Home | lettersaligned

top of page

What I Do

Projects

Gallery

Store

In this week’s parasha Esau sells his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of lentil strew. I used to always read this story as one of Jacob unfairly besting his brother at a moment particular weakness, but this year I saw something else. After Esau eats the stew, he just simply leaves. He doesn’t seem to regret this sale or ask to buy his birthright back. He lets a moment of intense hunger and instant gratification separate him from his inheritance. On the other hand, Jacob wants to take on this inheritor role. He knows the value of this birthright and goes after preserving it in himself.

What does it mean to seek out our inheritance? I’m not talking about riches and wealth. I am talking about our cultural, familial, and spiritual inheritance - our responsibility for keeping our family going. What does it mean today for the Jewish people to not spurn but step towards our traditions, history, and future ?

In this week’s parasha Esau sells his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of lentil strew. I used to always read this story as one of Jacob unfairly besting his brother at a moment particular weakness, but this year I saw something else. After Esau eats the stew, he just simply leaves. He doesn’t seem to regret this sale or ask to buy his birthright back. He lets a moment of intense hunger and instant gratification separate him from his inheritance. On the other hand, Jacob wants to take on this inheritor role. He knows the value of this birthright and goes after preserving it in himself.

What does it mean to seek out our inheritance? I’m not talking about riches and wealth. I am talking about our cultural, familial, and spiritual inheritance - our responsibility for keeping our family going. What does it mean today for the Jewish people to not spurn but step towards our traditions, history, and future ?

in honor of the tfilah quiz i’m giving next week …

#jewish #lettering #hebrew

in honor of the tfilah quiz i’m giving next week …

#jewish #lettering #hebrew

it’s true!! 🌱

it’s true!! 🌱

I used to get coffee ☕️ from this truck before taking the ferry to work 🚚

#sketch #illustration #penandink

I used to get coffee ☕️ from this truck before taking the ferry to work 🚚

#sketch #illustration #penandink

some flowuhs for your thursday

#penandink #illustration

some flowuhs for your thursday

#penandink #illustration

my grandmother made these. she took up calligraphy in her 50s after moving across the country with my pop. gram is the epitome of reincarnation - she has lived many many lives and learned new skills along the way to keep herself creative.

today she turns 98!! happy happy birthday, gram (who is definitely not on the internet in anyway, shape or form)

my grandmother made these. she took up calligraphy in her 50s after moving across the country with my pop. gram is the epitome of reincarnation - she has lived many many lives and learned new skills along the way to keep herself creative.

today she turns 98!! happy happy birthday, gram (who is definitely not on the internet in anyway, shape or form)

in honor of the first sub freezing morning, snow in the mountains on my drive home, and my first day wearing my winter coat to work, here are some snowy cabins

#penandink #sketchbook

in honor of the first sub freezing morning, snow in the mountains on my drive home, and my first day wearing my winter coat to work, here are some snowy cabins

#penandink #sketchbook

there is something so interesting about drawing flowers in a vase. the vase or vessel has received these flowers as its ultimate blessing - fulfilling its purpose even if for a short while. then, the flowers die and the vase is empty again. it must wait for the next blessing it can hold.

#penandink #sketch #flowerart

there is something so interesting about drawing flowers in a vase. the vase or vessel has received these flowers as its ultimate blessing - fulfilling its purpose even if for a short while. then, the flowers die and the vase is empty again. it must wait for the next blessing it can hold.

#penandink #sketch #flowerart

🌙 ✨

🌙 ✨

I spent the last few days in Estes Park at the @ymcarockies - the outdoor education staff were amazing and showed up this river spot. This little shack and the remains of the stone pillar are the remnants of the original entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. So cool! So stunningly beautiful. @rockynps

I spent the last few days in Estes Park at the @ymcarockies - the outdoor education staff were amazing and showed up this river spot. This little shack and the remains of the stone pillar are the remnants of the original entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. So cool! So stunningly beautiful. @rockynps

in honor of the first frost on our side of town

#penandink #winteriscoming

in honor of the first frost on our side of town

#penandink #winteriscoming

this shabbat we read the first words of the torah. and we hear the first words from The Creator, “יהי אור - Let there be light.”

light. hope. blessings. energy. clarity. contrast. something to look for on the horizon.

#penandink #judaica

this shabbat we read the first words of the torah. and we hear the first words from The Creator, “יהי אור - Let there be light.”

light. hope. blessings. energy. clarity. contrast. something to look for on the horizon.

#penandink #judaica

mentally, I’m here.

#penandink #houseportrait

mentally, I’m here.

#penandink #houseportrait

hello! my name is meg and I draw with pen 🖊️

besides taking a semester of art in high school and learning a few things about calligraphy from my grandmother i’m completely self taught. I love drawing from life and almost never use pencil first. for me, it’s more interesting to see what happens when precision isn’t the goal. movement. character. imperfection. seeing aliveness, even in seemingly inanimate objects. these are my goals.

I love drawing the structures we live in 🏡as you will see from this portfolio. I also love creating judaica ✡️, lettering, and floral 🌻 art.

in an age of AI and deeply impersonal, quick and easy art (if you can call it that), I attempt to create art that is as human as I am - material, messy, practiced, experimental, and full of stories.

as a general rule I do accept custom comissions, but not for all subject matters. please reach out if you have an idea 💡.

thanks for reading and visiting my corner of the world wide web.

cheers!
meg

📸 @juliabatavia

hello! my name is meg and I draw with pen 🖊️

besides taking a semester of art in high school and learning a few things about calligraphy from my grandmother i’m completely self taught. I love drawing from life and almost never use pencil first. for me, it’s more interesting to see what happens when precision isn’t the goal. movement. character. imperfection. seeing aliveness, even in seemingly inanimate objects. these are my goals.

I love drawing the structures we live in 🏡as you will see from this portfolio. I also love creating judaica ✡️, lettering, and floral 🌻 art.

in an age of AI and deeply impersonal, quick and easy art (if you can call it that), I attempt to create art that is as human as I am - material, messy, practiced, experimental, and full of stories.

as a general rule I do accept custom comissions, but not for all subject matters. please reach out if you have an idea 💡.

thanks for reading and visiting my corner of the world wide web.

cheers!
meg

📸 @juliabatavia

I made this some years ago and am rediscovering it as Simchat Torah approaches. Cheers to the rebirth of the story - the birth of the universe. #penandink #jewish

I made this some years ago and am rediscovering it as Simchat Torah approaches. Cheers to the rebirth of the story - the birth of the universe. #penandink #jewish

small sunday sketchbook roundup #sketchbook

small sunday sketchbook roundup #sketchbook

shabbat shalom! the flavor of friday. juice. wine. sweetness. life!!

#penandink #jewish

shabbat shalom! the flavor of friday. juice. wine. sweetness. life!!

#penandink #jewish

My first sketch of our home here in Denver. We closed last year, Oct 29. It’s been almost exactly one year and i’m more in love with this space than ever before!

huge thank you to @megpitkinre @tmoney.honey and Bari!

#penandink #sketchbook

My first sketch of our home here in Denver. We closed last year, Oct 29. It’s been almost exactly one year and i’m more in love with this space than ever before!

huge thank you to @megpitkinre @tmoney.honey and Bari!

#penandink #sketchbook

a rainy, cold Sukkot sure helps me appreciate permanent shelter. yes homes can be beautiful and interesting and well styled. but at the end of the day, they are our burrows, nests…🪺

#penandink #houseportrait

a rainy, cold Sukkot sure helps me appreciate permanent shelter. yes homes can be beautiful and interesting and well styled. but at the end of the day, they are our burrows, nests…🪺

#penandink #houseportrait

when I draw homes I try and think about them as living beings - they hold the energy of the people and creatures living inside and in a way can even have their own personalities.

the other day I had our house to myself and I felt like I was having one on one time with our home. I did some chores and it felt like it did when I was little and dressing up my American Girl Doll. A chance to be creative and tender and attentive to something I loved.

#penandink #houseportrait

when I draw homes I try and think about them as living beings - they hold the energy of the people and creatures living inside and in a way can even have their own personalities.

the other day I had our house to myself and I felt like I was having one on one time with our home. I did some chores and it felt like it did when I was little and dressing up my American Girl Doll. A chance to be creative and tender and attentive to something I loved.

#penandink #houseportrait

rest. reflect. pray. eat. snuggle. hike. recharge. appreciate. shabbat shalom 🧡

#jewishlife #penandink

rest. reflect. pray. eat. snuggle. hike. recharge. appreciate. shabbat shalom 🧡

#jewishlife #penandink

my dad always wanted a view. he would have LOVED this home and the strip of the foothills we get to look at as much as we want.

#penandink #sketchbook

my dad always wanted a view. he would have LOVED this home and the strip of the foothills we get to look at as much as we want.

#penandink #sketchbook

Restarting my instagram has invited me to look through my old art. This one, from around 6+ years ago, stands out to me. I remember being so excited to draw this church at the end of our block in Alameda. It still brings me joy to think about the beautiful architecture.

#penandink

Restarting my instagram has invited me to look through my old art. This one, from around 6+ years ago, stands out to me. I remember being so excited to draw this church at the end of our block in Alameda. It still brings me joy to think about the beautiful architecture.

#penandink

there is something mysterious about only seeing a little bit of a house - what is the whole picture? but we can never see the whole house from one point of view anyway so might as well just savor what you can see, and be curious about the rest.

#penandink #sketchbook

there is something mysterious about only seeing a little bit of a house - what is the whole picture? but we can never see the whole house from one point of view anyway so might as well just savor what you can see, and be curious about the rest.

#penandink #sketchbook

when we first saw what is now our home of almost one year, right away, colleen and I both noticed the huge maple tree in the front yard.

it is huge - I would need 3-4 more pieces of paper stacked on top to draw the height to scale. I love that we get to grow as a family next to this beauty, who has been here long before us.

#sharpie #penandink

when we first saw what is now our home of almost one year, right away, colleen and I both noticed the huge maple tree in the front yard.

it is huge - I would need 3-4 more pieces of paper stacked on top to draw the height to scale. I love that we get to grow as a family next to this beauty, who has been here long before us.

#sharpie #penandink

I love drawing homes because they are the vessels that hold and shelter people - families. This was our home when we lived in Alameda. We hosted holidays, cooked delicious meals, and had long late night talks in this home. I labored for 4 days in this home. We brought our baby home to this home.

Last August we moved to Colorado and started putting down new roots and nesting in a new home. But I’ll always be so grateful to this little house on Haight St. for keeping us safe and warm and helping us grow our family.

#penandink #homeportrait

I love drawing homes because they are the vessels that hold and shelter people - families. This was our home when we lived in Alameda. We hosted holidays, cooked delicious meals, and had long late night talks in this home. I labored for 4 days in this home. We brought our baby home to this home.

Last August we moved to Colorado and started putting down new roots and nesting in a new home. But I’ll always be so grateful to this little house on Haight St. for keeping us safe and warm and helping us grow our family.

#penandink #homeportrait

another one just to get this party started ✌️

another one just to get this party started ✌️

flashback friday (is that still a thing?) to one the homes from the lost homes project. learn more at the link in my bio 🏡

flashback friday (is that still a thing?) to one the homes from the lost homes project. learn more at the link in my bio 🏡

I’m baaacckkkkkk. And ready to share my art with more and more people.

A few years ago I went off instagram and facebook for my own mental health. Then, I fully paused my art business after our child was born.

Now, I’m returning with a true hope to share handmade art, restart my business, and maybe even inspire you to pick up a pen every once in a while.

Cheers to art and please don’t hesitate to reach out!

I’m baaacckkkkkk. And ready to share my art with more and more people.

A few years ago I went off instagram and facebook for my own mental health. Then, I fully paused my art business after our child was born.

Now, I’m returning with a true hope to share handmade art, restart my business, and maybe even inspire you to pick up a pen every once in a while.

Cheers to art and please don’t hesitate to reach out!

.pro-gallery-wix-wrapper {display: block !important;} .pro-gallery-wix-wrapper .gallery-item-container {opacity: 1 !important; display: block !important;}

Follow me on Instagram @meg.a.illustration

bottom of page