One of the things that drew me to your work was your ability to highlight the beauty in the mundane, the little things most people don´t usually notice, and it made me pay more attention to the world around me.
Also, I am the kind of person that tends to focus on the negative aspect of things, and it can be very draining. Seeing your words and art make me readjust my focus and make me look at the bright side of the world, and that is such a beautiful thing! It´s cute, yes, but it´s necessary. And its who you are, so keep on being yourself. In my opining, being true to who I am makes me feel so damn proud of myself!!
And good luck on your art show! Can´t wait for more details
This fascinates me because while I suppose yes, your work is “cute”, at least the illustrations are, cute wouldn’t be my first descriptor for it. Your work and the message is so relatable and some of it so profound, that I think of it years later. I have felt more understood and more seen by your work. The way you’re quoting Tim Kreider (also a fave of mine), I could quote you with so many of your beautiful essays, books, and Instagram illustrations. Your ability to notice the beauty and magic of the world, to translate our experiences into words, is so gorgeously needed. I hope no one ever dismisses it as simply cute (which should not be a pejorative anyway) but it is also so, so much more.
Also, now I’ll be reflecting on my soul toupee, so thanks for that.
Dearest Mari, I had a friend back in 6th grade tell me that I often say “That’s so cute” to almost everything and how it annoyed him so much. Looking back, I realize that, perhaps, the reason my reactions to things around me was just saying “That’s cute” was because my vocabulary to describe my experiences were limited. And what’s embarrassing for me is that it’s still limited - even today!! However, I had the blessing of coming across your work sometime in 2017 if I remember correctly, and never felt more understood and seen in such a wonderful and creative manner. Your art put my chaotic thoughts at ease. It helped me rekindle with my younger self. It helped me see things with a playful perspective and also got me so curious about you as a person. Your work interested me and still does! You not only put my feelings and thoughts into words but made it funny and reassuring and better yet, added visuals that made it well…cute! I would not have made it to New York if you hadn’t so eloquently drawn my vision in your work! Your work is what the world needs because IT MATTERS!❤️ Your art show is going to mean something and benefit people in wonderful ways!!
Any time I hear the word cute, my TV mind flashes back to The Donny and Marie Show in the 1970s, and Donny saying in a disparaging way, "Cute, Marie, real cute."
Optimism and cute are two entirely different things, and I think you have optimism. That's a good thing.
This makes me happy to read -- because what I love most about your artwork & your words is how genuine they are :) Your book My Inner Sky made me feel soo known and understood. I love your style - it brings magic into the world
"I am embarrassing, and so are you! But could it be that what makes us bristle and keeps us up at night are those lovable endearing adorable traits that make us so dang much OURSELVES?"
Dang, Mari! This essay is one I feel I'll be coming back to over and over. So much of this resonated with me and with the parts of me that I feel I need to hide (my emotional openness, my boldness, my Aries-ness) in order to be welcomed in the general world beyond my group of safe people. The culture of disposability aspect as it relates to the self is one I hadn't thought of but one that makes a lot of sense to me.
I came to your work during the My Inner Sky era and found your words to be captivating, and I'm thankful always for these essays. Sending joy!
I enjoy your writing because it is cozy, nurturing, nourishing, and a refuge. It’s a real super power.
Culture, food, home, hearth, and earth are cozy & a refuge, too.
I think your genius for cuteness in other parts of your creative life is part of this.
For me, when I see or are with cute things, my own nurturing and protective feelings are inspired or elicited. Whether it’s people, animals, or things, I get in the mood for nurturing, protecting or nesting or am reminded of the cozy feeling I got when I was the one being nurtured, protected or nested.
It seems like my feelings are saying to me, “Wow, look at that! Wouldn’t it be nice to nest! I’m going to keep my eyes open, there may be some possibilities or ideas hereabout, even if not exactly right here.”
I struggle not to dole out superlatives about your writing, at the risk of devaluing the compliment, but...here goes...this just might be my favorite. Your visual art and writing have always struck me as powerful for their authenticity. The you-ness you infuse them with -- the way you marry complex and sometimes poignant insights with simple, lovely images, without any whiff of pretense -- is what makes them bold, unique and as beautifully relatable to my 80 year-old mother as to my 18 year-old nephew.
Oh that quote about the mortifying ordeal of being known is my new favourite 😍 I’ve been creating & sometimes sharing more online in the last few years and sometimes I feel like it’s unbearably cringe. This is what I’m going to remember next time I feel that cringe creeping in ❤️
I get the ‘cute’ thing about my work too, the description is absolutely correct! Embrace the cute, people love cute. I’m happy with producing cute things that put a smile on someone’s face. If they like it enough to part with their hard earned cash, that’s a bonus.
I have never heard of a "soul toupee" until now, but wow, what a perfect way to describe the way that most of us are just hustlin' every day in some silly transparent way. It's true, too, that many of us instinctively sense what someone else's Soul Toupee might be, and try not to mention it. How kind of us, but how mortifying to contemplate.
Hi Mari! I am probably your biggest Romanian admirer out there.🤍 I’ve recently purchased your two books. Loving the content and the illustrations. I believe that I am a paying subscriber (or at least this has been my intention). However, I still cannot view your entire posts. I am very new to Substack - is there something that I need to be doing but I am failing to do (I wouldn’t be surprised)? Agh.
As a person that felt very defined by my artistic pursuits for many years, but now feels trapped in the practicalities of making a living and raising children and, well, attending to the basic elements of living - I have always LOVED your art because it emphasizes the smaller nuances of the world around us. It is also so very approachable. I even did a few of my own pieces inspired by yours during a period of life when I felt so separated from my creativity. It felt so vibrantly real and available that I could reach out and touch it myself without fancy supplies or classes or anything other than a bit of inspiration and watercolors. Thank you for that!
I relate to this SO MUCH! I think that my personal Soul Toupee is being "emotional." I tell other people that feelings are strength, but when it comes to myself, I feel downright embarrassed when I have an emotional reaction to a situation, a relationship, or even a piece of art. I've been working on leaning into the fact that I have "big feelings" - hope your journey into embracing the "cute" goes well too!
One of the things that drew me to your work was your ability to highlight the beauty in the mundane, the little things most people don´t usually notice, and it made me pay more attention to the world around me.
Also, I am the kind of person that tends to focus on the negative aspect of things, and it can be very draining. Seeing your words and art make me readjust my focus and make me look at the bright side of the world, and that is such a beautiful thing! It´s cute, yes, but it´s necessary. And its who you are, so keep on being yourself. In my opining, being true to who I am makes me feel so damn proud of myself!!
And good luck on your art show! Can´t wait for more details
This fascinates me because while I suppose yes, your work is “cute”, at least the illustrations are, cute wouldn’t be my first descriptor for it. Your work and the message is so relatable and some of it so profound, that I think of it years later. I have felt more understood and more seen by your work. The way you’re quoting Tim Kreider (also a fave of mine), I could quote you with so many of your beautiful essays, books, and Instagram illustrations. Your ability to notice the beauty and magic of the world, to translate our experiences into words, is so gorgeously needed. I hope no one ever dismisses it as simply cute (which should not be a pejorative anyway) but it is also so, so much more.
Also, now I’ll be reflecting on my soul toupee, so thanks for that.
Dearest Mari, I had a friend back in 6th grade tell me that I often say “That’s so cute” to almost everything and how it annoyed him so much. Looking back, I realize that, perhaps, the reason my reactions to things around me was just saying “That’s cute” was because my vocabulary to describe my experiences were limited. And what’s embarrassing for me is that it’s still limited - even today!! However, I had the blessing of coming across your work sometime in 2017 if I remember correctly, and never felt more understood and seen in such a wonderful and creative manner. Your art put my chaotic thoughts at ease. It helped me rekindle with my younger self. It helped me see things with a playful perspective and also got me so curious about you as a person. Your work interested me and still does! You not only put my feelings and thoughts into words but made it funny and reassuring and better yet, added visuals that made it well…cute! I would not have made it to New York if you hadn’t so eloquently drawn my vision in your work! Your work is what the world needs because IT MATTERS!❤️ Your art show is going to mean something and benefit people in wonderful ways!!
I'm so happy to follow you and your cute, embarrassing work!!!
Any time I hear the word cute, my TV mind flashes back to The Donny and Marie Show in the 1970s, and Donny saying in a disparaging way, "Cute, Marie, real cute."
Optimism and cute are two entirely different things, and I think you have optimism. That's a good thing.
This makes me happy to read -- because what I love most about your artwork & your words is how genuine they are :) Your book My Inner Sky made me feel soo known and understood. I love your style - it brings magic into the world
"I am embarrassing, and so are you! But could it be that what makes us bristle and keeps us up at night are those lovable endearing adorable traits that make us so dang much OURSELVES?"
Dang, Mari! This essay is one I feel I'll be coming back to over and over. So much of this resonated with me and with the parts of me that I feel I need to hide (my emotional openness, my boldness, my Aries-ness) in order to be welcomed in the general world beyond my group of safe people. The culture of disposability aspect as it relates to the self is one I hadn't thought of but one that makes a lot of sense to me.
I came to your work during the My Inner Sky era and found your words to be captivating, and I'm thankful always for these essays. Sending joy!
I enjoy your writing because it is cozy, nurturing, nourishing, and a refuge. It’s a real super power.
Culture, food, home, hearth, and earth are cozy & a refuge, too.
I think your genius for cuteness in other parts of your creative life is part of this.
For me, when I see or are with cute things, my own nurturing and protective feelings are inspired or elicited. Whether it’s people, animals, or things, I get in the mood for nurturing, protecting or nesting or am reminded of the cozy feeling I got when I was the one being nurtured, protected or nested.
It seems like my feelings are saying to me, “Wow, look at that! Wouldn’t it be nice to nest! I’m going to keep my eyes open, there may be some possibilities or ideas hereabout, even if not exactly right here.”
I struggle not to dole out superlatives about your writing, at the risk of devaluing the compliment, but...here goes...this just might be my favorite. Your visual art and writing have always struck me as powerful for their authenticity. The you-ness you infuse them with -- the way you marry complex and sometimes poignant insights with simple, lovely images, without any whiff of pretense -- is what makes them bold, unique and as beautifully relatable to my 80 year-old mother as to my 18 year-old nephew.
Oh that quote about the mortifying ordeal of being known is my new favourite 😍 I’ve been creating & sometimes sharing more online in the last few years and sometimes I feel like it’s unbearably cringe. This is what I’m going to remember next time I feel that cringe creeping in ❤️
Wait do we get to know when the art show is?! Would love love LOVE to know dates so I can plan a trip out to nyc from az :’)
I get the ‘cute’ thing about my work too, the description is absolutely correct! Embrace the cute, people love cute. I’m happy with producing cute things that put a smile on someone’s face. If they like it enough to part with their hard earned cash, that’s a bonus.
I have never heard of a "soul toupee" until now, but wow, what a perfect way to describe the way that most of us are just hustlin' every day in some silly transparent way. It's true, too, that many of us instinctively sense what someone else's Soul Toupee might be, and try not to mention it. How kind of us, but how mortifying to contemplate.
Hi Mari! I am probably your biggest Romanian admirer out there.🤍 I’ve recently purchased your two books. Loving the content and the illustrations. I believe that I am a paying subscriber (or at least this has been my intention). However, I still cannot view your entire posts. I am very new to Substack - is there something that I need to be doing but I am failing to do (I wouldn’t be surprised)? Agh.
As a person that felt very defined by my artistic pursuits for many years, but now feels trapped in the practicalities of making a living and raising children and, well, attending to the basic elements of living - I have always LOVED your art because it emphasizes the smaller nuances of the world around us. It is also so very approachable. I even did a few of my own pieces inspired by yours during a period of life when I felt so separated from my creativity. It felt so vibrantly real and available that I could reach out and touch it myself without fancy supplies or classes or anything other than a bit of inspiration and watercolors. Thank you for that!
I relate to this SO MUCH! I think that my personal Soul Toupee is being "emotional." I tell other people that feelings are strength, but when it comes to myself, I feel downright embarrassed when I have an emotional reaction to a situation, a relationship, or even a piece of art. I've been working on leaning into the fact that I have "big feelings" - hope your journey into embracing the "cute" goes well too!