Painting Class, Ring Purchases, and MN Teaser

This week, my stepmom, my little sister, and I took a painting class at the Arboretum. I went in ready to learn some new techniques, maybe pick up a few brushstroke secrets, and walk out feeling like a slightly more evolved version of myself. Instead, we spent the first 45 minutes mixing colors. Just… mixing colors. Don’t get me wrong, color theory is great, but that’s not the area I’m struggling with right now. I was hoping for something more along the lines of “Here’s how to paint what you’re looking at,” not “Here’s a pile of paint, good luck.” (I think her actual words were, “Paint what you see.”)

It was still fun, but I left feeling like I’d signed up for a cooking class and spent the entire time chopping onions. Necessary, sure, but not exactly the skill I was hoping to hone.

All that said, it did spark something. I’m feeling ready to get back to animals again (with the occasional pour because why not). Maybe even try a few new styles inspired by the class, even if the class itself wasn’t quite what I expected.

And speaking of unexpected lessons…

I recently ordered a custom ring from Jewelry by Johan. Before my mom passed in December, she bought “last gifts” for everyone — her words, not mine — and she joked that it was all coming out of my inheritance. I chose a ring. What I did not choose was the chaos that followed.

Here’s something they don’t tell you: ring width matters. A lot. We ordered the wrong size, and I spent months trying to work with the vendor to fix it. After some deep research (the kind of research that leads you into a Reddit‑hole, through Etsy, and eventually to the realization that half the internet is secretly dropshipping to each other) I discovered the ring we bought was less “custom artisan craftsmanship” and more “dropshipped and upsold into the stratosphere.” Long story short: I now own three rings from that company, and none of them fit or feel special. At some point you just have to tap out for the sake of your sanity.

But there’s a happy ending. I met with Jewelry by Johan — an actual Minnesota-made jeweler — and they’re creating a ring just for me with Artavi colors: a titanium band with crushed lapis lazuli, crushed aquamarine, and meteorite. It’ll replace the original gift, and yes, it is still technically coming out of my inheritance. Mom would get a kick out of that. I should have it in just a few weeks.

Oh! And a quick mention, I am working on something that will be revealed in the next couple of days that I think is turning out great! A little tribute to my love and pride for my home state, Minnesota. Stay tuned!

So that’s the update: a painting class that taught me more about color than technique, a ring saga worthy of its own Netflix mini-series, and a renewed excitement to get back to the work that feels like home (and maybe explore some new territory while I’m at it).

As always, thank you for being here — for the kindness, the curiosity, and the community we’re building together.