Behind the scenes....

I just finished packing up my 875th calendar to send out into the world.

What does it look like, you may ask, to send 875 of your very own hand drawn calendars out into the world?! Here’s a little photo essay for those of you who want a peek behind the scenes.

Not pictured: hundreds of hours drawing in coffee shops around the city, during the half time at my kids soccer games, and late until the night, emailing drafts back and forth with creative friends, getting support from a generous tech wiz (who was a week postpartum!), daily trips to the post office, also delayed shipping boxes, a broken printer, drama at USPS, etc. etc.

(12 hours of drawing boiled down to a 30 second video)

While I’m tired, it’s been so beautiful to see a project I care so much about resonate with so many of you (I expected to order 100, not close to 1,000!)

In full transparency 2024 has been a year of real ups and downs for Radici Studios and there were moments I worried it wouldn’t survive, so I’m feeling extra grateful right now. I’m grateful to this newsletter community that supports by reading and subscribing, to all the folks purchasing items from my shop, and I’m grateful for all the the beautiful classes, and community gatherings and events I got pulled in to facilitate.

What a gift to make art for a living- and to get to make art about the type of world I want to live in- one filled with joy, and connection, and community care and love! I know I am holding tight to these feelings as the reality of what life might be like starting January 20th looms.

And on that note…

Lots of communities are going to need extra support. Usually I share a donation guide for year end giving and/or volunteering (for those of you in a position to do so). Since I am heading out on a two week break, I’m including it in this email. The organizations I gave to this year included: EarthJustice Institute, Revolutionary Love Project, Kapwa Kultural Center, MECA, and Sogorte Land Trust.

Also, I love Kate Shatz’s last post (The Last-Minute Gift Guide For People Who Are F*cking Pissed About the Election But Still Want to Engage In Meaningful Gifting) She has some GREAT suggestions about places to donate in there as well (donations as gifts- yay!).

Before I sign off, I want to make sure you have the link for all the free coloring pages I offer. I know I will be bringing them with me to some upcoming gatherings. I find them super helpful when I need to talk to my kids about topics they might feel shy about (no need for eye contact when you are coloring) and I also find them good entertainment when I need to spend time with folks where conversation is not easy. For me, coloring is calming and grounding no matter who I’m with!

Here’s to 2024 with all it’s highs and lows, thank you for sticking around.

Take good care,

Jen

P.S. To answer a question I keep getting- the calendars are completely sold out (the 100 extras I ordered flew out the door!) BUT I am excited to share that each month during 2025 I will be releasing each of the images in the calendar as a large scale limited edition screen print (more to come on that in early January)!

P.P.S. I’m in a real music rut these days (I keep listening to the same old stuff). Let’s crowd source some new tunes! What music is lighting you up right now?