That time I pinched my teacher

Plus Frida Kahlo and trusting your artistic instincts

[Update: Some of you asked what happened after I pinched my teacher, so I added a PS at the end of the post.]

Sorry for the very blurry photo, but it’s all I have on my camera roll and it’s summer and who knows when I’ll be in the office again!

The characters are on their way to an Ariel-themed birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese’s.

That’s a bit of a sappy ending, and there’s always more to say. I want to add is that our point of view evolves and changes as we do, that we have to adjust our own focus/lens so we can see clearly, and that we have to work on our craft to clearly communicate our vision to others.

But the main point here is to trust your own point of view and artistic instincts, especially when they go against the grain. Show us a new way to see and be.

xo,

Kelcey

p.s. an update on 5/21/25 because some of you asked about that pinch!
Some of you asked what happened after I pinched my kindergarten teacher, so I texted my mom. She dug up my old report card (my mom keeps EVERYTHING) and she sent a photo of the part where the teacher described me: “At times too serious about her work. Always strives for perfection. Nothing but the best will do.” Who, me??? Mom also said that ultimately the pinch wasn’t that big of deal but that “it did have to be addressed.”

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Related posts: I also wrote about the power of origin stories and about teaching Twyla Tharp’s Creative Habit and facing our creative fears.

Unrelated post: The WNBA season started this weekend, and last year I wrote about Caitlin Clark and expectations on women athletes and artists how we should be own our WHY.

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Thanks for reading The Habit of Art by Kelcey Ervick, a Substack Featured Publication (twice!). I love writing and drawing these posts and am grateful to everyone who follows along.

If you like this newsletter, you might like my graphic memoir, The Keeper, where I also reference Chuck E. Cheese. It was featured in the New York Times Book Review’s Holiday Gift Guide and happens to be 50% off at the place that rhymes with baby lamb-a-zon.

Here’s the full wrap cover with blurbs from Alison Bechdel (who calls it “a triumph”?!, Mari Andrew (who doesn’t even like sports), and Briana Scurry (the best keeper ever):