Cracked Earth, Soft Sky
Shop Update, New Creations & A Little Life Lately
Hello Creatures,
Long time no see. It’s been a minute since I’ve had the capacity to write, and honestly it feels like one moment I had time, and the next, life got busy. A lot has happened over the past month or so: murals, creative projects, camping trips, traveling... and everything in between.
To be real, the digital world has felt a bit overwhelming lately. I’ve been intentionally stepping away and focusing on disconnecting. Instead, I’ve been spending my time hiking, camping, cooking, reading, being with loved ones, and diving into hands-on creative work. It’s been good to slow down and focus on living in the moment rather than constantly trying to capture and share it.
With all the scary and horrible things going on in the world, I’ve found a lot of peace in being present. Living intentionally has been really grounding for my mental health and for my creative spirit. I am filled with gratitude for the life I am able to live in this remote part of the country.
✷NOT FOR SALE✷
I am sure many of you have already heard that Some members of our government are once again trying to sell off our public lands! Over 18 million acres in Utah alone could be at risk.
These lands belong to all of us. They’re essential for wildlife, clean water, outdoor recreation, and future generations. They provide millions of people with access to hiking and the freedom to explore the outdoors.
Once they’re sold for mining, logging, or luxury development, they’re gone forever.
This isn’t just about Utah it’s about the future of the entire American West.
Call your senators. Speak up. Protect our public lands.
You can see all the land effected on this map
Today, I'm asking you to please contact your Senators and let them know how you feel!!!!
Please keep in mind when you call you most likely will be talking to a staff member, assistant or intern, it is not their faults that this is happening please try to be kind to them.
Here is an example of simple, straightforward script you can use.
Hi, my name is [NAME] and I’m a constituent from [CITY, ZIP].
I’m calling to urge [REP/SEN NAME] to oppose H.R. 1, the budget reconciliation bill, and any provisions that authorize the sale of our public lands or the use of it for oil, mining, and timber production. Public lands should be protected and preserved, not destroyed by the fossil fuel industry or sold off to fund tax breaks for billionaires and corporations
Thank you for your time and consideration.
IF LEAVING VOICEMAIL: Please leave your full street address to ensure your call is tallied.
Find your state below and make the call now. you can still make calls even if you live in a different state
☎️ U.S. Capitol Switchboard: (202) 224-3121 (You can ask to be connected to any Senator's office).
ALASKA • Sen. Lisa Murkowski: (202) 224-6665 • Sen. Dan Sullivan: (202) 224-3004
ARIZONA • Sen. Mark Kelly: (202) 224-2235 • Sen. Ruben Gallego: (202) 224-4521
CALIFORNIA • Sen. Alex Padilla: (202) 224-3553 • Sen. Adam Schiff: (202) 224-3841
COLORADO • Sen. Michael Bennet: (202) 224-5852 • Sen. John Hickenlooper: (202) 224-5941
IDAHO • Sen. Mike Crapo: (202) 224-6142 • Sen. Jim Risch: (202) 224-2752
NEVADA • Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto: (202) 224-3542 • Sen. Jacky Rosen: (202) 224-6244
NEW MEXICO • Sen. Martin Heinrich: (202) 224-5521 • Sen. Ben Ray Luján: (202) 224-6621
OREGON • Sen. Ron Wyden: (202) 224-5244 • Sen. Jeff Merkley: (202) 224-3753
UTAH • Sen. Mike Lee: (202) 224-5444 • Sen. Mitt Romney: (202) 224-5251
WASHINGTON • Sen. Maria Cantwell: (202) 224-3441 • Sen. Patty Murray: (202) 224-2621
WYOMING • Sen. John Barrasso: (202) 224-6441 • Sen. Cynthia Lummis: (202) 224-3424
✹Working with Fabrics✹
One of the things I’ve been working on lately is a series of ornamental wall hangings. It’s been a slow-burn, back-burner project, something I’ve picked up here and there over time. A while back (in 2021), I bought a bunch of organic, mid-weight cotton fabric for a project that never came to life, and I’m finally putting it to good use!
Since the fabric came in large squares, they’ve made perfect bases for wall hangings or altar/table cloths. For these, I’ve been experimenting with dye resist.
Resist dyeing is a traditional technique where you put down a paste or material on the cloth to stop the dye from reaching the fabric underneath.
It’s been a real labor of love & learning. I went through 5 or 6 failed attempts before things started to click (don’t worry, the mess-ups are now repurposed as very cute dish towels).
The process is slow, detailed, and very hands on from sketching the designs to laying down the resist, hand dyeing and finishing. Even if I repeat a motif, every piece turns out a little different, which is kind of the magic of it. Some colors react with the fabric in unexpected ways, and part of the process is just letting go and seeing what happens.
Just to clarify: these are not bandanas! They measure about 28” x 28” (roughly 2.5'ft x 2.5'ft). Since I’m making them just for fun and at my own pace, I don’t plan to release them regularly but I’ll be offering a few in this Sundays shop update.
✷Woodcut Critters✷
Okay… now this is something I’m REALLY excited about!
For so long, I’ve dreamed of making woodcut versions of the creatures that live in my brain. But with years of van life into a uncertain renting situation, it just wasn’t doable. Now that I’m finally rooted in a permanent home & studio, I was able to invest in the tools to bring these little beings to life.
This feels like the perfect medium for them.
The three I’m releasing now feel very special to me, there was a lot of testing involved with the creation of them from the sizing, shaping and paint…….also getting supplies wasn’t exactly “easy”; it was a 215 mile car ride to get the right kind of materials that I wanted for them. In the future I would like to try to see if I can find some suitable wood to up-cycle.
My work continues to be deeply inspired by time spent in remote wilderness spaces. The critters and plants of the desert are always my main focus, but lately, I’ve been exploring the feeling of the sky more within my work especially the hours between sunset and sunrise. The desert changes so much during that window. Colors shift, shadows stretch, and everything comes alive in a different way.
When I lived out of my vehicle, I spent many quiet evenings simply sitting and watching. These pieces are my way of sharing a little piece of that stillness and transformation.
✷ Shop Update Details
If you're here for shop news Thank You! My next shop update will go live this Sunday at 4 PM MST.
I’ll be listing:
A handful of ornamental wall hangings
My new woodcut critters
My latest magpie print
These pieces are originals, and their pricing reflects the time and care put into each one. I always do my best to keep my work affordable while also sustaining myself as an artist.
I know things feel unstable in the world, and many of us are being thoughtful with our spending. To make things a little easier, I’ll be offering 10% off all prints during the update.
✷Discount Code✷ PrintSaleTen
Please note this code is only good for the next 7 days.
If you’re not in a place to make a purchase right now that’s totally okay. Sharing my work or spreading the word honestly helps so much. Every share makes it more viable for artists like me to keep doing what we love.
✹Early Access Info✹
If you’d like early access to the update, here’s your exclusive password:
✶Password✶ thewildones
(this password will only work starting Sunday after 3 PM MST)
When you go to my shop before the official launch, it’ll ask for a password—just enter that to get in early.
Thanks for being here, for reading, and for supporting what I do. I’m endlessly grateful for this little creative community.
With love and desert dust,
Holls
Mitt Romney is gone, John Curtis is his replacement. Phone number is the same, though!
Love your soul and getting to share this moment of existence in the desert with you