You're your problem. You're also your solution.

Hi Friends,

In this newsletter you’ll find new art, one of my new all-time favorite films, a creative lesson I’ve been re-learning, the song that’s been on repeat during late-night baby snuggles, a peek at the progress on the new Cult Class art studio, and a personal look at what inspired the main character in my debut novel, One Red Arrow, Part I.

Let’s get into it!

♡ Caitlyn

🎨 Title: Invasion Day

This one was just fun to make. Sometimes I create heavy emotional pieces or something with a message, but sometimes I just want to make something that looks epic.

With Invasion Day, I imagined a scene straight out of a movie. Like with a lot of my art, I love the juxtaposition and defiance of people enjoying themselves in the face of disaster or the unknown.

Wow! Sinners (2025) is easily one of my favorite movies of all time. When I posted about it on Instagram, so many of you messaged me back saying the same thing: this movie is something special. Set in the Mississippi Delta during the 1930s, it follows twin brothers Smoke and Stack Moore (both played by Michael B. Jordan) who return home after World War I and their time in Chicago’s mob scene. They open a juke joint with stolen money, hoping for a fresh start, but on opening night, everything unravels when a group of vampires shows up.

The movie is visually stunning and the soundtrack is amazing. Also, the idea that music can thin the veil between worlds is just brilliant. Sinners definitely isn’t be for everyone, but if you’re into horror, I can’t recommend it enough.

If horror’s not your thing, or if you need a palate cleanser after watching Sinners, check out Green and Gold (2025). It’s a lesser-known gem we stumbled across on Amazon Prime. The story follows a fourth-generation dairy farmer, on the brink of losing his farm to the bank, who wagers everything on a bet involving his beloved Green Bay Packers. At the same time, his granddaughter pursues a music career to save what they have worked for their entire lives.

This movie also has a music theme. The whole story feels grounded and real. My husband and I call movies like this “life” movies - the kind that show the quiet beauty and everyday struggle of just being human. Definitely worth watching if you’re in the mood for something honest, emotional, and hopeful.

Lately, I’ve been putting on some of my favorite old music videos at night while our son, Brooks, falls asleep. One that I keep coming back to is the boygenius cover of “You’re the One That I Want.” It’s so delicate and beautifully done. I’ve found myself replaying it over and over.

Creative Lesson: You are your problem. You're also your solution.

Lately, I’ve been learning a lesson I seem to have to learn over and over again. As an artist, it’s easy to fall into the trap of waiting for inspiration or letting yourself off the hook because you’re not “feeling it.” People even encourage it sometimes: It’s okay, you’re just not in the zone. And while that can be true, I’ve definitely leaned on it as an excuse.

Life’s been tough recently. Nothing major, just regular hard, like it can be for all of us. It’s easy to throw a pity party (and often valid). I’ve got work, a baby, a book to self-publish, lost loved ones, a farm to manage, bills to pay. With all of that comes every reason to ease up: skip a workout, make less art, sleep in, treat myself to snacks. And sure, those things feel good for a second, but they never actually make me feel better.

Then I catch myself wondering why nothing’s changing… and I remember, again, that I’m the one who has to change it. My effort, my attitude, my choices, all show up directly in my life. One of my favorite movie moments is Megan’s pep talk from Bridesmaids (linked above): “You’re your problem. You're also your solution.” It hits every time.

Yes, life can be rough. A friend recently said, “Life’s a weird thing. It’s kind of terrible sometimes.” And I loved that, because it’s true. But we still get to choose how we respond. At the end of the day, only you can get yourself where you want to go.

I want to share a personal example of shifting mentality that I’m really proud of. My husband and I had been talking about building an outdoor office/shed/garage for three years. Eventually, we got tired of hearing ourselves talk about it. So we watched some YouTube videos, priced out some affordable supplies, and said, “We can do it.” And we did. We’re now almost finished building our first big structure completely on our own. It’s nothing fancy (at all), just a lot of hard work, trial and error, and learning as we go.

We’ve been soaking up the warm weather and all the little joys of summer. On the farm, our big project has been building the new Cult Class art studio and office, with a small attached farm shed for all our tools. This past weekend, we got the siding and door up, and I added my favorite detail so far: an antler I turned into a door handle for my new office.

Next up is finishing the roof, cutting a window, staining everything, adding trim, and checking off the rest of the to-do list. The farm itself has been full of life lately. We’ve had visits from deer, raccoons, bunnies, foxes, hawks, owls, and even some black bears in the neighborhood. We’re just soaking in the season. My favorite part of the day is after Brooks is asleep, when the house is quiet, I step outside and watch the fireflies light up the woods.

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In case you missed it - One Red Arrow, Part I is officially available for pre-order! I also shared a video on Instagram (linked above) where I talk a bit about what inspired the main character