Art by Allysia

If you’ve been following me on TikTok, Facebook, or Instagram, you’ve probably heard me confidently say “apocathery.”

Well… turns out it’s pronounced apothecary. Bahaha.

At least we can all laugh together.

This week I completed four new acrylic ACEO paintings inspired by all things apothecary. I don’t know what it is about old bottles, interesting labels, and beautiful packaging, but they completely draw me in. I think I’m just as much in love with the objects themselves as I am with the idea of painting them.

The first painting features “My Favorite Soap Dispenser”. I originally bought it because I loved the graphic design on the bottle, and the eucalyptus mint scent quickly became my favorite. Once the soap ran out, I couldn’t bear to throw the bottle away, so now I simply refill it with the less expensive soap from Walmart. It’s practical… and still pretty.

Next came “Matches”, a tiny bottle filled with black-tipped matches. I have a slight obsession with little glass bottles, and when you combine that with great typography and packaging, you’ve pretty much guaranteed I’ll want to paint it.

The third painting is a whimsical little spray bottle. To be honest, it doesn’t work very well, but it’s adorable, and sometimes that’s reason enough to keep something around.

The last painting in this set features a collection of antique bottles. Every one of these objects has that cozy, curious apothecary feel that I’ve been so drawn to lately. The more I paint these little treasures, the more I want to surround myself with interesting objects that spark new ideas.

All four will be available for purchase this Friday on my website. Last weeks paintings are now at auction on Ebay.

Speaking of apothecaries…

I recently had another one of those classic dopamine-fueled ideas.

“What if I started a mail club?”

I’ve watched several artists share their journeys creating monthly mail clubs, and they seem like so much fun. At the same time, they also look like a huge commitment. Since I work full-time during the day (and occasionally evenings and weekends), I’m trying to be realistic about what I can actually sustain.

One idea that keeps floating around in my head is Allysia’s Art Apothecary. I love the thought of creating a collection of paintings inspired by curiosities, vintage finds, nature, bottles, labels, and all the little things that make me stop and stare.

But for now, I’m choosing consistency over expansion.

I recently watched another artist on TikTok share advice that really stuck with me. She said that if you want to make gallery-level money selling your artwork, you have to start treating your art like you’re already an artist whose work sells in galleries. She explained that once she made that mindset shift, she began running her art business like a real business instead of simply hoping for sales. That’s when things started to change for her.

That advice hit me harder than I expected.

I’ve caught myself wondering why I’m not selling more artwork.

Then I had to laugh because the answer was pretty obvious.

You actually have to make art.

I would create a handful of paintings and then wonder why they weren’t flying off the shelves. Even though my ACEOs are only $5 originals, they can’t sell if they don’t exist.

So that’s exactly what I’m changing.

Instead of chasing every exciting new idea, I’m committing to showing up every day and building a body of work. My goal is simple:

• Paint consistently.
• Publish a blog post every week.
• Send one newsletter each month.
• Keep creating from August 2026 through August 2027.

After a full year of consistency, I’ll take another look at whether a mail club makes sense.

Another change I’m making is how I price my artwork. My original paintings will be priced more in line with what I believe they’re worth as original works of art. At the same time, I still want my artwork to be accessible, so I’ll continue offering affordable art prints for those who simply want to bring a piece into their home.

This journey isn’t just about selling paintings. It’s about becoming the artist I’ve always wanted to be by consistently doing the work.

If you’d like to follow along, I’d love to have you.

Come vote on Instagram to help me choose what to paint next. Follow along on TikTok to watch my daily painting process. And be sure to subscribe to my website so you don’t miss my monthly newsletter.

Thank you for following along on this adventure. Your encouragement, kind words, and support mean more than you know. I’m excited to see where this next year of consistency takes me.