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.
Gah, thank you so much Sarah!! That really means so much to me. And you're absolutely right, 'cute' shouldn't be a pejorative! When I think too much about it, I start getting really angry about how it speaks to a culture that doesn't take young women seriously and then it ruins my day ;) I really appreciate you seeing my work in such a generous light, and I love that you'll be thinking on your soul toupee!!!
It’s the words that stick with me. Re: pandemic difficulty , fears, surreal — “… I know also that one day I will be nostalgic for these days “ you describe our feelings so well
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!!
My sweet friend, I love that we've been connected for 5 years now! What a blessing!! I adore the word "playful" (I need to use it more often!) and I like to think it's the foundation of everything I do...because life should be more playful! (I once read that 'play' is the opposite of violence, and I love that)
While YOUR BRAVE SOUL is 100% to credit for getting you to New York, I am so honored that you include me in your journey!! What a gift to me! I really hope you can come to the art show opening in March so I can give you a big hug :)
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!
Molly! I felt really stumped before writing this because I didn't know what exactly I wanted to say or which direction to take it. So I did a ritual I often do before writing, which is to pray that God would let me know what She wants me to say for the sake of someone who could use a reminder...and your sweet face came to mind!!! It makes me really happy that you found any resonance in this message (something you already know, of course!) and I'm always sending you 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.”
Wow well thanks Dan!!! I love this perspective so much! You're so right, I will often gravitate toward cozy movies, art, and poetry, which not only give me comfort but evoke my inner nurturer just as you said, which is such an underrated part of all of us. I'll be saving and thinking about this comment for a long time; you've really cracked open a new perspective for me!
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.
I haven't stopped crying since I read this :) I try so hard to encourage others to embrace their "you-ness" and here I am fighting against my own. Thank you for seeing me and for cheering for me! I feel entirely embraced by you from afar and I am so, so grateful <3
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 ❤️
It's going to be up for all of March but I'm going to plan a little party shindig at the beginning!!!! The theme is "Sabbath" and I am way too excited! :) I will definitely post a ton of photos, though!
Eeek so exciting!!! I have a friend in Manhattan I’ve been meaning to see & I haven’t really by back there since before covid so this would be the perfect excuse to go out! Would definitely schedule it to attend the little shindig if that’s open to the public :’)
Thanks for inspiring me all these years to follow my heart! And for validating my feelings! 💖
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!
Ohhh Morgan I LOVE that. I'm now remembering all the artists who inspired little old ME to try my hand at illustrating and you're so right; they all brought such playfulness, simplicity, and approachability to their work, which I really appreciated. I forgot about that! Thank you for such a good reminder!!
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
Gosh Pâmela, I couldn't possibly ask to be seen in a more beautiful way. You are my personal angel! And you should be so damn proud of yourself!!!
Beautifully said, Pamela!
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.
Gah, thank you so much Sarah!! That really means so much to me. And you're absolutely right, 'cute' shouldn't be a pejorative! When I think too much about it, I start getting really angry about how it speaks to a culture that doesn't take young women seriously and then it ruins my day ;) I really appreciate you seeing my work in such a generous light, and I love that you'll be thinking on your soul toupee!!!
Whimsical…Deep…comforting ART!
(Also: Cute, sweet, poignant, touching)
It’s the words that stick with me. Re: pandemic difficulty , fears, surreal — “… I know also that one day I will be nostalgic for these days “ you describe our feelings so well
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!!
My sweet friend, I love that we've been connected for 5 years now! What a blessing!! I adore the word "playful" (I need to use it more often!) and I like to think it's the foundation of everything I do...because life should be more playful! (I once read that 'play' is the opposite of violence, and I love that)
While YOUR BRAVE SOUL is 100% to credit for getting you to New York, I am so honored that you include me in your journey!! What a gift to me! I really hope you can come to the art show opening in March so I can give you a big hug :)
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
"Brings magic into the world" is the nicest thing anyone could say to me :) Thank you! Also you have the most amazing name ever!
Agreed
"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!
Molly! I felt really stumped before writing this because I didn't know what exactly I wanted to say or which direction to take it. So I did a ritual I often do before writing, which is to pray that God would let me know what She wants me to say for the sake of someone who could use a reminder...and your sweet face came to mind!!! It makes me really happy that you found any resonance in this message (something you already know, of course!) and I'm always sending you joy!
This made my day, thank you for thinking of me and writing what I need to hear 🥹
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.”
Wow well thanks Dan!!! I love this perspective so much! You're so right, I will often gravitate toward cozy movies, art, and poetry, which not only give me comfort but evoke my inner nurturer just as you said, which is such an underrated part of all of us. I'll be saving and thinking about this comment for a long time; you've really cracked open a new perspective for me!
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.
I haven't stopped crying since I read this :) I try so hard to encourage others to embrace their "you-ness" and here I am fighting against my own. Thank you for seeing me and for cheering for me! I feel entirely embraced by you from afar and I am so, so grateful <3
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 ❤️
Hehehehe isn't that quote so good!!!! I'm mortified most of the time so I find it comforting :) I am sooooo cringe!
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 :’)
It's going to be up for all of March but I'm going to plan a little party shindig at the beginning!!!! The theme is "Sabbath" and I am way too excited! :) I will definitely post a ton of photos, though!
Eeek so exciting!!! I have a friend in Manhattan I’ve been meaning to see & I haven’t really by back there since before covid so this would be the perfect excuse to go out! Would definitely schedule it to attend the little shindig if that’s open to the public :’)
Thanks for inspiring me all these years to follow my heart! And for validating my feelings! 💖
Absolutely open to the public and would love to see you!!!!! XOXOXO
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!
Ohhh Morgan I LOVE that. I'm now remembering all the artists who inspired little old ME to try my hand at illustrating and you're so right; they all brought such playfulness, simplicity, and approachability to their work, which I really appreciated. I forgot about that! Thank you for such a good reminder!!
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!
SAAAAAME, Alexa, SAAAAAME!!!