There are moments in life when something shifts — quietly but unmistakably — and you realize you’ve crossed from thinking about something into becoming it.
Pancakes & Booze was that moment for me.
Walking into the venue, there was an energy that felt different from anything I’ve experienced before. It wasn’t polished or precious — it was raw, expressive, a little chaotic in the best way. Art was everywhere. On walls, on bodies, in conversations. You could feel that every person in the room had something to say, and they were saying it unapologetically.
And for the first time, I wasn’t just observing it.
I was part of it.
The Setup: Nerves + Excitement
Setting up my space felt like a mix of adrenaline and disbelief. My pieces — created in quiet moments, layered with instinct, imperfection, and emotion — were now out in the world. Not on my kitchen table. Not just online.
Out there. For people to react to.
There’s something incredibly vulnerable about that.
You wonder:
- Will anyone stop?
- Will they get it?
- Will they feel anything at all?
- Will they think I’m an amateur?
And then… they look and point and talk to their friend about the work.
The First Sale: A Moment I Won’t Forget
There is nothing quite like the first time a stranger chooses your work.
Not just compliments it — chooses it. Invests in it. Wants to live with it.
That moment hit me in a way I wasn’t fully prepared for.
It wasn’t just “I sold something.”
It was: something I created connected with someone else enough that they wanted it in their life and they weren’t buying it as a favor to me or because that’s what friends and family do for you when you’re trying something new.
That’s a completely different feeling.
And then it happened again.
And again!
Originals and Prints: A Turning Point
One of the biggest surprises — and honestly, one of the most validating parts of the night — was seeing interest across both original pieces and prints.
The originals carry so much of my energy — the texture, the imperfections, the physicality of the materials. But the prints? They’re access. They’re a way for more people to take a piece of that feeling home.
Watching people make those choices — deciding what spoke to them, what fit their space, what they connected with — was fascinating and energizing.
It made everything feel… real.
Not hypothetical. Not “someday.”
Now.
Feeling Like a Real Artist
Somewhere in the middle of the night, between conversations, laughter, music, and yes — pancakes — it hit me:
I’m not trying to be an artist.
I am one!
That identity shift is subtle but powerful. It’s not about validation from others (although that helps). It’s about allowing yourself to fully step into something you’ve been building, often quietly, for a long time. This night gave me that permission.
The Energy of the Room
What made Pancakes & Booze special wasn’t just the sales or the exposure — it was the community.
Artists supporting artists.
Strangers becoming collectors.
People asking questions, sharing interpretations, connecting dots you didn’t even realize you’d created.
It reminded me why I love art in the first place:
It creates connection without needing to explain everything.
What This Means for Moxy Studios
This event felt like a launchpad.
For Moxy Studios, it reinforced something I’ve believed from the beginning:
Art doesn’t have to be perfect to be powerful. In fact, the imperfections are often the point.
It also opened my eyes to what’s next:
- Expanding print offerings so more people can engage with the work
- Creating pieces specifically with in-person experiences in mind
- Continuing to lean into that balance of rebellion and sophistication
And most importantly — continuing to put the work out there.
Final Thought
If you’ve ever created something and kept it to yourself, waiting until it’s “ready”…
This is your sign.
Put it out there.
You never know who’s waiting to see it — or how it might change you when they do.
Thank you to everyone who stopped by, connected, and supported Moxy Studios. This is just the beginning...
— Anna
Moxy Studios