Studio's Out for the Summer

It's summer break and I've got a few pretty exciting announcements!

I'm writing from my current happy place (my living room couch) and soaking in my last week of slowness. I've got some summer travel coming up including an artist retreat, a painting competition and the start of a new decade of life.
So buckle up, this letter has quite a bit to it- but I promise to finish out with all the deets on my annual Studio Sale! ​

From Alaska to Kenya & Back*cue Maggie Rogers- Alaska*
As some of you may know, I spend my summers working part time as an adventure tour guide! It's taken me all over this amazing country and I'm excited to say I will be spending this summer in Alaska. My partner Will and I will be working for National Geographic guiding their Family Journeys with G Adventures. I'm stoked to get 8 weeks up there - we actually have to transport our work vehicle from Vegas to Alaska so we've got a pretty epic road trip together through Western Canada ahead! I'll be sharing some of it over on my personal instagram @ericaprasad if you're interested.  

After we finish up the season, I'm planning to spend some time with my family, celebrate my 30th birthday and visit my best friend for her bridal shower in Portland, ME. 

Then I'm headed to Kenya! Long story short I won a voucher and I'll be participating in a 3 week artist retreat on the coast- Watamu to be exact. If you've got any Kenya tips I'd gladly take them! I'm going on my own and am excited to see how the incredible country influences my art. All in all, I will be on the road 4 months with my trusty mini paint set until I return to Austin in October.  

Art 64 Painting Competition
​My most random announcement is that I was accepted into Art64 painting competition! If you've ever wondered how to support a pal for free from your couch, this is it hehe. The competition is a two day bracket style tournament taking place in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. We will go head to head but the crowd votes in person and online to decide who moves forward! 

We do receive money for each round we make it to, and the sole winner wins $20k. Wild right? Would be life-changing. Regardless, I am excited to try my hand at something new and push myself outside my comfort zone. 

I'll share all the voting details when the competition takes place June 7-9 but you can visit art64tosa.com for more details if you're curious! ​

New Work, Sneak Peek
​​I rarely share my works in progress when it is part of a larger series but I wanted to give you all a sneak peek- the picture is the outline if you can make it out.

Something about these works feels different. I can’t describe it but there’s something moving through me as a painter in a new way. Each time I’ve worked on this new series, I walk out of my studio feeling lighter and for the first time, I’m not worried about what may become of them. I just feel gratitude for the opportunity to spend time creating them in my small corner of the universe. The paintings feel like returning to a voice I hadn’t let speak in awhile and I'm excited to see where they take me.

Working on such a large scale series + summer travel means I won't have a lot of new work to share over the next few months but that's okay. Great things take time and I'm excited to be present in the process this time around. 

​Whew, thanks for making it here. Sending each of you the biggest hug. <3