One of the nice things about blogging is that it enables me to slow down and just show my art and talk about it a little bit, rather than constantly battle the algorithms of various social media platforms to get noticed. Today, I thought I talk about the failed painting that led up to what I consider to be a breakthrough painting in my new Cookie Landscape series, "The Daydreamer."

One of the nice things about blogging is that it enables me to slow down and just show my art and talk about it a little bit, rather than constantly battle the algorithms of various social media platforms to get noticed. Today, I thought I talk about the failed painting that led up to what I consider to be a breakthrough painting in my new Cookie Landscape series, "The Daydreamer."

I decided to name my blog Making Happy Art for a reason. It's not a gimmick, and if anything I hope that it helps to clarify what it is that I paint. But what makes my work "Happy Art," and why would I limit my direction in painting by restricting it? I think the simplest way to explain my reasoning is to say that I treat my art as a job -- a very important job -- and in doing so, I believe it's only right to have a job description for myself: I make happy art.

My next in-person solo show will be March 6-27, 2026, at Hidell Brooks Gallery in Charlotte, North Carolina. When I tell people that my paintings, especially my new Cookie Landscape trompe l'oeil paintings, take dozens to hundreds of hours to paint, the usual responses are "Wow" or "Why?" While it is honestly a crazy amount of hours for a single painting, it is also necessary to my painting process.

First, let me state that I believe the definition of "viral" in terms of social media is relative, both to the person sharing a post and with regard to the niche of the post. Early on when I was posting to TikTok, I had a video of me painting a giant ice cream sundae near 10,000 views. For me, at that time, that was viral.

What you'll get in my March 2026 Sweet Escapes Art Print Club: Signed 5" x 5" heavy-weight fine art print of my recent painting Butterflies in the Sky, in an archival sleeve, mini folding card with envelope, the secret Apricot Bars recipe, plus a letter from me, all packed up in a super cute "escapes" envelope. I do all printing, including the envelope, in my studio.

What you'll get in my March 2026 Sweet Escapes Art Print Club: Signed 5" x 5" heavy-weight fine art print of my recent painting Butterflies in the Sky, in an archival sleeve, mini folding card with envelope, the secret Apricot Bars recipe, plus a letter from me, all packed up in a super cute "escapes" envelope. I do all printing, including the envelope, in my studio.