My Favorite Lyric Ever + A Dog Named Hank

Hi Friends,

This newsletter is packed! I’m sharing my favorite lyric of all time, a creative lesson I learned, a new piece of art (with UFOs and the Bates Motel), what I’ve been watching and reading lately, a big update from the farm - including our new dog - and exciting news about my debut novel, One Red Arrow.

Let’s get into it!

♡ Caitlyn

🎨 Title: UFOs Over The Bates Motel

One of my favorite things to do with art is take something familiar, something we’ve seen a hundred times, and change it. I love pushing beyond my first idea, past what feels comfortable, and into something stranger and more surprising.

I started this piece by creating the scene of a woman smoking while sitting on top of the Bates Motel sign. I loved that visual. In my head, I imagined Norman Bates stepping outside and politely asking her to get down. She also looks like she’s from a different time entirely, like she doesn’t belong there.

Then the UFOs arrive. Their presence adds a whole new layer of mystery. What are they doing there? Suddenly, the scene becomes part horror, part sci-fi - a blend of my two favorite genres.

My favorite lyric of all time:

“I've never been a natural
All I do is try, try, try”

It’s from mirrorball by Taylor Swift, off her folklore album. And I get it - not everyone’s a fan. But whether you love her or not, these words carry weight.

This lyric is my favorite because, in just two lines, it captures so much of my life - and a lot of people’s lives.

People often assume success comes from talent, luck, or some kind of magic spark. But almost all of the time, it comes from getting knocked down and deciding to get back up.

My career is littered with failures and “no’s.” If I’d quit every time I wanted to, I would’ve stopped a long time ago.

There is so much beauty in trying. Resilience is everything.

I recently watched Companion (2025), and I absolutely loved it. It’s a sci-fi thriller that dives into the potential, and the dangers, of artificial intelligence. But what really struck me is that beneath the surface, it’s less about AI itself and more about how AI highlights the darkest parts of human nature.

Heads up: the film is intense, with both sexual content and violence. But if you're into thought-provoking sci-fi with an edge, I definitely recommend checking it out.

I’m currently re-reading Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins for the fourth time. No other book has had a bigger impact on my life. It’s not preachy or overly self-help-y. Instead, it’s a brutally honest look at how hard life can be and how powerful your mind truly is.

I first read it during the pandemic, and it changed everything for me. The shift started small: I hated running, so I challenged myself to run outside every day. From there, the changes snowballed. I started applying Goggins’ mindset to my creative work, my career, and my personal life.

I know this book isn’t for everyone, but if you’re looking for some serious, no-excuses motivation and a push to go after more in your life, read this book. The audiobook is great too!

Creative lesson: Don’t let one person’s opinion stop you.

You know that saying - everyone’s a critic? It’s true. And if you let one person’s personal opinion derail your motivation, you might miss out on something amazing.

Take my original art piece Roadtrip, for example. It was originally a commissioned work I made about six years ago for a client who, to put it simply, really didn’t like it. I was crushed. I had poured so much time and energy into the piece, and their reaction sent me into a spiral. I started questioning everything - whether I was a real artist, whether I was any good, whether I should just give up.

Instead of scrapping it, I posted Roadtrip on my Instagram and kept it for myself.

The piece went on to become my first big success - and to this day, it’s my all-time best-selling artwork.

So here’s the reminder: one person’s opinion is not the final word on your work. Keep creating. Keep sharing. You never know what might resonate.

/

Our farm is bursting with life these days! The flowers are blooming, seeds are in the ground, the goats, pigs, and chickens are all happy - but the biggest news? We got a new dog named Hank!

Back in February, we lost our beloved Boxer, Ben. It was heartbreaking for us and for our other dog, Presley, who’s been missing her buddy ever since. We weren’t actively looking for another dog, but I couldn’t help peeking at local shelters… and that’s when I saw Hank, a beagle who just felt like he belonged with us.

The moment we met him, we were in love and we had to bring him home. Now Hank and our son, Brooks, are inseparable.

We’ve all been soaking up the spring warmth, and I’ve decided that this summer, I’m building a pole barn. I found and cleared the perfect spot on our land last week. I'll be chronicling the build and sharing the progress with you as it comes together!

ICYMI - My supernatural thriller debut novel, One Red Arrow, is officially with the editor and will be released on August 21, 2025! Pre-order link coming soon - I can't wait to share more with you all!

Also - today is the final day of my Spring Fling print drop! Shop the collection below before it’s gone!