The Hide

Art from the quiet place where no one spooks the wildlife

A monthly mail club $12.00 physical $5.00 digital

In every letter:

A note from the hide — handwritten, then carefully reproduced. An observation about a cat, a wren, an opossum, whatever I was watching when I wrote it and drew the sketch on the letter. Whatever it makes me remember... a personal letter from my heart.

A printed piece of art — A postcard sized art print, a page from a nature journal, a sticker (or sticker sheet). Rotating each month. Ink and wash, pen and ink, watercolor. Sometimes a print of an acrylic painting. Frameable, but small enough to tuck into a journal.

In TWO Envelopes, chosen at random

An original painting — Every month, two subscribers will open their envelope and find, in addition to the expected artwork, a small original ink and wash painting inside. 4x6 inches. Signed by me. Yours to keep forever.

Always Made by Hand

I paint small ink and wash pieces as my daily warmup - about 2 per day. Some are trash and go into the round file in my studio. Others I think are good enough to share. The originals that go into the hide come directly from that practice.

I will NEVER use AI to generate my artwork - either references or the final. I do research on my nature journal pages and not all of that research comes in the field... For example, if I'm drawing a closeup of an opossum's tail, I'm not going to go catch an opossum to draw it. Scenes come from my imagination or from interactions I have personally observed. I have multiple reference sources for details that I may not be able to capture on my phone camera. Animals move fast. Even when they don't know you're there. Sometimes you have to study outside of class.

What's Inside?

Every month

I mail you a small envelope from my studio in Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina. Inside: a note in my handwriting and some art, printed to keep. Made by me. One person who spends her days watching what the cats are watching (and sometimes what they can't see, in local parks).

No algorithm. No screen for the physical version. Just paper, ink and the particular pleasure of opening something made for you. Prefer to read digitally? Can't read my handwriting? the letter posts online two weeks after mailing -- same words, different delivery.

Join me in the Hide!

Questions

What's the Digital Tier, exactly?

Each month's letter is written digitally before I copy it in fountain pen — so the typed version already exists. two weeks after the physical envelopes go out, I post the letter on Patreon for both sets of subscribers. Same words, same observations, no envelope. At $5 a month it's for readers who love a letter, but live outside my shipping area, prefer screens, or just aren't ready to commit to the full thing. You won't get all the artwork. Just the letter.

Can digital subscribers win an original painting?

No — the original painting drawing is for physical subscribers only. It goes into a physical envelope, so it needs a physical address. Digital members get the letter; the "golden" envelope stays in the mail tier.

How are the original paintings chosen?

Randomly on all fronts. The paintings are from the stash of watercolors that I would otherwise put up for sale in my "small paintings" section of the website. The subscriber names are drawn at the beginning of each month before I pack the envelopes. Those two get one of the chosen originals tucked in with everything else. No one knows until they open their letter.

What size are the originals?

Approximately 4x6 inches — postcard sized, ink and wash on 100% cotton paper. Signed on the front, and with my full name and title on the back. Worth approximately $20 if sold through the studio shop. Included in your $12 envelope if luck is with you.

What are my odds of getting an original?

Two originals go out every month regardless of membership size. I'll always publish the current member count on the Patreon page so you can do the math yourself. The club stays transparent. Currently, I'm capping membership at 200 while I figure out my rhythm and my abilities, so the odds will also stay capped at 1% until I remove that cap. I will notify everyone with a post on Patreon if and when I change that cap.

Do you ship internationally?

Not at launch. I'm sticking with US subscribers only until I get the logistics sorted. International mail is more expensive, and there are potential tax hoops to jump through. However, the digital tier is available worldwide.

Can I give this as a gift?

Yes — gift subscriptions are available. Email the studio directly (or use the Contact Form) and I'll sort it out by hand.

Join me in the Hide!