A Season of Gratitude

As the year begins to wind down and the days grow shorter, I find myself thinking less about what I should be creating and more about the people who make it possible for me to keep creating at all.

This time of year naturally invites reflection, and I want to pause and let you know how deeply appreciated you are. Thank you for opening my emails, sending encouraging words, thoughtful replies, or quiet support that you may not even realize landed exactly when I needed it. Thank you for staying with me through the moments of doubt, and the dry spells when arting felt a bit harder than usual.

painting of a pair of chickadees foraging in winter

Running a small, creative business is a bit like winter foraging. There are seasons of abundance and seasons where you carefully gather what you can, trusting that it will be enough. My painting of two chickadees searching for food in winter felt like the perfect reflection of that idea: small, steady, resilient, and quietly hopeful.

Chickadees don’t panic when the landscape changes; they adapt. They show up. They keep going, together. I see so much of that same spirit reflected back to me by this community.

Whether you’ve purchased a piece of art, shared my work with a friend, liked a post, visited The Portage Collective, or simply followed along, please know that it all matters. You help keep this small business afloat in more ways than you probably realize.

As we move through the holidays and into a new year, I’m carrying a deep sense of gratitude with me. For the art I get to make, and for the quiet connections that sustain us all, especially in the colder seasons.

Wishing you warmth, rest, and moments of beauty, however they find you.

With heartfelt thanks,

Ellen ✨