We’re officially less than a week out from my upcoming show Short n’ Sweet at Sunergos Coffee in Louisville, Kentucky! I couldn’t be more excited for this show. It represents not just a body of work that has become integral to my artistic practice, but it incorporates my personality as well (I consider myself Short n’ Sweet too!). I’ve been thinking a lot about how this body of work came to be—and why it feels important to share some of the thoughts behind it with you all. While I’m excited to see these small pieces live in the world, the intent of this series was never about a culminating exhibition. It’s always been about the practice that formed around it, and the way something simple and unassuming slowly became a necessary part of my daily rhythm.
Short n’ Sweet began as a way to get out of an artistic rut. To loosen the gears and return to making without the pressure I had been placing on myself. I wanted to work small, quickly, and intentionally outside of my main medium, so that the goal could simply be to show up and try. At first, I thought I’d make a handful of pieces and move on, but over time the act of returning to these tiny cards became grounding. What started as an exercise quietly transformed into a ritual that allowed art to function as a place of play rather than expectation.
There’s a particular courage involved in allowing yourself to experiment this way. To make work without insisting it arrives at a finished or “successful” outcome. This is something I find myself returning to often, both in my own practice and when working with students—the reminder that curiosity is not something to outgrow, but something to protect. This way of thinking echoes ideas I explored in my exhibition Courage to Try, which centered on the bravery it takes to put yourself out there and try something. Short n’ Sweet feels like a continuation of that mindset, distilled into small, everyday acts of permission.
Working in these small moments has had a ripple effect beyond the studio. Starting small has made it easier to reach for bigger things—to apply for opportunities that once felt overwhelming, to consider residencies farther from home, to try things that feel just slightly out of reach. These illustrations aren’t about building toward something grand; they’re about practicing courage in manageable doses. Doing small things you’re afraid of so that, over time, the bigger fears feel less immovable.
This approach has also opened the door to trying new materials and ideas without attachment. Sewing, for example, entered my practice simply as another experiment—something to explore without needing to finish or perfect. There’s freedom in knowing it’s okay to put the idea down, or to follow it somewhere unexpected. Where I once felt the need to complete everything I started, I now find comfort in the idea that play doesn’t require an end point.
Seen this way, Short n’ Sweet isn’t a beginning or an ending—it’s an ongoing practice. A reminder that making can be fun, that experimentation can be enough, and that courage doesn’t always arrive through big, dramatic leaps. As these pieces make their way onto the walls at Sunergos, I hope they offer a moment of joy and a reminder that at any moment, you can try something new.
The opening reception for Short n’ Sweet will be on February 4th, 2026 from 4pm-6pm. We’ll have some light snacks from Sunergos, and a limited amount of laser-engraved espresso cups for sale! A symbol of my everlasting love for espresso that you can take home with you. I hope to see you there!
Yours truly,
Makara