Sunday Night Digest 09/14/25

Digest = me + a possible glass of wine + reflection the previous weeks ongoings and a glimpse into future happenings. You're Welcome.

Italian dreams and creative awakenings, where do I even begin? Michael and I have just returned from what can only be described as a soul- (stomach?!) -filling Italian holiday, and I'm still half-living in that dreamscape of every color blue hues, salty skin and hair all day and night and the kind of light that makes even the most ordinary moments feel cinematic. I can’t stop thinking about the sparkle of sunlight over the dips and gentle waves of the Med.

I found myself sketching idea after idea from paintings and drawings to details for my next candle production and did I mention an olive oil collaboration with my favorite Sorrentino olive farm that tastes like actual sunshine on the horizon? What a dream.

Michael, true to form, captured miles of coastline through his lens, somehow translating the sensory overload into beautifully composed photographs that feel like memories rather than mere images. His eye for detail never ceases to amaze me.

Coming home has been its own kind of revelation. Rather than the post-vacation blues, I've been possessed by a feverish creative energy. The studio reorganization wasn't planned, it simply had to happen. I couldn't continue in the same space that existed before this journey. Now, everything flows differently. Materials are more accessible, making them more inspiring, and there's a clarity to the space that reflects my current state of mind. This week we start filming my painting workshop that launches later this month and it feels so much better in my painting studio than in my kitchen!

A large order of supplies arrived the day after we returned, including these pigments from a small producer in Paris that create the most extraordinary depth of color. I've been painting daily, sometimes well into the night then again very early in the morning, trying to capture something elusive that followed me home, a quality of light, perhaps, or a feeling of expansiveness that I want to translate onto canvas.

While traveling, I discovered several new favorite places that I can't wait to share: an incredibly designed hotel built into the cliff side of Sorrento plus two new favorite restaurants, one new, one old - found since our old favorite is such a TikTok sensation there were more than 100 people on line for dinner. In Positano, we had a spectacular seaside dinner late into the night drinking different wines with the sommelier who knew more about Italian wine than anyone I’ve ever met. On Capri we tried a new boat company with new friends and ventured to new restaurants for long lazy lunches in the sun. I think notes on all of these will make it onto the pages of my book about Italy, but look for an upcoming city guide on Substack too… it’s all too good to keep to myself! Plus, Michael’s photos so perfectly illustrate it all.

I think the most significant development post-trip is the clarification of an exhibition idea that's been percolating for months. It's ambitious, combining a new series of paintings with sculptural elements and an installation presence I’m almost nervous to attempt. The concept demands vulnerability from me in a way my previous work hasn't, exploring themes of impermanence and memory through abstracted landscapes that exist somewhere between reality and dream. The very thought of executing it sends butterflies through my stomach, which I've come to recognize as the surest sign that I'm on the right path. When I share more details about this exhibition in the coming weeks, you'll understand why it represents such a pivot. For now, I'm embracing the uncertainty and allowing the fear to propel rather than paralyze me.

The gallery is buzzing with renewed energy, and I'm finding connections between pieces I hadn't noticed before(Have you seen the detail in this painting?! And how has this not found its home?!). If you stop by, you'll notice some reshuffling and even a few new pieces. I love the feeling of being in the gallery after a long trip.

I'm off to enjoy this moody September evening with a glass of Italian wine we brought back, perhaps sketching a bit more as the light fades. These transitional days between summer and fall feel especially precious this year.

Live your most extraordinary life as soon as possible.

Happy weekend from our family to yours!
XO Kristen

Gallery Stats
Top selling artist in the gallery this week: Kristen Coates, thank you!
Top selling non-art item this week: Online workshop The Painting Room, yay!
On Substack this week: A Celebration for All Times
A Curated Scroll on Pinterest: September Dreams
Commissions Available: September SOLD OUT, October 1 slot left, November 2 slots, December 1 slot. 

The Dinner Party Download Volumes I & II are out!

Gallery Open By Appointment

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