Art is the universe remembering itself.

Hi Friends,

It’s been a big season—between the whirlwind of my book launch, finishing the studio build, and watching our little guy turn one, I’ve been thinking a lot about connection, purpose, and why we create in the first place. In this issue, I’m sharing some new art, what I’ve been watching lately, a creative lesson inspired by Mike Flanagan’s Midnight Mass, and a few life updates from the farm. I also got to have a great conversation with the podcast, Uncorking a Story. As always, thank you for following along and being part of this journey—it means more than I can ever say.

Let’s get into it!

♡ Caitlyn

🎨 Title: Traffic

This piece might be one of my favorites I’ve made in a long time. Most of the time I’m pushing my brain, trying to come up with something fresh or different, and it doesn’t always click. But this idea came to me like a gift. I just knew I had to make it.

I wanted it to feel as real as possible, but also a little dreamlike—something ethereal and nostalgic at the same time. I just love the idea of a witch running into a UFO up in the sky.

Life of Chuck (2024) has been sitting on my to-watch list for a while. I’m a big fan of both Stephen King and Mike Flanagan, so I knew I had to see it—even without knowing what it was really about.

We finally watched it this past week, and it turned out to be a wonderfully sweet film with a supernatural edge. If you’re in the mood for a heartfelt “life movie” with a touch of magic, I definitely recommend it. It has that signature Mike Flanagan touch about life and the universe that I’ll be expanding on in the Creative Lesson section later in this newsletter.

And since we’re officially in spooky season, I have to throw in a horror pick. Cobweb (2023) is definitely not for the faint of heart—I had to close my eyes or look away more than once. But if you’re craving a newer creepy film with that perfect Halloween atmosphere, this one delivers. It’s worth the watch.

Creative Lesson: Art is the universe remembering itself.

Every piece we make is a reminder that we’re woven from the same fabric as stars. Creation isn’t separate from us—we are part of it, and it’s part of us.

Since we’re talking about Mike Flanagan, I have to mention my favorite monologue ever—it’s from Mike Flanagan’s Midnight Mass (2021). You can watch the entire monologue at the video link above. In it, Erin describes what she thinks happens when we die. She remembers that every atom in her body was forged in a star, that she is energy, not memory, and that there is no line where she ends and everything else begins. It’s stark and existential, but also deeply beautiful. A reminder that we are not separate—we are part of everything.

I come back to that idea often, especially when I forget that. And I do forget. Like Erin says: “My self. That’s the problem… That word. Self.”

Before my book release, I was anxious and caught up in my own head. A friend asked me, “Caitlyn, why did you write this book?” My answer was, “Because I wanted to share this story and to create a female superhero people could relate to.” That’s true—but in the stress of the launch I had made it about me, about my nerves and fears, instead of the reason I started in the first place.

The point of creating—whether it’s writing or visual art—isn’t just about the individual. It’s about contributing something to the bigger picture, letting your work join the collective story. The ability to create at all feels less like ownership and more like channeling from the universe—like it comes through me, not from me.

So here’s the reminder I needed (and maybe you do to): creativity isn’t about proving yourself, it’s about participating. Even when it feels imperfect, scary, or uncertain, your work becomes part of something larger. Every act of creation is the universe remembering itself.

Life has been busy with the book launch, the farm, and running my business—but the biggest thing of all is that our baby boy, Brooks, turns one this weekend! 🥹 I can’t believe it. A lot of you were following along when I was in the hospital a year ago, and now here we are. Wow… How our lives have changed since then. We’re going to slow down this weekend, soak in every minute with him, and enjoy fall on our farm.

Also, a MAJOR studio update: the building we’ve been working on is finally complete and fully set up! It took my husband and me all summer, and we made plenty of mistakes along the way (neither of us had ever built anything like this before). But it’s done, and we’re really happy with how it turned out. You can take a tour of my new studio in the video below.

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Check out my interview with Uncorking a Story!
I had such a fun conversation about writing, superheroes, sci-fi, and so much more.

I can’t thank you enough for all the support around my debut sci-fi novel, One Red Arrow, Part I. Every message, every share, every order—it all helps so much. If you’ve read the book, I’d be so grateful if you left a quick Amazon or Goodreads review.

$1,000 Cult Class Art Print Giveaway

As a thank you, I’m giving away up to $1,000 in Cult Class fine art prints to one randomly chosen winner. Here’s how to enter:

1. Order the book — Paperback, hardcover, Kindle, or audiobook from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Walmart, or anywhere online.

2. Send proof — Tag @cult.class in your IG Story with your order receipt. If your account is private, DM me or email [email protected].

3. Already entered the giveaway? You can get extra entries—just get the book in another format and send the new receipt for an extra entry.

The Prize
One winner will receive up to $1,000 in Cult Class fine art prints—your choice of pieces, shipped directly to you.

Details

• Open internationally

• Winner selected at random

• Must be 18+

To keep up with demand, I’ve made a change to how print releases work.

Now I only release one featured original piece every few days—just 5 prints per size. Once they sell out, they’re gone.

Today’s print selection is my original art, "Showdown", available now.