Goose on the Loose: The Big Move

July 16, 2025

It’s been quite a year and a half, from lost friendships to new ones gained, from stress and anxiety to finally finding a new home. My wife and I have been dreaming of having a place of our own for the better part of seven years, maybe more. We've both been working incredibly hard to make that dream a reality.About a year and a half to two years ago, my wife had to stop working due to her fibromyalgia diagnosis. You can imagine how scared we were, not just about the diagnosis itself, but also wondering: How are we going to make our dream happen now? Well, I’ll tell you exactly how we did it.

My wife has always wanted to share her art with the world and make a living from it. So we decided it was time for her to really lean into that, and I followed her lead. She’s one of the most talented people I know, and she inspires so much of my own art. She’s been drawing almost every day for over a year now, and the progress we’ve both seen has been amazing. She’s seriously so talented, she draws the most incredible animals. And it's not just drawing, she’s amazing at needle felting, painting, sculpting… basically anything creative she touches.

Let’s rewind to December of last year. That’s when we decided it was time to start seriously looking for a house. We toured quite a few places, liked one or two, but nothing felt right. Then I got a notification about a new listing that was posted on February 1st, 2025. We went to see it the next day, only to find out there was already an offer on it. We had to act fast and put an offer in the same day. So we took the leap, offered above asking, and ended up outbidding the other buyer. It felt surreal.We knew the house was in probate, so there would be a bit of a wait. The next few months were filled with excitement, anxiety, and a sprinkle of stress. Then, toward the end of May, I got the call, probate had passed, and we were good to go! We were over the moon, so excited for this next chapter.

We officially moved into our new place on June 16th! It’s been such a refreshing change. We’d been living in a studio apartment for seven years, and we didn’t have much space. Moving into a three-bedroom has been life-changing. Now we both have our own creative spaces to do art and just be. There’s even a shed we’re excited to turn into something fun down the line.We did have to do a few repairs, but thankfully we got them done. There were a lot of unexpected things that came up, which can be tough for me to process. With my ADHD, I sometimes need a little extra time to adapt to change. After the move, I found myself thinking, Why don’t I feel excited? That scared me a lot.Turns out, it’s actually really common, especially for neurodivergent folks to feel that way after a big life event. I’d poured all my energy into the new house: fixing, painting, organizing, unpacking, more painting, cleaning… even more painting. By the end of it all, I had almost no energy left to actually feel anything. So, it’s no wonder my emotions were (and are) all over the place.This is something I’m working on in therapy, how to manage those big emotional shifts, so I can look ahead with excitement. I’m so grateful to be building this beautiful life with my wife and our sweet cat in a home that’s finally ours.
Anyway, thank you for reading this and being a part of our journey
Until next time!
— struwwelart

Goose on the Loose: Art and Mental Health

May 8, 2025

I’ve recently started the process of EMDR therapy with my counsellor. For those who don’t know, EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. Quoted from the Cleveland Clinic:
“EMDR is a mental health treatment technique. This method involves moving your eyes a specific way while you process traumatic memories.” So this is how I started!

The Container and Calm Place

The first thing I did was create a timeline of my most impactful memories, 12 good and 12 bad. We just started the intake process, but we’ve already learned two powerful techniques: Container and Calm Place. Even if you’re not doing EMDR, these are great tools to have in your mental health toolbox.

A container is a protected, metaphorical space you create in your mind. It can be anything that feels strong and secure to you like a vault, a treasure chest, or even a bubble. The only rule? It needs to be able to lock.
For my container, the first thing that popped into my head was this old jelly bean jar I had when I was younger. It was plastic, and when you opened it, a bunch of fake noodle things would shoot out. It was basically a prank jelly bean jar. For the lock, I imagined one of those ice cream pint locks I saw online. If you can’t picture what I’m describing, I’ve drawn it as a reference.

A calm place is a safe mental space you can visualize. It could be a beach, a forest, a cozy room, or any place where you feel completely at ease. It shouldn’t be somewhere associated with any bad memories for you or someone you know. It can also be entirely imaginary.

A Bit About My Mental Health Journey

Something that’s really important to me is being open about my mental health, in the hopes of helping others. Knowing you’re not alone can mean the world especially when you're in your darkest moments.
At times, my journey has felt completely overwhelming. And at other times, it felt manageable. I’ve lived with anxiety for most of my life, but it’s definitely gotten more intense over the years. Some days are better than others, but most of the time it feels like my whole body is buzzing with anxious energy that I can’t shake.
I also live with ADHD, and probably some undiagnosed OCD and Autism. And for a long time, like so many people, I ignored how I was really feeling.
Overstimulated? Oh well.
Anxious? Oh well.
Burnt out? Oh well.
I constantly told myself I was being dramatic, or that others had it worse. But here’s the thing: ignoring your emotions doesn’t make them go away. It just pushes them deeper, until they explode, sometimes as panic attacks, anxiety spirals, or suddenly bursting into tears in the middle of your day.
These “blowups” don’t come out of nowhere; they build up over time when we don’t give ourselves permission to feel, to process, or to rest.
Nowadays, everyone has so much going on, and we rarely slow down to check in with ourselves. But we have to. Putting off getting help with thoughts like, “Yeah, I’ll get a counsellor eventually... life’s just busy,” only delays your healing. There’s never going to be a “perfect” time. You just have to take the first step and trust it’ll lead you somewhere better.

Where I am at now

I’m a super visual person, so the exercises we’re doing in EMDR really click for me. And even though we’re only at the beginning, I already feel like I’m building tools that will help keep me grounded when life gets intense. If you’re someone who struggles with anxiety, trauma, or just feeling overwhelmed in general, try making a container or a calm place of your own. It’s simple, but it really helps.
I’ll keep sharing updates here as my journey continues. Right now, I’m nervous... but also excited. And that’s okay!

A Final Thought & A Word From The Wife

Hello! The Wife here again, back with another little blog tidbit :-) So, art and mental health! My two most favourite things to talk about! I am someone who is also very open about my mental health, and it's something we believe in our household is important to discuss daily. I do volunteer and advocacy work for mental health, as it's something that has affected my whole life. I'll tell you a little bit of my story about how art and mental health have affected me.
2 years ago, I spent some time in our local hospital in a psychiatric ward due to worsening mental health. I won't get into too much detail but basically I was diagnosed with some disorders that really made sense for the things I was struggling with. While I was in the hospital, I was able to pick up art again, after not doing any art for a long time. From the time I left home at 17 until 25, life was go go go. Changes, grief, loss, my first apartment, my first job, college, practicum, then getting my first job in the field I went to school for. Never did I ever make the time to get creative, especially when I was working. I used work as a distraction for my mental health struggles, anxiety, panic, depression and mood dysregulation, so it was all I thought about.
I had picked up art as a coping mechanism in the hospital, and some of the other patients staying at the same time as me had given me compliments, asked me to draw them things, etc. which really helped motivate me to keep going when I left. I still have some art I did while I was there: a drawing of my cat, who I missed cuddling for the month I stayed, some silly bears saying swear words, some colouring pages, etc.. it just felt good to connect with my inner artist again, and I held onto that feeling and ran with it.
One of my favourite creative activities was going on walks with the group (if and when you were approved by your psychiatrist that you were okay enough to go), we would walk through the beautiful neighbourhoods near the hospital, well maintained yards full of beautiful flowers, I collected rocks, sticks, pinecones and flowers in a little disposable cup I would bring with me, to make art with once I returned. I made tiny bouquets for the friends I met, I made art for my husband and friends, I wrote letters to my best friend, and I made dried flower art using flowers I found and placed them in paper towel and between books, placed under the super heavy chair I had in my room, to dry them out. I started listening to music again, while I made art, and while I did my daily walking laps around the entire hospital floor.
Once I got a better grasp on my mental health, I was properly medicated and put into DBT therapy, I found my love of being creative again, and began drawing on the iPad and learning how to use Procreate. Once I started to take care of myself, do self-care and heal my mind, I was able to feel less heavy, and more free to pursue my passion for creativity. Since then: I've become much better at using procreate, I've painted, drawn, made miniature clay pots, made fairy garden terrariums, customized letters and envelopes, and my plans for future arts and crafts are EVEN more exciting, once we get moved into our new place, where we both will have the space to do incredible art projects, with so much more room. We will finally be able to play with our materials and supplies we have had packed away for which we are VERY excited, I'm basically vibrating with excitement.
Despite my challenges back then (and still now), it was art that brought me back to life again. Being able to be detached from every single distraction and outside source forced me to creative. My mental health issues are incredibly difficult, and has caused me a lot of distress in my life, however; all my experiences in life have led me to this moment right now, as an active digital artist who draws every single day, who will soon be seeing my work in stores, working towards things I never thought I could achieve. Art has saved my life more than once before, and I'm so grateful to be making things I love and continuing to learn every day.
Keep creating, it's a great way to take care of yourself, while at the same time making things you are proud of. Art has no rules, no judgement and no limits, so it's a wonderful activity for those of us who struggle with mental illness, because it's in those moments you're making and learning that you start to build confidence, self-esteem and a strong connection to yourself and your passions.
Big hugs from yours truly,
The Wife

Goose on the Loose: Overcoming Art Block

April 9, 2025

Art block can feel overwhelming, especially when art is your passion or main source of income. It can stir up a lot of self-doubt:
Am I still a good artist? Why can’t I come up with anything? What’s wrong with me?
Right now, I’m in the middle of what I’d call a pretty serious creative block. But I’ve been here before and I know it doesn’t last forever. I’m not an expert, but I wanted to share a few things that have helped me in the past, in case they’re helpful for you too!

First of All: Creative Block is Normal
An art block isn’t a sign of failure. It’s part of the creative process. Every artist no matter their skill level goes through it. It doesn’t mean you’ve lost your spark or your ability to create.
Don’t Wait to “Feel” Creative
One big thing I’ve learned is that waiting until I feel inspired to start creating usually just means I don’t create at all.
Creativity doesn’t always come from inspiration; it often shows up after you start working. Even if it’s just a doodle or a messy sketch, just getting started can help you reconnect with your creativity. You don’t need to be in the right “mood” to make something.
You can even try creating your own art prompts! Tailor them to your style, your interests, or even your current mood anything to help get ideas flowing.Try Shifting Your Approach
If you’re feeling stuck, here are a few things that have helped me:
1. Change up your medium.
If you usually work digitally, try switching to traditional materials like pencil, paint, or clay. A new medium can unlock a different way of thinking.
2. Get outside.
Nature is full of color, texture, and patterns. Go for a walk, visit a park, or just sit and sketch what you see. Sometimes a little fresh air can bring a new perspective. Take photos of what you see and use them in your art, or use them as inspiration.
3. Find inspiration in everyday objects.
Look around your home or workspace. Sometimes something simple like a pattern on a table or the shape of a plant can inspire a new idea. I’ve even found inspiration from the wood grain on our work lunch table!
4. Use drawing prompts or challenges.
Structured prompts, like Peachtober, have been a big help for me in the past. They take the pressure off “coming up with something” and give you a direction to play in.
5. Flip your perspective.
Literally or figuratively. Try turning your canvas upside down, or just step away from the piece for a bit. Give your brain space to rest and come back with fresh eyes.
6. Be kind to yourself.
Seriously. Creative ruts happen. They’re not a reflection of your talent or your worth. Sometimes, your mind just needs rest, or time to process before the next idea comes together.
A Final Thought & A Word From The Wife
One of the things that’s helped me most has been allowing myself more than one creative outlet. When I feel stuck with art, I can shift gears and write, or work on my blog. It gives my brain something to focus on while still letting me be creative in a different way.
Whatever works for you, lean into it. And if all else fails, remember: the block won’t last forever.
Hello! The Wife here, just wanting to put in my two cents on this topic. Hunter and I have talked a lot about art block, it happens to us both, and probably every person on the planet who ever existed who ever picked up a pencil. I think that we as creative people/artists have sometimes had thoughts that not having an idea = we aren’t creative enough. Of course it doesn’t help when we’re scrolling social media and seeing these amazing artists post all the time seemingly without a struggle. Try not to get frustrated at yourself when something isn’t coming together how you envisioned. Even if you aren’t loving what you're making, you're still creating, which means that you are making progress and honing your skills! One really good tip I recently learned was to just “make a mark”, meaning, just do anything on the blank page- lines, scribbles, shapes, etc. Just make a mark on the page, move your hands across the canvas. Inspiration will flow once you get your hands moving and the hamster wheel in your brain turning!
Until next time friends!

Goose on the Loose: The Story Behind My Designs

March 8, 2025

Every drawing or illustration I start with starts with a story. Each character has their own personality and charm. I currently have seven main characters: Leopold, Beatrice, Eugene, Winston, Tobias, Rupert, and Pedro. Each one of them has their own story and connection to the circus. But it all started with the silliest frog of all: Leopold!Leopold was my first main character I ever designed. I wanted a character that could embody a bit of my own personality, but with a cute design and the ability to do silly things like work in a circus!Then came Eugene, my goose character. I have always loved geese, especially the silly ones. Naturally, he had to be a part of the circus with Leopold, which then inspired me with ideas for my next characters!

The rest of the gang actually came to life during a drawing challenge last October. One of the prompts led me to create my own version of The Last Supper, which meant I needed more characters to fill the scene. That’s when Winston, Tobias, Rupert, and Pedro joined the circus crew. And Beatrice came after! Some designs clicked immediately, while others, like Winston (my bear character), needed a little reworking. Just recently, I gave Winston a redesign that finally feels more like how I feel he's meant to be.As my characters developed, they became more than just drawings; they turned into a full-fledged circus crew with their own roles, personalities, and stories.

Lately, I’ve been exploring a new set of characters—the Teethlings! They’re a collection of six different tooth-themed creatures, each with their own unique name and personality. This project started as a fun experiment, but they’ve quickly become something I’m excited to work on and explore further. Unlike my circus crew, these characters bring a different kind of charm, mixing a little bit of the silly and cute with a little bit of freakiness and weirdness.

Meet the Teethlings:Pearl – The shiniest of the bunch, Pearl takes great pride in staying spotless. Always polished, always picture-perfect, they dream of starring in a toothpaste commercial.Munch – The laid-back wisdom tooth that shows up late and takes life at their own pace. They claim to be full of wisdom, but mostly just love snacking and napping.Bristle – A walking, talking hygiene lecture. Always reminding the others to brush and floss, Bristle takes dental care very seriously. Probably carries a tiny toothbrush at all times.Nibbs – A quiet and gentle soul, Nibbs is the shyest of the Teethlings. Rather than talking much, he expresses himself through thoughtful little gifts—whether it’s a shiny pebble, a ribbon, or a neatly wrapped candy (approved by Bristle, of course).Grindy – The anxious one of the group, Grindy tends to overthink everything… and grinds their teeth when stressed. They could probably use a mouthguard and a hug.Tartar – A mischievous troublemaker with a love for all things sugary. Always sneaking around with candy and avoiding Bristle at all costs. Deep down, they probably want to be a better tooth… maybe.

I’m so excited to share these new characters with you, and there’s even more to come! As always, my characters are a huge part of my creative journey, and I can’t wait to continue exploring their stories and quirks. The Teethlings are just the beginning, and I’m planning some fun things for them—maybe a few more surprises up my sleeve.Your feedback and support mean the world to me, so if you have any thoughts on the Teethlings, or if you’re excited to see more of my circus gang or other characters, drop a comment below or send me a message over on instagram! I love hearing what you think.And, if you want to grab a piece of the fun, check out my shop for some great items!Until next time, stay curious and creative!

Goose on the Loose: First time Home Owners

February 17, 2025

Just hearing the word homeowner feels both exciting and a little terrifying. My wife and I have been dreaming of owning our own home for as long as we can remember. It’s been a journey full of roadblocks but also big strides forward.We moved to the Okanagan about seven years ago with the goal of saving up enough to buy our first home together. But as the years passed and housing prices kept rising, that dream started to feel a little out of reach. There were moments of panic where we would start thinking, “Are we going to be in this studio apartment forever?”Then, in December (just a few months ago), we finally decided it was time to start looking seriously. With an amazing realtor by our side, we dove into the search. And then, on February 1st, I got a notification about a new listing. The moment we saw it, we fell in love as it checked all our boxes. We had to act fast as another offer was already in. But, to our delight, the seller chose to work with us!
From that moment, everything started falling into place. Just a few days ago, we officially removed subjects from the house, meaning we did everything on our side that we had to do- dealing with a lawyer, realtor, park manager, setting up financing, mortgage, inspection, insurance… etc etc! We were quite busy for two weeks straight, as we had a deadline. Now, the only thing left is waiting. Because the house is in probate, the final sale will take anywhere from two to six months to close. So for now, we’re in limbo filled with excitement, impatience and anxiety, as we count down the days until we can finally step through the front door of our home.
Of course, navigating this journey hasn’t been without its stress, I personally have never felt more stress in my entire life than in those 10 days trying to get all the subjects removed. Especially with everything else going on in the world, my head just felt like it was spinning. Balancing the uncertainty of the market, the financial pressures, and just the general chaos of life has been overwhelming at times. But I’ve found that focusing on small moments of joy, whether that’s sketching, taking a walk, or even just daydreaming about how we will decorate the house has helped to keep me grounded. My wife has been the biggest support, she is also experiencing the same stress but helping me at the same time stay calm and grounded. It’s a lot, but knowing we’re moving toward something we’ve wanted for so long makes it all feel worth it.

Goose on the Loose: Behind the Scenes of My Art

February 1, 2025

Every wonder what goes into bringing my art to life? As I have been working through a major art block, I have been going back and looking at what I have created so far. I went back to the first detailed piece of art that I created in my art journey and looking at it brought me back so much joy. I remembered the excitement I felt when I created this, the whole piece took me about 11 and a half hours! Putting all the colours in, seeing all the pieces come together and creating my first large super detailed piece was such a huge accomplishment for me. Since then I have created and progressed in my style and creativity, it’s really cool to look back and see where I started.

I started with the idea of creating a giant shelf filled with super cool trinkets. I wanted it to reflect both my interests and my wife’s, making it feel personal and full of little details/hidden Easter eggs that the viewer could zoom in and see. One of my favorite ideas was a sock hanging out of a drawer because honestly, that just made me laugh.
The sketching phase was pretty laid back, I started with a rough outline and kept adding the details as they popped into my head. It was all about having fun and adding in things as I imagined them. I took inspiration from my own shelf of collectibles and other things at home, but also added a lot of random things I thought would look nice or silly.

This is where everything really started to come to life! The lines became more refined, and the vision in my head started translating onto the digital canvas.
I knew I wanted a cool banner hanging across the TV and a big lava lamp as a focal point. The rug was another fun element as I had big plans to make it look soft and fluffy once I added the colour! I wanted the outline to not look perfectly straight; instead, more on the sketchy side. This has become a big part of my style going forward.

Now for one of my favourite parts, the colour! I wanted the brush texture to really stand out, almost like you could reach out and feel the different textures in the image.
For the colours, I kept the base of the shelf neutral so that all the little trinkets and details would pop. My goal was to make the whole scene feel warm, happy, and like a cozy home. I especially had fun experimenting with the lava lamp, trying to make it look like the wax inside was actually moving.

The final step was about tying everything together. I added an extra layer of colour behind everything to make it more cohesive and polished.
Looking back, what started as a fun challenge ended up helping me discover my art style and the kinds of things I truly enjoy drawing. At first, this project felt huge and a little overwhelming, but finishing it gave me so much confidence.
I am very proud of this piece, and now I am wondering if I need to work on another trinket shelf. But instead of a single book shelf, maybe a whole wall of tiny trinkets?

Looking back at this piece, I can really see how much I’ve grown as an artist. It pushed my creativity in ways I didn’t expect, and even though I’ve made so many pieces since then, this one will always have a special place in my heart.
Seeing my progress, especially how I experiment with textures and details makes me even more excited for future projects. Who knows what I’ll create next?

Goose on the Loose: 5 Things I’ve Learned as an Artist

January 19, 2025

No matter if you are far along in your art journey or just beginning, there is always something new to learn. A new thing I am trying to learn is blogging. I feel this could really help me better understand the way I do art, and it could help others as well and guide them along their own art journeys.

1. It's okay to not make perfect art every time!
I find myself getting stuck in a loop sometimes, trying to make sure my art is perfect. If I don't feel it's perfect I sometimes end up deleting it and starting over out of frustration. But the truth is no art is perfect, not everything you make has to be a masterpiece. Some of my favourite pieces have come from just small sketches I have doodled on paper over a few days and ended up with something I really liked.2. Inspiration comes from the weirdest places.
Some of my ideas have come from the oddest places. I can get creative ideas from everyday things I do or see. Even mundane things like organizing the kitchen and seeing an area from a different angle put me into a creative space that I was in for a few weeks creating! Some other creative ideas I’ve had came from ordering old books from my childhood and re-reading them, patterns of colours, events and even locations I’ve been to (and yes I did go to a red top circus before, which was my inspiration behind the legendary Leopold the clown frog!). Inspiration can come from anywhere, you just have to be looking to find it.3. The burnout is real.
Burnout feels like you are being sucked into a creative void. Trust me, it sneaks up to you, especially if you are pushing yourself too hard. With my ADHD, once I start working on something I don't stop working on it until I have completed it. I have learned if I am not taking breaks I can feel the burnout starting to creep up. In fact, I feel stuck in an art block as I write this. I have just been staring at my iPad for the last few weeks figuring out what I should draw next. I'm having thoughts such as "Have all of my good ideas come and gone?" or "I can't come up with an idea, this is so frustrating". Although, I know sometimes I need to let out my creativity in other forms so I don't overthink everything I am doing. So, instead of ruminating on how I couldn't figure out what to draw, I decided to do some budgeting of our expenses, just to change my frame of mind.4. Feedback isn't failure.
Sometimes when people critique your work, (especially when you haven't asked for the critique) it can sometimes feel crushing to hear, like you're doing something wrong. Try to remind yourself that feedback does not mean failure. Feedback/criticism is just one person's view of your art, and it could be helpful to you or just, not! Just because you are given criticism doesn't always mean you need to take it. Just try to be mindful of how you are interpreting that criticism, as it could be genuinely helpful, or something you had not thought of before!5. Celebrate your wins no matter how small!
Celebrating your wins is one of the most important things you can do. It's so easy to get stuck on the numbers, such as how many likes your post got or whether or not your art got the reaction you were looking for. But every finished piece, every sketch, and every step forward in your art journey is a win, and even if you don't like a piece you have made, you have put in time and effort, which will help you improve your art skills. Whether you are celebrating your very first sticker design, your first print, or even your first commission, take a moment to feel proud of yourself. And make sure to take it all in.Final thoughts!
When I first started my art instagram account, I set a goal to draw every day. I stuck to that goal and have been drawing every day, some days for hours, some days for just a few minutes. The improvement that I saw during that time has increased my confidence and productivity, as I feel more sure about what I am doing and what I share.
I had been taking a break over the holidays and at first I saw it as a setback, I thought that maybe what I had learned from drawing every day would go away if I took a break. I soon realized it's okay to take breaks and not to force myself to create every single day, because forcing yourself to create just doesn't work as creativity doesn't come when we are being forced, or feel pressured. What truly matters is to stay true to doing art your own way and being passionate about what brings YOU joy, and to take the time to realize how you are unique from other artists.Make sure you keep going, keep learning, and keep being you!Chat soon,
Hunter
@struwwelart