are the things that make my art what it is and what it will continue to be.

So, what’s this newsletter about anyway?

I named this newsletter Charmingly to collect all of the charming and enchanting things I find so I can share them with you, and you can see them reflected in my art. Chances are if you like my art, you’ll like what I’m inspired by too. For now, this newsletter will be free to read and subscribe to. Feel free to drop me a note in the comments and I’ll do my best to respond!

You can read this newsletter and the archive by visiting joylaforme.substack.com at any time. Hope to see you around!