The Art of Letting Go (And the Start of Something New)

I’ve always loved the term "loose ends." In a painting, they are the stray brushstrokes that don’t quite fit the logic of the landscape but somehow give the piece its soul. In life, we’re taught to tie them up, to stay organized, and to keep our worlds small and manageable.

For a long time, I did exactly that. I built a beautiful studio in whatever home I was renting. I curated my space. I reorganized my brushes instead of taking them into the wind. I was safe, but I wasn’t exactly alive.

This week, everything changed.

I finally said it out loud: I am 56 years old, and I am trading my four walls for four wheels. I’m transitioning to van life to chase the light across the West, to hold my grandbabies in Oklahoma more often, and to teach my students from the most beautiful "classrooms" California has to offer.

I’ve started a YouTube channel to document the raw, unedited story of getting there—from the fear of downsizing to the first night under the stars. You can see the very first video right here.

What does this mean for my art? It means the work is about to get a lot more honest. I’m opening up my shop—including my favorite Altoids Tin Series—to help fund this transition. Every painting you take home is a "mile" toward the van.

If you’ve been following my work for a while, thank you for being part of my "quiet" years. I hope you’ll stick around for the loud, windy, adventurous ones ahead.

The light is shifting, and for the first time in a long time, I’m ready to follow it.

— DL

"Every painting sold helps me get one mile closer to the Pacific. Thank you for being part of the journey."