PIGEON POST PT.2
April 17, 2026Studio Updates
A few weeks ago, I invested in a new desk and completely reorganized my studio. Now I have two dedicated spaces: one desk for all the tech and admin stuff (emails, social media planning, business things), and another desk purely for creativity—and here's the best part: it sits directly under a window with beautiful natural light.
This simple change has been transformative. When I sit at my creative desk, there's nothing around me except art supplies and the window light. No laptop tempting me to check emails, no admin work staring me down. Just space to make things.
And honestly? I've been making so much more. There's something about having a physical separation between "business brain" and "creative brain" that has my hands itching to create all the time. I find myself reaching for brushes and pencils even when I'm not scheduled to make something. That's the energy I want.
Learning Together: Japanese Classes
My husband and I have resumed Japanese classes together after taking 6 months off. We're doing this because we want to be able to communicate when we travel to more rural areas in Japan—places where English isn't as common. But beyond the practical reason, I genuinely love the classes.
I’m super happy to be doing the classes with him, because this way we can quiz each other, practice conversations, laugh at our mistakes. And knowing that we'll actually use this skill on our next trip makes it feel so meaningful.
Figure Skating: Graceful & Strong
Although I’ve skated my whole life, it was always for fun. As a kid, ice skating was something I did with my friends after school or on Friday evenings when we went to night skate together. It was always such a fun activity to me, but until now I didn’t have the guts to take it more seriously. And I’m so so happy I started taking adult Learn to skate lessons & will begin taking private lessons.
Here's something I've noticed: figure skating and pole dancing have so much in common. Both require you to be strong while looking effortless. Both demand graceful hand gestures, pointed toes, and an overall sense of elegance. Both push you to do something that feels impossible until suddenly your body figures it out.
I've been sharing my progress on TikTok, and I have a goal (a very, very distant goal): to land an axel. That’s my distant dream right now.
Embracing My Voice (Literally)
I know I said so many times that I wouldn’t talk in front of a camera, but then I bought a tiny microphone. And I know that sounds small, but for me it's huge.
I've always been too shy to make talking videos. I'd much rather let my art speak for itself, or use text overlays, or let trending audio do the talking. But I realized that many times I want to emphasize some words, or don’t want to cover the screen with text and would rather explain what is happening. So far it’s been uncomfortable, but oddly satisfying.
Inspiration Everywhere: Y2K Fashion
I went to a vintage market with a friend last month, and I was completely inspired by all the Y2K fashion. The colors, the playfulness, the nostalgia of it all. It's already influencing my art—you might notice more of that energy in my recent pieces.
New Product: 4x6 Postcards
I started making original postcards (4x6 inches) that I'm now selling on eBay. The format is larger than my ACEOs (which are 2.5x3.5 inches), which means I can include more detail and be more precise with my brush strokes.
I'm really happy with how these are turning out. They feel like a natural next step—still small enough to be affordable, but big enough to let me show more of what I can do as an artist.
Oil Painting: Going Bigger
Remember when I said I was struggling with oil paint? I’m still struggling!! But now I love it.
I bought a bunch of canvases from Blick when they were 50% off (I’m the queen of utilizing a good sale), and I've been painting everything from tiny 4x4 and 3x9 inch canvases to... well, some pretty big ones. We're talking 10x20 and even 26x36 inches. I've never painted anything that big before.
It's terrifying and exciting and humbling all at once. I'm documenting the whole journey on YouTube and TikTok, so if you want to watch me figure this out in real-time, you can.
Artist Tips: Drawing Inspiration from Analog Media
This month I want to talk about inspiration sources. Specifically: graphic novels, comics, museums, nature, and other analog media.
I've been diving deep into the graphic novel Witch, and I cannot stop thinking about the art style. The way the artists draw faces is fascinating—they're squishy and soft, yet somehow still semi-realistic. There's a balance between stylization and realism that feels both playful and sophisticated.
What really gets me is their use of color and hatching for shading. They're not doing complicated blending or photorealistic rendering. It's simple. It's elegant. It's beautiful in its restraint.
Here's what I'm learning from it: Sometimes the most powerful art comes from limitations. When you decide to use only certain techniques (hatching, flat color, simple lines), you're forced to be intentional about every choice. You can't hide behind complexity. Everything has to earn its place.
My recommendation to you: Take a break from Pinterest and Instagram for your inspo, and go look at analog media. Pick up a graphic novel. Go to a museum and stand in front of paintings. Spend time in nature observing textures and colors. Study comic book art. Look at illustrations in old books.
So this month, challenge yourself: Find one piece of analog media that inspires you. It could be a graphic novel, a comic, a museum visit, a nature walk. Study it. Copy it (just for learning, not for sharing). And let it influence your work.
What's Coming Next Month
In May’s Pigeon Post, I'll be sharing:
Another update on my oil painting journey
More analog art sources
Finished tiny, medium, and large sized art pieces (before it hits social media)
See you next month,
Taliko
