The Easter Lily Cactus Fairy

Months ago when I started my Substack (originally posted to Substack) I’d definitely meant to keep going…but life and health got in the way. I’m finally 90% sure I’m on the upswing of my gut troubles and have so many more plant monsters/plant monster fairies to share with you!

When I first started down this niche of plant monsters I was delighted and these days it is a comfort to have something that is very much mine. Not that any other art I’ve created hasn’t been mine, just feels nice to have something that feels much more truly original to me and my brain.

The Easter Lily Cactus, from my previous quick research and memory, is a night blooming flowering cactus. I think I remember having trouble finding an option I liked for this one but I was in love as soon as I finished the sketch back in February. I finalized the art in March and loved it even more.

The line shading and coloring style that I’d fallen into with the Shooting Star Plant Monster Fairy carried over into this one, and I refined it a bit more. There is something so satisfying about making the shading colorful and dynamic.

I never intend to set out to finish something a certain way, it just happens. And I love that I’m able to embrace that chaos and take actual comfort in it. I think I’m a chaos being, at heart, even though I also love organization and planning. I’m sure there is a version of the “there are two wolves inside” that involves the two sides I have: the chaos cat and the organized bee. IDK I totally made that second one up. All I know is that I have a need for chaos and an equal need for order. They often conflict with one another. But in art I’ve found ways to get them to work together…mostly.

Still working on getting them in talks for writing projects…

I’m cautiously optimistic though.

I’ve been busy making new friends lately. Not doing so much art, or writing, this instance aside. Unless you count messages/texts. Then I’ve been writing a LOT lol. This space of finding other people who share my weird and bring their own awesome weird along has been wonderfully boosting in a lot of my life. I feel alive again. I know those of you who know me are like wait, you’ve been alive…and, sure I’ve definitely been around and stuff but I’ve been feeling really lackluster this last year. Partly that is the health troubles fault and surprisingly it has also been an under stimulation problem, too. Which is news to my introvert. Balancing the sides of my neuro spice is fun sometimes.

Good news is that I’m entering this more social phase of my life with much more flexible, and understood boundaries. And I’m finding some lovely friends who are really helping fuel my creativity.

Anyways, I’m not holding my breath, and I’m hopeful that I’m back on a semi regular basis. Which is TBD.

Hope y’all are out there taking the best care of yourselves and your people you can.

Much 💜

-Rachel