Paintings created: 68
Paintings that found new homes: 65
Murals scouted and planned out: 1
Murals delayed by administrative setbacks: 1
Murals painted: 0
Festivals participated in: 16
Nights spent in our camper: 55
Parking lots camped in: 6
Foreign countries visited: 5
Pints of syrup made from our maple trees: 18
Baseball teams coached: 1
Songs played on a stage at a Nashville KOA: 1
Solos played by Ivan in Spring concert: 1
Other 6th graders at his school who soloed at the concert: 0
Cats fostered: 4
Cats tearfully brought back to the shelter when we had to hit the road: 4
Lemonade stands setup by kids: 3
Inflation-busting $1 cups of lemonade sold: 22
Customers who generously tipped when paying for lemonade: 22
Drawings sold by Orin to the mayor of Greenville, SC: 1
Grumpy cats encountered at festivals: 1
Outdoor rock climbing experiences procured by proud dad/uncle: 1
Children brought to tears by being up on a rock face: 2
Cliffs jumped off of into Lake Superior: 2
Foam parties attended: 1
Professionals sports games attended: 2

Looking back, 2025 had a lot crammed into its bursting seams. Two trips to Europe: 5 weeks in Spain and Portugal at the beginning of the year and an extended Christmas vacation to Germany, France, and Italy at the end. And in between, we climbed giant boulders in the middle of Atlanta in April, explored the Carolinas while scouting out a mural location in May, headed back out to Colorado for the first time in a long time to revisit our old stomping grounds in July, scaled rock faces in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan with my sister and her family in August with numerous quick weekend excursions sprinkled in. It’s a lot of travel when you look at it all at once.

Jamón (ham) shop | January | Salamanca, Spain

Levada das 25 Fontes hike | February | Madeira, Portugal

Be we also did a lot closer to home. We hosted two separate summer family gatherings, started an art critique, joined the local arts club and became a member of the board, employed our very first part-time employee, basked in the freed-up headspace and time due to said employee, finished renovations in the studio, held two open-to-the-public events in the studio, painted the entire exterior of our house and studio, and started more renovations in the house (when it will end?).

Our business continued its steady growth. Our employee was (and still is) a Godsend. They say they don’t make ‘em like they used to, but we managed to find a smart, attentive, and hard-working young lady that isn’t glued to her phone and prefers to be on her feet and work with her hands. She has enabled us to clock zero nights working past 11pm for the first time since we started the art business 10 years ago. Her presence is invaluable.

The studio open to the public | October | Home, MI

The Jobs of Yesteryear Series has surpassed 400 paintings. It is a vessel of my artistic interests that I couldn’t have dreamed would have this much juice to be squeezed. I have a sneaking suspicion that the fruit may begin to change its flavor, but I am so dang happy with the harvest thus far. The work has been honed and reconfigured over hundred of paintings and thousands of discussions, both internal and with the Boss. It is only through these explorations and time spent at the easel that we have been able to bring this idea to its iteration. I am ever grateful for that time and space.

Typical day at a show | July | Denver, CO

Our kids continue to grow both in their size and intelligence, but also in their complexity. Ivan is whip-smart, enrolling in an advanced literacy program at our local college as a 7th grader. He says he’s shy and won’t readily approach new social situations without his trusty (and mouthy) little bro in the lead. Be he also will go to a week-long sleepaway camp without knowing a single kid beforehand. He will volunteer to play a piano solo during the Spring concert and command the pitching mound with cool confidence. As a middle schooler, he lives for his friends, but Ivan has shown that he’s someone outside of them as well.

Swimming in the Atlantic | February | Madeira, Portugal

Orin is a wild card. Passionate and big feeling, Orin has a new hobby every few days. He is a keen observer and his comedic timing is legendary. He will hold on to a one-linger overheard in passing for a month and pull that sucker out at the exact right moment with a big sly grin. He brings a lot of laughter to our family. But he also keeps us all on edge as he is sensitive and dramatic. He can manipulate his own emotions to steer his own ship. He wanted Ivan to give him an extra dollar back in Monopoly and managed to squeeze one little tear out to aid his plea. It worked as it usually does. He’s also brave, sauntering up to German kids with one or two phrases in his pocket and asking them if they speak English. Orin is only nine but acts like he’s living nine lives at once, all of them interesting.

Orin loves frogs | January | Salamanca, Spain

On top of the world | December | Garmisch, Germany

Orin | First day of school | 8 years old (he’s 9 now)

Maybe he’ll catch for his brother one day.

I have never been a big fan of the Grateful Dead, but their lyric, “what a long, strange trip it’s been” is often where I land when looking back at our adventures in life and art. Life is funny and my challenge is to not take it so seriously all the time. If I can keep my eyes open, my heart receptive, and my pen busy in my sketchbook, it’ll all turn out just fine. Thank you all for coming along with us on this ride.

2025 Year in Review /January 28, 2026 by Tyler Voorhees

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