dear universe,

The project

Writing 29 letters in 29 days, and illustrating different stamps for each one.
(Target: February 2 to March 1, 2024)

The process

Each letter is personal in its own way. It can be about something serious or silly, about my past, or maybe musings about my future, or maybe they can just be about my cats. The goal is simply to share my thoughts and feelings, both in writing and through illustration, and to feel more comfortable with sharing the pieces of myself that I’m often too shy, scared, or anxious to show others.

This project is roughly inspired by InCoWriMo (International Correspondence Writing Month) which focuses on crafting handwritten letters every day for the month of February, although some of my Dear Universe, letters may be written on the computer or typewriter.

I’ll be sharing photos of each letter + stamp on my website, and sharing some videos of the process on Instagram.

Thoughts behind the project

I started writing and doodling again this year. Just short journal entries paired with little drawings on the margins. It struck me how something simple can have such a therapeutic effect. I’m often stuck in my head, and anxiously overthink every decision, but this practice has made the act of sharing feel a little less daunting and scary.

I want to be the kind of artist who has more to say outside of putting happy faces on things. Not because I think any less of those illustrations (I feel that they will always be part of my work somehow), but mainly because I think I’m ready to grow and see what else I can make beyond or alongside that. The difficult part about making happy work is feeling unsure about sharing things that are less-than-happy. But deep down I know that there’s joy to be found in the act of sharing itself. It’s something to be celebrated, and still something yay-worthy.

Yay! We’re sharing.

And it’s scary.

But good.