Notes from the studio —
focused on art, observation, and creative practice.
Product Photography Tips for Etsy Sellers
Taking better product photos doesn't require expensive equipment or professional photography experience. With Etsy's updated photo requirements, I'm sharing simple tips for photographing your products using natural light, a digital camera, or your smartphone. Learn how a few basic lighting techniques and camera settings can help you capture clear, accurate photos with little to no editing.
Etsy's New AI Photography Policy: A Photographer's Perspective
As a professional photographer since 1994, I've seen photography evolve from film and darkrooms to digital editing and AI. I'm sharing my perspective on Etsy's new photography policy, why I support its intentions, and where I believe more clarity is needed for artists and sellers.
The Small Moments That Change Everything
Twenty-five years ago, my brother walked out of Tower Two during a training break, a small decision that changed the course of our family. Today, as he helps his son recover from a near-fatal accident, I keep thinking about survival, chance, the families who weren't as lucky, and everything we've been given because he came home.
I’m Not Just Trying to Find My Style.
I’m not trying to settle into one medium or force myself to find an artistic style. Right now, I’m painting, experimenting with texture, tearing up watercolor paper, working small, dreaming bigger, and following one creative idea into the next. Social media may tell us to find a niche and stick with it, but art has never really worked that way. Learning to create is about experimenting, trying different mediums, making mistakes, and discovering what you actually enjoy. If you’re questioning what kind of artist you’re supposed to be, maybe the answer isn’t to choose yet. Maybe it’s to try more.
The Camera Was Never the Hard Part
After decades as a photographer, I watched cameras become more accessible while the value of experience behind them became harder to explain. Now, as I learn to paint, I’m being reminded of something photography taught me years ago: the tools can help us create, but developing the skill still takes practice, mistakes, patience, and time.
Pressing Pause on the Art Club
Sometimes a good idea needs room to breathe. After three months, I'm pressing pause on A Wandering Palette Art Club—not because I don't love the concept, but because I want to take the time to rethink it, refine it, and figure out how it fits into the bigger picture of my life and creative work.