Studio Notes - Coashella 2026

It’s a beautiful spring Sunday in Austin and I’ve decided to start publishing weekly ‘Studio Notes’. This will serve as a living archive of my journey. Documenting the experiences, lessons and feelings each week as I pursue my dream of being a full-time artist.

Currently, my day-to-day is pretty straight forward. Wake up, cosplay a working woman in corporate America remotely, go to Brazilian jiujitsu practice, paint before bed, and do it all over again the next day. My weekends are spent on the mats, working in my favorite coffee shop called Cosmic, and painting.

However, this last weekend marked a significant milestone. I was gifted the opportunity of displaying and selling my art at an event called ‘Coashella’. A private event, organized to celebrate the birth of a wonderful woman named Shelly.

Coming into this weekend, I felt a mixed bag of emotion. I kept my expectations realistic and treated it like I do my jiujitsu competitions. As an exercise in vulnerability and detachment from outcome. Building evidence against my imposter syndrome and fearful intrusive thoughts.

I’m grateful to have shared the space with musicians, comedians, and beautiful people. I made my first art sale. I immediately wrote down the feelings afterward: “Surreal, happy, in awe, can’t stop smiling”.

I kept reminding myself to be present. To drink in the nectar of the moment, savor it. I’m not sure how much we “earn” in this life. It feels more like a game. The way I’ve been choosing to play lands me in backyards in Round Rock, Texas, putting my soul on display. I hold no preconceived assumptions of other’s interpterion and that makes the experience even more rich.

When I see faces light up, brows furrow, or words come out of their mouth like “I don’t know why, but this one speaks to me”. I feel immense gratitude that the divine inspiration flowing through me could unlock some divine memory in them.

Because we all have these bits and pieces and stories within us, waiting to be called upon.

As I drove southbound on the 35 heading towards home, I played songs I could confidently sing along to. My throat felt so open and my voice sounded different. More confident, louder, and sharper notes. I found a new piece of me too. She is beautiful, sensual, loud, and an artist.

With gratitude,

Sierra Koch

5-24-26