A lesson I've learned over the years: sometimes the best opportunities come from simply asking. Did anyone ever tell you: you don’t get what you don’t ask for? Well I truly believe that.

If you've been anywhere lately, you've probably noticed that Mahjong has become incredibly popular. Last year, I started getting the same question over and over from my followers: "Would you ever design a Mahjong set?" 

So back in October, I decided to shoot my shot and reached out to Bespoke Mahjong to ask if they had ever worked with artists and whether they'd be open to a collaboration. I loved that they were doing things differently and creating fun, super creative collections that felt very outside the box. I thought they’d be the perfect partner. 

We set up a phone call and a few emails later I found myself designing Mahjong tiles and mats. Moments like this remind me why I love being a creative. People often think of artists solely as painters, illustrators, or even muralists. But some of the most exciting projects happen when you take your artwork and find new ways for it to live in the world.

Recently, my mother-in-law asked me whether I consider myself more of an artist or an entrepreneur. The question really made me think, and the truth is, I don't know that I can separate the two anymore.Creating the artwork is what I love, but building partnerships, exploring licensing opportunities, and finding new ways to bring that artwork to life is what allows me to make a career out of it.

Watching this collection launch, sell out, and seeing photos of people actually playing with the set that I designed has been one of the most rewarding parts of the entire experience. The positive feedback that I’ve received has been incredible, especially when people tell me how happy it makes them. That’s why I love to make happy art, to make others smile.

There's something so awesome about seeing something that started as a sketch on my iPad or as a design on an artboard in Illustrator become a product that brings people such joy.

We're already working on what's next, including new mats for the holidays, a new tile sku, and maybe even a launch party for our next drop.

I am grateful for the opportunity, the partnership, and everyone who has supported the collection so far. Also super excited to see our first royalty report!!! If you’re interested, check out the collection below!