Knocking on Fewer Doors, Opening to More Truth
So... remember when I said I was going to hand out 100 flyers for house portraits?
I’ve handed out six.
Six.
No commissions yet. No magic wave of interest. Just me, on foot, awkwardly navigating doorbells and doubts.
I could spin it, I guess. Say that I’m “planting seeds” or “embracing the slow burn.” But the truth is: this is hard. Like really hard.
Unfiltered Truth
I recently quit my part-time job at the frame shop/gallery. It just wasn’t the right fit, and I knew it in my gut. I don’t have a new job lined up. My savings are basically gone. I’m trying to make this art studio dream work, and most days I feel like I’m clinging to the edge of something I can’t quite name.
It’s a weird contradiction to feel so sure you’re in the right place — Tacoma is absolutely where I’m meant to be right now — while also feeling completely unsure of how you’ll keep surviving here.
I’m not short on passion. Or ideas. Or curiosity. Or love.
What I am short on is… clarity. And income.
(And maybe a little faith in my ability to sell anything.)
But Let’s Be Clear
I don’t expect Urban Muse & Sultry Hues to pay all my bills. That’s never been the plan — at least not right now. I fully expect to have a second job that supports my living expenses, one that allows me to keep creating without the crushing pressure to monetize every brushstroke.
The hard part? Figuring out what that job is. I know what I don’t want: a dead-end gig that drains my spirit and disconnects from everything I care about. I want something that feels aligned — something that fits this chapter of my life, not something that steals from it.
That search is still ongoing, and it’s stressful. But I’m committed to finding a balance that works, even if I’m stumbling through it.
What I Do Know
I’ve made a few beautiful, unexpected friends here. The kind of people who see you and root for you even when you’re not at your best.
I’ve created work I’m proud of.
I’ve walked Tacoma’s streets and found stories everywhere — in bricks, in balconies, in bold graffiti tags and old mailboxes.
I’ve shown up to my studio — messy, broke, tired, but still showing up.
That counts for something.
Featured Artwork: July 2025 Collection
I want to share a few pieces I’ve recently finished. These are available in person at the studio and online, and each one carries a little piece of this journey.
🎨 Opera Alley
A moody, glowing tribute to one of Tacoma’s most iconic little nooks.
9x12" watercolor on Arches hot press, $200
🎨 Pantages Marquee
Downtown dreams and vintage lights — a portrait of Tacoma pride.
9x12" watercolor on cold press, $200
🎨 Dancing Maiden
Inspired by the sculpture in Wright Park. This was the first painting I completed in my studio, and it still means the world to me.
9x12" watercolor on Arches hot press, $200
If You’re Still With Me…
Thanks. Seriously. If you’ve read this far, you’re already part of this little experiment in stubborn optimism.
I still believe this can work — that art rooted in love can create real connection, and real value.
But maybe I also need to let it be okay that I haven’t figured it all out yet. That the success story is still a rough sketch. That I’m still learning how to ask for help, still fumbling toward the version of myself who knows how to thrive.
And maybe, just maybe, someone out there is reading this thinking, me too.
If that’s you — let’s keep going. Imperfectly. Honestly. Together.
—
Daniel
Founder & Artist at Urban Muse & Sultry Hues
Bright Art. Bold Hearts.