Well hello!
There are several things I want to tell you about (like how I’m releasing new art tomorrow), but here’s the most important thing first: we got a dog and I am in love.
Elsa
A little over a week ago Elsa came home with us from the rescue where she’s been living since her previous human passed away. We’ve been spending all our time making her feel at home, enjoying her gentle presence and indulging her insatiable curiosity about how the world smells.
She’s a senior dog and not in a hurry. She’s learned how to get her needs met - gently pawing when she wants something (which often turns out to be her just wanting me to put my phone down). She’s lost a lot and is still open to new things and to trusting new people. She naps when she’s tired. When she’s happy she lets it take over her whole body. Basically she’s a pro at everything I’m trying to learn, and I feel pretty lucky to be in her life.
New Art
Tomorrow (Tuesday July 13) I’m releasing a set of new prints - both diagrams and pride flags. They’ll be up at britchida.com 8am Pacific time!
Algorithm-Free Art
Here’s some of the work I’ve shared since my last email. I’d like to make it easier to connect away from IG and the social media algorithms. If you know someone who’d like to see my art outside of the feed, feel free to forward this on to them!
JUNE 2021
Hello! I’m 35 today, and here’s my annual bday self portrait 🥳
It’s been a while, so let me know introduce myself: I’m Brit, pronouns they/them, and I’m a community taught artist. I started using art supplies when I was 30 when I was very strongly “encouraged” to “get a hobby!!” by some people who know and love me and saw the impact of the absence of play and rest in my life.
Also, my PTSD has been pretty bad over the past decade, and I often have times when my dizziness, nausea and fatigue make it impossible to do the things I used to. So now, when I can’t work, or see people, or leave my house, I paint. And then after I paint, I post it here, for you, my community of stranger-friends. You all have kept me such good company, and I always hope that my art might in turn do the same for you.
I also hope my art is really honest and personal so that it feels familiar to you when you see it, even if we’ve never met. I hope it shows off my questions and my soft spots. I hope it makes visible the experiences we find most difficult to explain.
I make my art at home, where I live with my wife Danielle. We are two peas in a pod. She is - and I cannot overstate this - the best (most interesting, kind, funny, steady, smart) person I have ever met. I wish you all could know her like I do. Over the past year, doing this work has become a team effort between us. If you’ve ever ordered anything from the shop, or read something I’ve posted that doesn’t have typos, she’s been a main part of making that happen. Anyway, she says hi! 😊
I’d really love to know you more. So whether we’ve been DM penpals for years or are totally new to each other, I’d love to hear a bit about you. Introduce yourself and make my day.
Sometimes we leave ourselves for a little while, to preserve ourselves.
Which is, of course,
both an act of love and
an act of grief.
I asked you all how you deal with dysphoria and ptsd in medical settings
And for many of us, we simply sift ourselves away.
It’s two and a half weeks into pride and I keep thinking about ways we stay alive and together and above water all year long.
(Prints available tomorrow)
JULY 2021
Balancing out that balance with some indulgence, candid expression, playfulness- and falling head over heels in love (hi elsa!).
10/10 would recommend! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
(Prints available tomorrow)
I shared on IG the process for making this commission piece, and saved it on my Patreon for supporters at all tiers if you’d like to see. My 2022 portrait commission waitlist is currently open.
Hope you’re taking care out there! For now, I’ll leave you with this moment from last week:
Hi!
My name is Ama! I'm 26, non-binary and learning to accept and love it, with your help even if you don't even know me! One of your gender piece is my daily reminder that it's OK 😊
I'm a newbie librarian, and I live with my partner and my silly dog 🐶
Hi! I’m Caity (she/her). You know me through my squirrel, Stitch. I’m going to be 38 later this month. I’m married to the perfect guy for me and have 2 kids. They’re both wild boys, 9 and nearly 7. I’m an elementary school teacher by day. I’ve been learning a lot about myself this year. And I love your art.