As I bid a fond farewell to the Year of the Snake and its many lessons, I welcome the Fire Horse year—and a new decade of life—with openness, courage, and renewed purpose.

The Snake’s presence in the Chinese zodiac is a potent reminder of transformation, wisdom, and adaptability—qualities that resonate deeply with many of us as we navigate our personal lives and creative endeavors. It’s not just a year for change; it’s a time for metamorphosis, for evolving into something truer, wiser, and more aligned with our purpose. I find myself resonating more and more with these themes as the months unfold, and I can see how the Year of the Snake is not just about shedding old habits, but also embracing the new and the unknown.

The Year of the Snake: Shedding my Scrappy Self Blog post by Elise Wagner, encaustic painter, printmaker, educator. Photo: Elise Wagner at work in her studio at Pier 11 in Astoria, OR.

Cheers to a wonderful 2024 and exciting adventures ahead in 2025! Read my latest blog and get caught up on all the news and studio developments. Artist, Elise Wagner

Embracing uncertainty has been a constant theme throughout my journey as an artist and as a human being. As this challenging year winds down, I find myself reflecting on the state of the world and the weight it carries. Hurricanes, political upheaval, climate disasters, dear ones passing—each event seems to amplify the fragility of the systems we live in and emphasize the fragility of life itself. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed, even defeated. Yet, I promised myself that I would write something positive today, because