The Yip & Howl

Studio notes, stories, and things that refuse to stay quiet

Volume 1 • Issue 2

A Flamingo Walks Into the Newsletter

July 31, 2026

Stay flockxy!

Sometimes I squirrel them on my workshop bench because I see something in them that I want to carve out.

The Lead Howl

And the world keeps turning…yet it’s crazy when sometimes it feels like we’re suspended in time. It’s well past April and my month long 5 year anniversary celebration is over. I hosted my very first giveaway, not only carved a 5 year anniversary skull but basically jump-started a process which has been both consistent and slow into something of a feverish process. I have been absolutely busy from sun up to sun down almost every single day. I love it though! It’s due to that lack of slowdown that I’m releasing an official art drop, one that you may have noticed if you made your way here by email. I’m hoping I don’t lose that spark because I an thoroughly enjoying it. I sat down in the shop and carved for five hours straight and the only thing that got me off the chair was my stomach rumbling. Granted those pops and aches from being hunched over and carving at a table were a good reminder I should stretch every now and then!

You may also notice that there is a unique drop attached to the Yip and Howl. No, this is not someone else’s art and no, it won’t regularly be featured in announcements after this. Yes, this is my art and this is my brand that I made. It was inspired by my affection for the ocean, my affection for flamingos (they are still not my favorite animal but they ARE fabulous and unique), and especially by my son. Beach Bumingo was created when I went down a rabbit hole to find beach bum apparel for my son who absolutely loves the beach, the ocean, and especially the sand. What could be more perfect for a beach-loving kid than a beach bum shirt? Sure, I could get one custom made but I was disappointed that nothing was readily available that was playful, fun, and screamed beach bum. So, I started playing with the idea of drawing something instead. A flamingo tanning on the beach. Shades because he’s a cool flamingo. Legs crossed, chillin’, because bro is on a beach just enjoying the vibes doing the most important thing you can do on a beach: chillaxing (oh yes, I said it). Beach BumINGO came shortly afterwards because it was a really fun thing to say. It still is even after I’ve said it several times. So, I didn’t just stop there. My mom loves the beach, people are sassy and love the beach, and there really isn’t enough beach bumingo-type stuff in this world so I went on to put it on different apparel pieces, a frigging beach towel (flock off, I’m tanning!), and more. The word play is hilarious, the brand is more than just a brand because being a beach bum is an absolute vibe. My son loves his shirt, my mom loves her shirt, and eventually I’ll treat myself but I do want to share this with the world. There are a ton of beach bumingos out there, they just haven’t found the brand that matches their beach bum vibe (I got you covered right here). I want this to grow and go. I have big plans long term but I am happy to start little. Maybe my art isn’t for everyone but I know a ton of people sporting that beach bumingo attitude who could use the apparel flare to go with it 🦩😎. Beach Bumingo will move away to it’s own site (I own the domain name already). It does already have various social media pages, places to purchase Beach Bumingo merch and more, and its very own coconut cup available. It will always be mine though and I don’t mind occasionally mentioning it in passing here and there through Painted Coyote Creations (but you won’t see dedicated announcements). Expect future coconut cups to accompany amazing Beach Bumingo drops and stay flockxy.

Letters from the Pack

This is the part where I get to brag on you all a little. The giveaway — the hand-carved miniature dragon and the 5 year anniversary hat — just wrapped up (a bit ago), and honestly the entries alone made the whole thing worth doing. I wasn’t expecting the kind of response I got for a first-ever giveaway, and it reminded me exactly why I keep doing this. The winner has already received their dragon, and it turns out they absolutely love it! For everyone who entered, shared, or just hyped it up — thank you. That dragon took a good chunk of hours at the bench, and knowing it’s about to mean something to someone makes every one of those hours worth it.

If this is your first time hearing about the giveaway, don’t worry — it won’t be the last one. Keep an eye on future Howls

How would you feel if you were on the receiving end?

Studio Notes

The shop’s been louder than usual these past few months — in the best way. Between the anniversary skull, the art drop, and squeezing in jewelry pieces between bigger carves, there hasn’t been a quiet bench in weeks. Coffee’s getting refilled more often than the sawdust is getting swept, which feels like the right trade.

Classifieds

Commissions are open! Email me at colette@paintedcoyotecreations if you’d like a handmade piece tailored to your idea.

Workshop Conditions

Dust Level: Too High
Coffee Supply: High
Carving Progress: 90%
Wondrous Walking Sticks (sidequest): 1 of 22

It's a blood-boiling situation and what sucks is when you notice only when it's too late.

Tracks in the Sand

A few progress updates, because there’s a lot moving right now:

I bought 22 walking sticks of various types of wood that I’m intent on carving, staining, etc. They were bought on a whim and I am looking forward to seeing what I can do with them! I’ve already got one that’s almost finished. I think we’ll be on a countdown of this sidequest for a while.

Between the tree falling on my house, unforeseen issues, and mathing 24/7, I’ve determined I may be picking up a couple more jobs on top of being an artist, full time employee, and a mom to make ends meet and pay off bills. The house needs fixing and we can’t touch that until after we pay off what we’ve already fixed (like the roof…twice). I am optimistic and won’t sacrifice my peace of mind, so don’t worry — I’ll still be carving, spending time with my mom and my son, and enjoying one of the best jobs I’ve had the privilege of getting hired for ever. That said, if you’d like to support Painted Coyote Creations (and keep me from having to pick up extra jobs a little bit longer), you could always “buy me a coffee” instead of buying art. My bigger goal is selling art rather than picking up another job if possible and only you, the reader, can make that happen!

In addition to the skulls, teeth, coconut shell, horn, wood, etc, you’ll be seeing bamboo art as well. The house we bought has a wall of bamboo…which is invasive, and I see a use for it while keeping it contained in one location. Plus…it’s really cool, to be honest, and sounds gnarly in the wind!

I am working on merch. Nothing limited edition again, yet, but I do have 2D art I would love to turn into prints and other pieces that I’d enjoy sharing with the world.

There's a human behind the screen who isn't just a bot or followed for follows sake.

From the workbench

You would think that I would talk about the elephant in the room – my 5 year anniversary skull. No, this time I wanted to cover an assortment of art pieces. I love miniature things. Teeny tiny high detail animals, buttons, clock gears, etc. I also love the variety of amazing natural materials there are for creating jewelry. I love what I could do to them rather than just putting them on a cord. So, I end up collecting this pieces to be used at later dates… Sometimes, I squirrel them on my workshop bench because I see something in them that I want to carve out. In the spirit of making functional art pieces though…what better way to keep them functional than to put them on a necklace, bracelet, or earrings? So….I end up with many pieces of jewelry for folks. I love making it because it’s a nice way to wind down or stay out of the cold or heat. I also enjoy stringing colors and shapes together and being able to make handmade pieces that folks can enjoy at a more affordable cost.

Things That Refuse to Stay Quiet

I have never hunted or trapped. I have shot ground squirrels on properties where there are horses, I have put animals out of their misery so they aren’t in further pain. What sucks is when I see folks who do not teach their children, or even themselves, to treat living creatures with the same respect you’d treat another human with. It’s a blood-boiling situation and what sucks is when you notice only when it’s too late. These kids caught a starfish at a beach we were at, the enormous collection of people there took a family photo with the kids, and then everyone left. By the time I found the starfish after they had left it had been tossed into the shallows and absolutely mangled to no end. Teaching kids to not waste a life for their own entertainment rather than necessity should be imperative. We may step on ants by accident or unintentionally run over an animal that darts in the road but if we have a chance to show them that if you do not utilize the animal parts and that animal isn’t causing problems that could hurt an animal of your own then it is not worth wasting its life for your enjoyment. Oftentimes I ask my own son: How would you feel if you were on the receiving end?

Good Howls

The coolest thing I love to see is when folks don’t just follow or subscribe, they interact. Not because I love the interaction itself (though I absolutely love your praises), but because it tells me there’s a human behind the screen who isn’t just a bot or followed for follows sake.
There are times when I create nonchalantly, for fun but not with drive. Lately, I’ve been carving, drawing, and creating with fervor! I finish one piece and bounce to another piece and absolutely enjoying it!

Spotted in the Wild

It’s pretty awesome when a customer turns into a friend and I’d wager that’s even better than when a friend converts into a customer. This is a Yip and Howl shoutout to Cherylen, who has been supporting Painted Coyote Creations consistently ever since we first crossed paths. As you can see by the images, she owns a good chunk of my hand carved pieces as well as having commissioned a coconut cup and purchasing another one. She also owns two 5 year anniversary apparel pieces which are no longer available as well! Thank you always for supporting me and my adventures in art and thank you for having come into my life, Cherylen!

Pinned

Bison Tooth Necklace

$26.00
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Pinned to the Corkboard

I will be selling my art at the two day event in September, the harvest festival at Allaire State Park (one of my favorite places) on September 19th-20th, 2026. Expect some awesome autumn and Halloween-themed art!
Are you a flamingo? Maybe a beach bum too? Want to get some sun on your wings and express your vibes at the same time? Check out my new Beach Bumingo merch which combines the best of both worlds!
Did you know that those foam flip-flops you buy at the store often end up in the ocean? Did you also know that there is an amazing company based out of Africa who cleans up their beaches, salvage these foam flip-flops, and converts them into amazing art pieces? Check out OceanSole! I’ve admired their work for years. They turn these flip flops into beautiful works of art featuring animals of various sizes to functional pieces that can hold your phone and they’re cleaning up the beaches and ocean as they do it!

FOLLOW THE COYOTE

Meet the Author

“Honestly, for any one person there’s too much to say that a tiny biography can cover. I’m an artist, a parent, a child, a hiker, a gamer, so much. I love nature in all of it’s unrelenting beauty, and I absolutely love being able to throw myself into the fray when it comes to running my business. I don’t let the phrase ‘I don’t know’ rule my life. In fact, it’s a challenge that I make sure I face head on and therefore I’ve become a jack of all trades who isn’t prepared to stop learning.”