Studio Newsletter

Howdy y’all, it’s been awhile. You’re looking great. Did you do something new with your hair?

My hair has been frazzled as of late. For over a month, our family routine has been replaced with caring for a sick kiddo. Long story short, Emmie had tonsillitis and coronavirus which caused a painful locked jaw/neck situation. No one has a solution or can even figure out a solid diagnosis (and that’s after 3 CT scans, an MRI, 2 ER visits, a 4-day stay at Cook Children’s Hospital, and countless doses of medicine and specialist doc visits). Every moment of every day, whether we’ve realized it or not, just hasn’t felt right. Hoping health, heavy days, and heavy hearts (and studio days) return soon.

Stay In the Light, acrylic on canvas, 3’x6’ | “With the dust rising, they ran close to the canyon wall careful to stay in the light.”

Art stuff has happened during this time. Artspace111 included some canyon paintings and altars in their booths at the Blue Hills Fall Show in Round Top, TX and the Dallas Art Fair and a few pieces were hung for the gallery’s Spring Gallery Night. The biggest accomplishment was finishing the canyon/bison commission (yippee-ki-yay)!

Most of my art energy has been spent making silly things for Emmie Bean that she’s not impressed with. Things like The Later Gator (time played with: zero minutes), pet cacti (were changed into a cat and dog), tons of Lego structures (never built correctly or fast enough). I even built a dang claw machine (too small).

The Later Gator, 5”x2”, fabric, felt, and googly eyes

Pet Cacti

Life if weird. This year I randomly yet deeply felt the need to make art with sick folks in hopes to lift sprits or at the very least momentarily relieve a little fear and uncertainty.

How would I even begin this quest? The search led to an art pal affiliated with a local children’s hospital. Ba-da-boom-ba-da bing…I was on the calendar not only to do a collab project with my pal and some patients but that same week I’d also be jurying the hospital’s patient art show. Home-flippin'-run. Until I had to cancel both events because my own kiddo had been admitted as a patient in that very same hospital during the very same time I was scheduled to art it up.

In my absence, my super awesome pal executed the cactus pets project I had planned and back at home my kid and I embellished the pet cacti I made as examples for the patient’s project. Emotional gymnastics ensued.

Below are the templates if you’d like to make your own pet cacti.

ALTARS | GUIDES | AMULETS

I keep finding little piles of tiny unpainted beasts around the house and studio. Group by group they get painted and sealed like the guys above. Altars are slowly beginning to come together.

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These notebooks are the perfect place to document all the weird experiences life throws at you.

Field Notes Journal

Being in the midst of an emergency drawing situation and not having the proper tools is the worst. That’s why a handy (and preferably handsome) notebook always lives in my bag.

$18.00

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Lolly and the Talisman Journey Journal

Not every journey has to be an epic pilgrimage to a remote place. Sometimes it can be a thoughtful walk in the desert (like Lolly) or be as simple as taking a spin inside your favorite memories. No matter the length or location, every journey deserves to be documented and explored.

$18.00

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Nature Nerd Notebook

The dotted lines of this spiral notebook are the perfect little guides for words and doodles. And grocery lists.

$18.00

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Dream Journal

Searching for a place to analyze your dreams and overthink their meaning? Look no further.

$18.00

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Visit the Studio Shop

Documenting my landscape through paintings and storytelling.

Hi, I’m Layla! I am a painter with a focus on southwestern landscapes and the author/illustrator of a children’s story series called The Lolly Stories. The exploration of home, nature, and storytelling are the major components of both my painting practice and illustrations.