2025 wasn’t a great year for many people. For us, I’d call it an “okay” year—and honestly, okay still carried plenty of warmth. When I look back, what stands out most are the wholesome, silly moments: hosting our first friends’ dinner, and Joy and Dyson splashing around in a tiny kiddie pool like it was the best day on earth.
As the years pass, remembering a specific point in time gets harder. That’s why I’ve learned to **keep a few key moments—little anchors—**that can bring you back instantly. Photos help. Objects help. And for me, art helps most.
A Visual Time Capsule: Our Growing A to Z Art Collection
I’m a visual person, so this growing collection of A to Z illustrations has become my way of holding onto the moments that matter. It’s also a gift I love giving Angel—something meaningful, personal, and tied to the life we’re building together.
This year’s piece symbolizes:
The hope I have for our growth in Montour Falls
The love of our puppy babies (Joy and Dyson)
Building our next chapter with the Goldenrod Inn
And yes—there’s an Easter egg in the illustration: can you spot the goldenrod in the artwork?
Why This Matters to Me
It’s easy to let time blur. But I don’t want these years to disappear into a vague “back then.” I want to remember the tiny, ridiculous details—the laughter, the chaos, the small wins, the ordinary days that turn out to be the important ones.
This artwork is one of the ways I’m choosing to remember.
What I’m Looking Forward To
Montour Falls continues to feel like possibility. The Goldenrod Inn feels like a dream that’s turning into something real—step by step. If 2025 was “okay,” my hope is that the next chapter is steadier, brighter, and built with intention.
If you’re building something too—whether it’s a home, a family, a business, or just a better year—I’m rooting for you. 👨🏻❤️👨🏽🏳️🌈🐶
We’ve been sitting on this longer than we meant to. Today, in the quiet just after lunch, we finally pressed publish. Our first illustrated family portrait.
It’s tender in a way photographs sometimes miss—lines that feel like a steady hand, colors that hold warmth without shouting. Two of us, close the way we are in real life, and a certain dog who insists on being part of every frame. There’s a playful wink tucked inside, a nod to the worlds we grew up loving, the kind that still make us light up.
Our favorite Pokémon of Glaceon, Snorlax, Mewtwo, Chandelure, Galarian Articuno and of course Bulbasaur. We always thought Dyson had the energy of a Bulbasaur so he looks right at home.
Finally posting our first illustrated family portrait: all the best Zach & Angel
With years of experience working with illustrators at all levels, I wasn’t approaching this with uncertainty—I was curious. Could Fiverr provide a partner who’s not only affordable, but also a great match for my zamartz brand aesthetic and workflow? I decided to run a simple test: commission the same brief across four artists at different price points and see which one hit the mark.
Deliverables: One full-color illustration per artist, including sketches and feedback.
Formats Required: Procreate sketches, original Adobe Illustrator (.AI) files, and final .PNG images (1500w x 1000h pixels).
Delivery Method: Google Drive
Concept: Visual metaphor—multiple water slides converging into a single pool labeled “mSEO,” representing multi-channel SEO efforts.
Selecting the Artists:
I must have browsed over a hundred Fiverr profiles before narrowing it down to just four illustrators. My goal wasn’t just to find “good” artists—it was to discover ones whose portfolio styles could potentially align with the clean, modern, and strategic visual tone of my company.
To narrow it down, I looked for:
Previous illustration work that felt adaptable to branding, tech, or editorial themes
Average Rating and Number of Ratings, to ensure consistent delivery
Member Since date and Last Delivery, to gauge experience and recent activity
Average Response Time, which is crucial for collaboration
Fiverr also uses a seller level system, and some creators carry a Fiverr Pro badge—indicating they’ve been vetted by Fiverr’s internal team. While I didn’t exclusively choose Pro creators, I used these indicators to balance budget and reliability.
The final four represented a range of pricing tiers and artistic styles, from entry-level freelancers to established professionals. This allowed me to evaluate not just the final product—but the creative process, responsiveness, and brand alignment at each level.
The Illustrative Journey:
Each artist provided uniquely styled illustrations that showcased varying degrees of interpretation, execution, and brand alignment:
Level 1 delivered a clear and simple illustration suitable for a basic visual.
Level 2 provided more thoughtful detail and visual engagement.
Level 3 offered an artistically creative interpretation that captured more nuance and imagination.
Level 4, Agus Barriola, produced a highly detailed and professional illustration perfectly aligned with my creative vision and brand aesthetic, clearly surpassing expectations.
Agus Barriola’s work not only captured my vision but elevated it, confirming that the right artistic partnership can significantly enhance brand communication and visual storytelling.
LEVEL 1LEEVEL 2LEVEL 4
Insights and Takeaways:
Testing multiple illustrators was invaluable in clearly identifying who best matched my brand’s visual language.
Higher-priced artists offered superior communication, deeper understanding of brand nuances, and elevated creative results.
Investing in a premium artist like Agus Barriola ultimately proved worthwhile, providing visuals that truly resonated with my creative and brand vision.
This experiment reinforced the importance of exploring artistic options, clarifying brand aesthetics, and recognizing that great illustration is about more than just visuals—it’s about finding an artist who truly speaks your brand’s language.
Featured Illustrator:
Check out Agus Barriola’s Fiverr Profile—an exceptional talent delivering an Illustration that matched existing design direction and added their own creative flare.
Want to test Fiverr or Higher an Illustrator
Whether you’re building a brand, publishing content, or just need standout visuals, finding the right illustrator can make all the difference. I tested multiple artists on Fiverr at different price points—and learned a lot along the way. If you’re considering doing the same, here are a few quick answers to help you get started.
Q: What’s the best way to test illustrators from Fiverr?
A: Provide a clear brief and commission the same project across several artists at different price points. Compare based on alignment with your brand, communication, and creativity.
Q: Does price on Fiverr correlate to quality?
n my experiment, higher-priced artists tended to deliver more refined, brand-aligned results—but testing proved essential to finding the right fit.
Q: Who was the best illustrator in this test?
A: Agus Barriola stood out at the $150 price point, delivering a polished, highly brand-consistent final product.
Title: An Inspiring Journey Through Music, Art, and Design with Es Devlin
In this captivating image shared by @zaipier, we catch a glimpse of the mesmerizing work of Es Devlin, a visionary in the realms of music, art, and design. The intricate details and vibrant colors draw us into a world where creativity knows no bounds.
As we explore an atlas of Es Devlin’s creations, we are transported into a symphony of sounds, colors, and emotions. Each piece tells a unique story, inviting us to immerse ourselves in the fusion of music, art, and design.
Join us on a journey through this creative masterpiece, where #music, #art, and #design converge to create an unforgettable experience. Let Es Devlin’s work inspire and ignite your imagination, as we celebrate the endless possibilities of creativity.
Step into a world where the boundaries between disciplines blur and innovation reigns supreme. Stay tuned for more updates on Es Devlin’s upcoming projects, set to redefine the intersection of art and technology on April 4, 2024, at 00:21:58 UTC.
Experience the magic of Es Devlin’s creations and witness the transformative power of art in shaping our world. Discover more about this visionary artist and get ready to be enchanted by a new chapter in the evolution of music, art, and design.
️ I’ve tried to captured the essence of a milkweed plant basking in the morning light. The delicate strokes and intricate details, brought to life with Procreate, ink, and watercolor, showcase the artist’s impeccable talent.
This peaceful sight serves as a reminder of the beauty that surrounds us, even in the simplest things. The vibrant hues of green and the fluttering petals of the milkweed add a touch of elegance to this artwork. It’s a testament to the artist’s ability to encapsulate the intricate patterns found in nature.
The milkweed, known for its enchanting fragrance and significance in ecology, takes center stage as the subject of this artistic creation. Its flawless portrayal reminds us to appreciate the splendor of the natural world around us and to find inspiration in even the smallest of things.
As we gaze upon this artwork, we are transported to a moment of tranquility and introspection. It serves as a gentle reminder to pause, to admire, and to connect with the wonders of nature. These fleeting moments, carefully captured by the artist, invite us to slow down and appreciate the present.
Join us in marveling at the beauty portrayed in this striking artwork. It prompts us to embrace the creative process and encourages us to seek inspiration from the world around us. Let this poignant depiction of milkweed serve as a reminder of the profound connection we share with nature and the endless possibilities that lie within artistic expression.
Compromise has a negative connotation, but finding middle ground helped to revive one of my passions: painting. I graduated from college with an art degree, but I have not made any art in awhile. I have been thinking about painting lately, but there are many reasons as to why I have put it off. It is a hassle to set up an easel, get paints out, and find the space to create. So, I got an iPad and all those problems were solved.
My iPad acts as a digital canvas, there are very few limitations, and most importantly, no mess. I used my new found medium to combine what I know with what I love, and created a portrait of my dog, Dyson. My artwork allowed me to show off his best attributes: a fluffy coat and happy face.
I do not know if this will be a sustainable medium for me. I have to relearn a new surface, a new set of tools, and a new way of working. I am hoping one of the millions of ProCreate YouTube videos will help me spread up this process, but only time will tell.
Some things never get old, even as you grow up. Getting excited about Christmas gifts is one of those things. I have always been an artist. When I received an iPad this year, it allowed me to find that part of myself again.
The first thing I did was download Procreate. Just like a kid who has been given a new toy, I did not really read any instructions, I went straight to trying things out for myself. I played with textures, movement, and colors which led to freeform creating. The final product was a doodled winter scene brought to life with nature in navy blue, and a peach colored background with pops of mint green. It was the perfect representation of all the creativity that was happening on that cold, winter day.
Everyone has those looooooooong standing meetings at work. When I need to focus on them and not have my brain melt, i do some doodles. They don’t always turn out to be outstanding nor do the often turn out to be actual objects, but they keep my brain from over heating.
I have been using my Strathmore sketch pad and blue sharpies at my desk-side right now. I really like the combination of the sharpie color richness and the way the Strathmore paper absorbs the ink. Regardless, I’ve been starting at some fall flowers that have been rotating out on my kitchen counter and that has driven several pages of the doodles.
I hope you liked some of the examples i showcased above. This offers a window into my multi-tasking brain and what turns out. If you have any other ideas on what you do when you are in long meetings let me know! I might give them a try.
Learning to draw on iPad feels like borrowing a little quiet from the day. The tools are digital, but the habit is old: sit down, look closely, try a line, try again.
The image shows a person curled into a couch with an iPad, focused on an open canvas—small, intent, private. It has that soft, end-of-afternoon mood where nothing needs to happen except the next stroke. You can almost hear the room settling.
With the iPad, practice becomes gentler. Mistakes don’t leave a smudge on the page; they disappear with a tap. That can make you brave. You test shapes, adjust the brush, nudge the line until it begins to match what you meant. And slowly, the screen stops feeling like a device and starts feeling like a sketchbook you can carry anywhere.
If you’re learning, keep the sessions short and honest. Draw what’s near you. Repeat the same subject on different days. Notice how your hand changes when you’re tired, or when you’re calm. The point isn’t to make a perfect drawing—it’s to return, and let your eyes get better at seeing.
Over time, the iPad doesn’t replace the feeling of drawing. It simply gives you another doorway into it.
Weekend Art Culture is the small miracle where the city loosens its grip for an hour and lets you breathe differently. You step off the sidewalk and into a room that feels tuned—quieter, brighter, like the air has been edited.
In front of Roy Lichtenstein bedroom pop art, I watched a bedroom turn into a kind of diagram: crisp outlines, punchy color, dots that pretend to be texture but also refuse it. A lamp becomes a statement. A bed becomes a rectangle of intention. Even the shadows look like they agreed to behave.
The funny thing is how familiar it all is. You recognize the furniture the way you recognize a dream after waking—almost yours, but not quite. The tidy scene feels domestic and distant at the same time, like home remembered through a window.
Museums always return you to yourself in little ways. The soft scuff of shoes on wood floors. The pause of a stranger who stops beside you, both of you measuring the same image, both of you briefly quiet. And then you leave, back into the city’s noise, carrying a cleaner line of thought—something bright and flat that makes the real world look newly textured.
Finally, a trip to a neighborhood showroom Sri, with the intent to purchase some Japanese Textiles that were both Indigo Dyed and Boro.
“Boro” means “tattered” in Japanese and describes textiles that have been clearly used, broken/damaged, and stitched back together with contracting fabrics.
I was fortunate enough to purchase two pieces from Sri, each hand loomed and indigo dyed and created in the early 20th century. The longer, Boro piece would have been used for bedding and has a chrysanthemum print. The square piece would have been used for bundling and has the Oda melon flower at the corner. It was created using the technique called katazome (stencil paste dye).
