Studio Notes — February: What’s Taking Shape

February has arrived a little more quietly than I intended, not with a grand creative announcement but with the steady, familiar rhythm of studio days. I’ve been moving between painting, making, and writing, and it feels like a productive, grounded kind of busyness rather than a whirlwind. Even if the month snuck up on me, it’s been full of thoughtful work behind the scenes.

On my easel right now is a new summer painting I’m finishing. It doesn’t have a title yet, but I know its spirit: warmth, gathering, and a sense of open air. I’ve been working patiently with it, adjusting the light, refining details, and giving myself space to see what the piece still needs. There’s a particular satisfaction in these final stages, when a painting starts to feel complete yet still holds a bit of mystery.

Alongside that, I’ve been thinking about shifting toward smaller original paintings, more intimate pieces that feel like quiet visual notes from the studio. I haven’t started this series yet, but the idea has been staying with me. There’s something appealing about working at a smaller scale: it invites spontaneity, play, and a more immediate kind of storytelling. I’m looking forward to exploring this direction and, when the time feels right, sharing some of these small originals on my site.

I’ve also just added earrings to my collection, which feels like a natural next step. Many people know I already carry pendants featuring my artwork, but expanding into earrings has been a fun way to bring my imagery into a new form. In a way, this connects back to an earlier chapter of my life: many years ago, I studied jewelry manufacturing and became a certified gemologist. I’ve always had an appreciation for wearable art, and it’s interesting to see how that interest is resurfacing now in a different, more artistic way. I may explore that story more fully in a future post.

At the same time, I’ve been working with an editor on my memoir. Writing has become its own kind of creative practice – slower, reflective, and deeply personal. Moving between painting and writing has been surprisingly complementary, each sharpening my attention to detail and story.

So that’s where February finds me: finishing a painting, exploring what might come next, expanding into new products, and shaping my story on the page. It feels like a steady season of building, refining, and gently moving forward.

If you’d like to see what’s currently in the studio or explore my latest work, you’re welcome to visit RobertaPacino.com. Everything there is part of this ongoing creative journey.