🎨 Worth the Squeeze: A New Kind of Bold
Number One: The Painting That Changed My Perspective
Not every painting comes from a clear idea, sometimes it comes from a shift in energy, a quiet nudge to try something new. That’s what this piece was.
Number One, also lovingly titled Worth the Squeeze, was the first painting I created in a series called New Perspectives. The goal wasn’t to reinvent everything I knew, but to approach the studio with more curiosity and less pressure to create something vibrant or familiar.
Letting Go of “Vibrant”
If you know my work, you know I love color. I lean into bold tones, joyful palettes, and energy you can feel before you even read the title card.
But this piece asked for something else.
It leaned moody. It asked for softness. It wanted space to breathe.
I allowed more neutrals to take the lead. Smoky blues and misty grays, with intentional pops of neons and vibrant color layered in. Not for impact, but for emotion. Instead of chasing saturation, I followed drama, balance, and depth.
And for the first time in a long time, I slowed way down.
I didn’t sketch it out. I didn’t plan the palette.
I just showed up, and trusted my intuition to do the rest.
What Made It “Number One”
This piece is 36x36, a large square that gave me room to explore without rushing. I scraped back layers, reworked shapes, and returned to the canvas over and over until something clicked.
It was one of those paintings that didn’t fight me, but it did challenge me. It asked me to be quiet. To pause. To try things I wasn’t sure would work and not to be afraid of a brushstroke or a scrape of the palette knife.
And when I finally stepped back… it became my favorite painting I’ve ever made.
Interested in adding this piece to your space?
The original 36x36 Worth the Squeeze is available here, along with a selection of high-quality Giclée prints in multiple sizes. These fine art prints beautifully preserve the visual texture and depth of the original painting, perfect for bringing a moody, expressive moment into your home. Shop Prints Here
New Perspectives, Indeed
This painting opened the door to a new way of working:
Not trying to top the last thing, but simply listening to what each piece needs.
Number One isn’t just the first in a new collection, it’s a marker of growth. Of trust. Of finally realizing that stepping out of my comfort zone doesn’t mean stepping away from myself.
Your Turn
This painting pushed me to trust something quieter, slower, and more intuitive, and I’m so glad I listened.
It makes me wonder:
When was the last time you followed your gut instead of your plan?
Or let something evolve without rushing it to the finish?
Whether you're creating, decorating, dreaming, or just figuring things out… sometimes the most meaningful things come from giving yourself permission to try something new.
What’s your version of a “New Perspective”?
I’d love to hear! Leave a comment below!
Looking Ahead
This piece set the tone for the rest of the New Perspectives collection, each one created with curiosity and without a map.
If this one resonates with you, I hope you’ll follow along as I release more paintings from the studio.
Thanks for being here and for seeing color, even when it’s quiet.
xo,
Alyssa