Just the Two of UsThis is inspired by my coworker, Julie. She was a single mom for a long time to her only child, Jaren.When Jaren was a baby, she bought a little stucco house by herself, fixed it up, and made it home. She loved this house. Whenever she talks about this special time in her life, she always says, “it was just the tow of us.” Jaren passed away tragically in a car accident this past Valentine’s Day. This piece is to honor Julie, her motherhood, and this precious memory with her boy. Just the two of them.Rest in Peace, Jaren

Hi From Quarantine I don’t have much to say other than I hope you’re all safe and well and taking good care of yourselves. I’m taking this one day at a time and trying my best to practice gratitude. I like seeing all the nice things people are doing for each other. Penny can’t believe all his wishes came true and his mom and dad never leave him home alone anymore.

A Vacuum TantrumA couple weeks ago I threw a temper tantrum because I almost bought a $900 vacuum cleaner before my mom and my sister talked me out of it. I screamed at them to stop telling me what to do and let me make my own decisions.Now. Should I be spending $900 on a vacuum? No. Was I aware that they were absolutely right and just saved me from making a very stupid decision? Yes. But instead of telling them “thank you, you’re right, I dont know what I was thinking.” I told them to hang up the phone so they could go talk about how dumb I am. (That’s ACTUALLY what I said. I’m like pretty close to age 30)I apologized to my mom and my sister later and told them that I got defensive because I felt stupid and got embarrassed. They said its ok, we understand. And then I realized that I am the luckiest girl in the world. I have wronged and mistreated so many people I love just because I’m insecrue and I want everything to be everyone else’s fault. But they just forgive me and move on. I think if I were them, I might tell me that I dont have time for my mood swings and snippy attitude. When I was yelling at my sister to stop bossing me around she said “we just love you and we’re trying to help you.”I’m really trying to be better and understand my feelings and why I behave the way I do. I just fall down sometimes. Thank you for loving me through my growing pains.

Better Days AheadWhere I live, the winter is long and merciless. Around this time of year I find myself fantasizing about really warm sunshine.When the sun doesn’t touch your skin for days or weeks at a time, it gets harder and harder to keep your head up. But I guess life be like that sometimes. Like my grandpa used to say, better days ahead.

Anything for you, my love.In our house, it’s Penny’s comfort and well-being over everyone else’s. And we like it that way.

Learning to FlyIt feels like an eternity since my last post and I am very grateful to finally be showing you my first illustration of 2020!Happy New Year everyone! I usually don’t bother with New Years resolutions but this year I’m ready to challenge myself. Instead of setting myself up for failure by trying to make radical life changes on January 1st, I decided I’m just going to live with more intention, mindfulness and gratitude. I want to take better care of myself by building healthier habits. Since I already know I will fail from time to time, I want to be gentler with myself and remember that tomorrow is alway a new day to try again. Slow and steady wins the race.

Head in the clouds

RummyWhen I was little I spent a lot of time with my grandma. One of our favorite things to do together was play cards. She taught me how to play rummy and she would play as many games with me as I wanted. I always used to cheat and peek at her cards, but she never got mad at me for ruining the game. She just let me win and laughed because she thought I was funny.As you might already know, my grandma has Alzheimer’s now and doesn’t have any memory of me. I go to visit her when I can, its nice to see her face and hear her voice and touch her. The last time I went to visit her, she told me she was having such a great day because she got to meet me.Theres so much I want to share with her. I want to tell her how handsome and sweet my boyfriend is, and how my dog is the fastest at the dog park. I want to tell her everything about my art and how I get to share it with the world. I want to tell her that I found a really happy life. I want her to be proud of me.There is one thing that hasn’t changed about her: the way she looks at me. She still looks at me like I’m a precious diamond, just like she always has. Her eyes get big and bright like she can’t believe Im real. She doesn’t care that I cheat when we play cards or I get an attitude sometimes. She thinks Im perfect anyway. When she looks at me, Im brand new.

Birthday BoyPenny just turned four and he had the best birthday ever! First he got to go to PetSmart and he picked out new treats, a new toy, and a frosted cookie. Then Penny’s uncle from Colorado called him and wished him a happy birthday and told him how proud he is of him (I may or may not have asked for the phone call and provided a script earlier that morning). Then before the day was over, his auntie and uncle brought him a gift bag full of more toys and treats and a birthday card. Penny’s fourth year is off to a great start!For people confused about Penny’s name: he’s named after the basketball player Penny Hardaway. Sometimes people try to make him feel bad about having a “girl name” but he doesn’t care what people think. He knows he’s the coolest guy in town and his name is part of what makes him so extra special.

You can touch the sky.This piece is sort of a continuation of a piece I did in February at @amandaoleander’s illustration workshop. I’ll post it in my story.I was recently lucky enough to be on @thejoeyandamandapodcast to talk about my journey as an artist and my experience at the workshop (if you don’t already know Amanda is my hero and biggest inspiration so this was a huge honor and a big deal for lil ole me). When I listened to the episode, I noticed that my instinct is often to tell myself, “you can’t do that. Everyone else can do anything buy you can’t. Cool experiences and accomplishments are for other people. Not you.” I used to listen to that instinct and live by it. Now, I question it. As it turns out cool experiences and accomplishments are for me too. I just have to go get them.Its amazing how my life improved after I changed the way I talk to myself. I read somewhere you should talk to yourself the way you talk to your friends. I’ve learned how to forgive myself and be my own hype woman. I know now that good things happen when I believe in myself.

In this moment, everything is perfect.This didn’t actually happen (quite like this). Neither of us own an umbrella. This is inspired by last Sunday when I was feeling down and B asked me if I wanted to put my rain boots on and take Penny for a walk to get some fresh air. It was the most pure fall day there ever was. The leaves were still really beautiful and rich in color. It wasn’t too cold but it was drizzling out and it made the trees glow extra golden. The love of my life was walking next to me and it was one of those perfect moments that come along once in a while.

Moving DayMy boyfriend and I bought our first house and we closed a couple weeks ago. I hate moving. Just when you think you’re almost done packing and hauling all your stuff to your new place, you open a cabinet and you find another pile to load into your car. Then you remember theres Christmas decorations and shovels in your shed. Then you walk into the garage and find some other stuff you forgot you even had. It feels like you’re a slave to all your belongings. Moving sucks, but we had so much support from our friends and both our families. My dad put a new floor in the basement and both our moms and B’s stepdad painted the whole main floor. B and his best friend and brother moved all the furniture out of the old house and then into the new house. I unpacked and organized our stuff so we could still get up and go to work every day. Its still a work in progress, but it feels like home. I think me and B make a good team.

Hakuna Matata Me and B in our living room listening to The Lion King soundtrack.

The Bigger, The BetterMy brother’s girlfriend and I are the same age. We recently had a conversation about how differently we dress now compared to our early 20’s. She said she used to wear jeans that were too tight and uncomfortable. She said now, “the bigger, the better.” I have had the same experience. I used to wear the tightest t-shirts, tiny jean shorts, and tight pants that I could barely sit down in. I think I had an idea that if I wore these clothes that were too small for me, maybe my body would shrink down to fit them. That is not what happened. I was just uncomfortable and spent a lot of time sucking in my stomach hoping that no inch of my body was out of place. These days, I make sure to only buy clothes that actually fit me and make me feel comfortable and confident, regardless of what size they are. If i”m not at work, I’m wearing my boyfriend’s big t-shirts and sweatshirts. And I feel great in them!

Moving Day Part 2: Thanks Mom and DadAs you know, my boyfriend and I bought our first house and moved in about a month ago. My parents have put a lot of time and thought into helping us make our new place extra special. I made this to say thank you.

AnxietyI’ve been experiencing this type of anxiety lately. It weighs me down and holds me back. I blame myself for not being able to get up and do something to fix it. I just sit in it and allow it to consume me. It took a lot for me to even start this illustration.I wonder if this is some kind of identity crisis. I still find it difficult to call myself an artist. I don’t have a formal art education, I’ve only been at this for 2 years. This isn’t how I earn a living. Maybe I don’t deserve that title. As far as I’ve come and as much work as I’ve put out, can this somehow be taken from me? How could my own mind take this thing that makes me so happy, that I’ve worked so hard at, twist it, and threaten me with it? Why do I allow these ideas to paralyze me and slow me down?I understand that these thoughts are maybe harsh or irrational, but this is how my head has been talking to me lately. I’m going to push through it as best I can and keep making art. Thank you for reading.All my love,Leah

Pretty GirlI recently made a decision to stop wasting time wishing I was prettier, skinnier, had better skin, better hair, etc. I don’t allow those thoughts anymore.When I was younger, if i was jealous of a pretty girl, I would think to myself “I bet her life is perfect. I hope she’s dumb or annoying.” I’ve grown out of this attitude and I don’t compare myself to others anymore. It’s a reliefWhat’s the point anyway? Would the people around me love me any more? If that’s important to me, what kind of example does that set for young girls who might look up to me?The women I admire most don’t inspire me because they’re pretty. They inspire me because they’re honest, strong and confident. I can see their souls shine through their eyes.

AnnabelleI was in Seattle sitting outside a coffee shop with a friend a couple weeks ago and an old woman walked up with her dog. She said “this is Annabelle !” Annabelle looked up at us with big loving eyes while we gave her pets and scratches. The woman had a big smile and told us, “Annabelle is 10. We’re doing this senior thing together !” I asked her if their walks take a long time because Annabelle likes to say hi to everyone. She answered, “oh yes !’ Our walks take a long time, but thats what it’s all about.” This woman was so sweet and happy. She was so proud of Annabelle by her side and they were enjoying life together. I thought that they must love each other a lot.

Hair AppointmentGetting my hair done is such a treat! I’ve been going to the same stylist for 6 or 7 years now. She is my age and we’ve gotten to know each other just from catching up while she does my hair. She does great work and I always leave her salon feeling brand new. If you are in Sioux Falls area and are looking for a hairstylist, hit up @tesselleno ! She’s great at her craft and she’s just fun to hang out with for a couple hours !

In My CarI am HARD in my car. I sing, I dance, I POSE. I pretend I’m in a music video. When I’m alone in my car I’m Beyonce’ and you can’t tell me otherwise. I recently rediscovered Grace Kelly by MIKA, a song I used to listen to in high school a lot, and omg have I been putting on a show with that one. My car always felt like a sacred or intimate space. It’s like a portal, or a pause in time where it’s just me, my thoughts and my music. I don’t live in a big city so I don’t spend a lot of time driving to and from work but it is a special part of my day so that’s why I wanted to illustrate it !

I'll Walk With Youhis man lives in my neighborhood and I see him walking his dog pretty regularly. He moves slowly and his head always hangs low. His dog is really beautiful and seems young and fit, but I never see him pulling on the leash or trying to run. He seems content to just stroll the neighborhood with his old friend.

Natally: Part 2Remember when I told you about the little girl that lives behind me, Natalie (I have since learned is spelled Natally!)? If you don’t, I reposted the illustration in my story. Go back and read the story behind it before you keep reading!I made buttons out of that illustration and then brought 2 over to her house for Natally and her mom. I was so nervous! But Natally’s mom was so lovely and welcoming and they loved their buttons. I was beaming for the rest of the night.A couple weeks ago I was out of town for a friend’s bachelorette party. My boyfriend texted me and told me had a very important message for me if I had a second to call him. He said that our doorbell rang and when he answered the door, little Natally was standing there asking if Penny’s mom was home. She told him “We brought her banana bread!” I melted into a puddle on the other side of the phone.This is such a happy little memory that I will never forget! I love when my art leads to connections like this. It’s such a magical human experience. I want to do this forever. By the way, the bannna bread was the BEST I have ever had AND she even put chocolate chips in it !! My fav!!

Trust FallThis is what I feel like every time I share something extra personal and expose my bare soul on this page. Honesty with myself and others is a new concept for me. Sharing my real thoughts about my life, the good parts and the bad parts, feels like diving off a cliff into nothing. Hello universe/internet, I’m giving myself to you and trusting that you’ll take care of me.

NatalieSo there’s a little girl that lives behind us, our backyards are separated by a fence. Her name is Natalie and she is 5. She is so sweet and a very mature little lady. I introduced myself to her one day and we talked through the fence. My dog barks at her when he sees her so I told her if Penny is being naughty she can tell him no barking. Now, whenever Penny barks at her she yells at him “NO NO Penny!” and he listens to her! One day we heard her tell her mom “he barks sometimes so I have to remind him!” One night we were dog-sitting 2 tiny dogs for family and they ran up to greet Natalie. She was SO excited and thought they were the cutest little girls she had ever seen! She yelled “awww there’s 2 of them!!!” and stuck her hand through the fence to pet them for a while. She is a special little gal and so fun to have around!

Good morning PennySo this post is unintentionally but very appropriately falling on Mother’s Day. My dog is my first baby and being his mom is one of the best parts of my whole life. Every morning, the first thing I do when I get up is spend a few minutes saying good morning to my dog. He tippy taps in circles around my feet and I give him scratches and kisses and ask him if he had a good night’s rest. I tell him he’s my best boy and he jumps up to lick my face. It’s one of my favorite parts of the day. The downside to having a dog is that their lives are only a fraction of ours. When it’s his time to leave this world and my heart is broken, I hope I take comfort in knowing I gave him all the love I had.

Self IntroductionHi! I’m Leah. I wanted to introduce myself in case you have never met me in person (and re-introduce myself to you if you do know me in person). I’m 27 and I live in Sioux Falls, SD with the loves of my life: my boyfriend and my dog. I discovered art at the tail end of age 25. I was disappointed in the person I grew up to be, so I decided to start growing into someone new. I create art to tell my story, express gratitude for the beautiful parts of my life, and to better understand the sad parts. We all have a story to tell. I don’t think you can make it through this life unscathed. The good news is we are in this together and we are here to help each other. There’s so much joy to be found. So if you want, come along with me on the pursuit of happiness!

MillennialI am a proud and grateful millennial. My closest friends live in different cities across the country and it sucks that we can’t regularly spend time together. But I love so much that I can pick up my phone whenever I want and text my friends about anything. Ex: “Did you listen to the new Ariana Grande album yet?” We never really have to “catch up.” Even though we’re far away, I still feel close to them. I didn’t truly appreciate the internet until I started creating and sharing my art. I learned most of what I do from resources online (@skillshare and @youtube!) and I’ve found communities that provide feedback and support. I can show my work to anyone I want whenever I want. The world is my oyster!

Lady in ColorI made this in honor of International Women’s Day. If you know me well, you know that I adore women. I’m fascinated by the complexity of the female experience. Even though I’m a grownup now, I still have women that I look up to as role models and I love learning from them. It’s a really important part of my life. My lil message to the ladies: Embrace every part of yourself. You’re perfect and special!All my love,Leah

First Broken HeartWhen I was a tiny girl, I had two big brothers and two big sisters. I was sure that they were definitely the coolest people in the world. They played with me, took me out, and took care of me. One day, a flood destroyed our home. We had to get away from this place, so we moved far away. My biggest brother and sister were grown now, so they stayed behind. My other sister came along, but she quickly grew up too and went back home. I think this was my first broken heart. Once I was old enough, I went back to them. They played with me, took me out, and took care of me. I’m a big girl now. I’m still sure they are definitely the coolest people in the world.

Who's the best boy?My boyfriend and I are obsessed with our dog and our lives revolve around him. We try to only go places where he can go too, we talk about him all day long, and sometimes we look through photos of him for fun. He likes treats, morning cuddles, and making new friends. He’s the fastest one at the dog park and he’s the best boy in the whole world!

Hanging on by a ThreadI have struggled with my mental health for most of my life. This is what it feels like sometimes.

Different planetsWhen I was creating this I was thinking about how hard it is for me to find people I really connect with. This expression is supposed to portray the feeling of talking to someone and thinking, “are we from different planets?” I can always tell the people who are scared to be themselves and try to put on a front that they think people will like. I used to do that! It’s easier to be yourself. And it makes me so much more appreciative of the special people in my life that I do connect with on another level.

Stop sending me mail I don't wantI love being a grownup. I love being financially independent., I love the clarity and confidence that comes with getting a little older, I get to go to sleep and wake up next to my favorite person in the world. The list goes on. I have one thing I want to complain about; mail. Hey insurance companies? You send me WAY to much mail. I have no idea what most of it means so I just throw it away and hope for the best. I walk by our little mailbox everyday and peak in to see if I got anything exciting and if I didn't I just leave it there.

Your sweatshirtI love wearing my boyfriend’s clothes. His sweatshirts feel like a warm safety cloak. Sometimes if I wake up sad I like to wear something of his for the day and it always helps. Once I walked into the living room wearing something of his and he said “I was going to wear that today.” Then he looked at me and said “its ok, I’ll wear something else.” Love.

TimetogotobedAll my ideas show up at night when I am falling asleep. Then I have to decide if I’m going to light up my phone and blind myself so I can write it down, or try and memorize it and hope it comes back to me in the morning. Am I the only one? Does your mind run wild at night?

HeroesMe, hanging on Amanda Oleander’s every word while attending a workshop she taught in Miami last weekend. Getting to meet and spend time with someone you admire and look up to is a very special and rare opportunity and I don’t take it for granted. When I was working on this, I could hear her in my head: “don’t take the easy way out. Put the work in. Put the hours in.” So that’s what I’m going to do now. The future is bright!

Leah's IdeasThis is me trying to draw as fast as I get ideas. I have an issue with instant gratification. I get so excited to show you what I did and tell you what I’m thinking about that sometimes I don’t give myself enough time to make my drawings the best that I can. When I do that I always end up regretting it and fixating on what I missed or how I could have made it better. So right now I’m working on constantly reminding myself that I owe the process much more respect and it’s always worth the extra time.

Crossed pathsIt is still hard for me to believe that my boyfriend and I ever crossed paths. We didn’t even live in the same town when we met. He’s the brightest light in my life. This image is what brings me back down to earth when my mind gets stuck in a loop of past regrets and resentments. I often look back and think, “I wish I would have made a different decision. I wish this wasn’t my story.” But I believe that all those events led me to the love of my life. And if one thing happened differently I might not have found him. I remember all the pain, all the loneliness, all the identity crisis and all the moments where I didn’t want to hang on anymore. But when I remind myself that it all added up to one perfect circumstance, I always decide that I wouldn’t give it back, even if I could.

PaulaEvery Friday morning I treat myself to breakfast at my favorite coffee shop, Caribou Coffee and Einstein Bros Bagels. The same barista serves me almost everytime I’m there and she is a machine working the drive thru! It’s about 7:15 am when I go and she is ALWAYS happy and smiling. This is my little tribute to her.

What just happened?This is what I looked like the night after I got home from Miami. I was just staring at nothing and reliving my amazing experience of getting to meet my favorite artist Amanda Oleander, and spending four days getting to know other very special artists and friends. Im still living in a dream.

Bad MemoriesI hate when someone starts a sentence like this. I spend so much time ruminating over the past, unraveling myself, wishing I wasn’t me. Desperately trying to make peace with a hundred past selves. Don’t bring up someone’s bad memories, even if it’s for a laugh. Let’s talk about now! And the future! Let someone evolve and get to know who they are today. Don’t put someone in a box of who you think they are.

You're gonna touch the sky, baby girlMy final project for Amanda Oleander’s workshop, created by me with Amanda’s help along the way. Inspired by someone I’m living for lately: my child self. Sometimes I like to check in with her and I tell her, “I know you’re scared, and I can’t tell you what happens. But it all turns out okay. I’m going to take care of you and make you proud.”

Do you know this person?

Nobody sees what we seeI like to share a lil story with my illustrations but I don’t have a good explanation for this one. I had the image in my head for a while and when I put it on paper it didn’t quite turn out how I imagined. But here it is because it’s still part of my story. It’s so devastating when I spend so much time on something and I’m not thrilled or proud of how it turned out. I’m working on not letting this disappointment in myself consume me. Every piece is an opportunity to learn and be better of the next time. This is only the beginning.