How Tempest Almost Broke Me (But Didn’t)

Happy New Year!

A year ago, I released Tempest. It became my most-viewed painting ever, reaching over 100 million views on social media.

But behind the scenes, things weren’t as smooth as they might have seemed.

Releasing Tempest came with unexpected challenges. It was created during a pivotal moment in my life—after something traumatic that sparked one of the most transformative seasons I’ve ever experienced.

At first, I was proud of the work, but soon after, fear crept in.

I felt overwhelmed, anxious, and even had this deep fear of being "found out"—like I wasn’t as close to God as I should have been to create something so meaningful to people.

It was an intense season of doubt, second-guessing, and learning to trust in the process.

The journey was tough, but it’s made me stronger. And a big part of what kept me going was this community—your support, your messages, and knowing that the work was resonating with people who needed it.

I want to deliver work you’re proud to display in your home, continue building this space, and maybe even meet more of you face-to-face in 2025

Tempest is still one of the pieces I get asked about the most.

While I’ll never reprint the original drop sizing, I’ve been thinking about adding a new size option for those weren’t in this newletter before its release.

Would you collect Tempest in a new size?

See you next Friday,
Sam