Painting of a dog with a pink flower and green leaves behind it, with a green background.

Welcome to Step Into Life Studio

Learn to love the questions themself and live your way into the answer.

Close-up of a painted still life featuring a partially visible slice of cake, a pink flower in a green vase, and some fruits in the background.

Artist Statement

Love sits at the center of everything I paint—love for our dogs, our humans, and the moments that leave their mark on us. Living among the Adirondack Mountains with my two goofy dogs, Zelda and Moku, I find inspiration everywhere, from their vibrant way of being to experiencing the world as a painting made up of shapes, colors, values, and tones. The way I see the world guides my work, shaping both my art and the way I step into life.

ABOUT THE ARTIST
A white wide-brimmed hat with a colorful painted band depicting a mountain landscape and trees, resting on snow-covered branches outdoors in a winter setting with snow-covered trees in the background.

Step Into Life Studio, originally Zelda Moku Creative, was born from the various loves we experience in our lifetime. After stepping away from art for years, I found myself returning to two unfinished portraits of my soul dog Maggi. It wasn't until  my two goofy dogs Zelda and Moku — full of color, life, light, and energy came into my life — that I was pulled back to painting again. The way I watched them move through the world already felt like art, and I wanted to capture them in ways I wished I had done for Maggi. That desire brought me back to my paints, and ultimately, back to myself as an artist.

My art now spans both traditional and unconventional surfaces — from canvas paintings to hand-painted hats or other products. I started painting on hats because hats, like memories, are deeply personal. They’re collected, worn, and treasured. I worked in a local hat shop as a teen, and I fell in love with the way a hat could carry identity and sentiment. A custom painting on a hat becomes more than just a hat — it becomes a treasured keepsake.

While dogs - especially mine - were the catalyst for returning to my artistic soul — “when wagging tails and artistic souls collide”— my work continues to evolve. I am open to taking on all kinds of meaningful commissions: family portraits, pet portraits, landscapes tied to memory, moments that deserve to be held onto.

Although my art has shifted beyond just trying to capture my two dogs - they are such a prominent part of my life and my art still. They are a part of everything I create. I love more than anything how they are by my side while I’m in my studio creating, even when i’m putting in a long day into the late hours of the night, they will stay up with me in my studio as I paint, as if they are equally invested in what I am creating, and that will always feel special to me!

Art, to me, has always been about emotion, growth, and connection — it’s all about learning to love the questions themselves and living your way into the answers.

About

Step Into the Studio

Winter Glow - Wide Brim Hat Winter Glow - Wide Brim Hat
Back Country Mountain Slope Winter Glow - Winter Hat
Quick View
Mystic Deer - Winter Hat
Wolf Winter Glow - Winter Hat
Lake Placid Ski Jumps Ornament
Winter Owl - Corduroy Hat
Winter Glow - Corduroy Hat
Winter Glow Canvas Ornament
Mountain Glow - Winter Hat
Winter Moon Glow Canvas Ornament
Polertec Fleece Neck Warmer - Winter Glow Oil on Canvas @2025 Polertec Fleece Neck Warmer - Winter Glow Oil on Canvas @2025
Snow Kissed Mane - Corduroy Hat
Winter Glow Painting - Oil on Canvas 2025 Winter Glow Painting - Oil on Canvas 2025


Custom Commissions

Commission Painting on Canvas Commission Painting on Canvas
Quick View
Commission Painting on Canvas
Custom Painting on a Hat
Custom Painting on a Hat
Custom Painting on a Bag
Custom Painting on a Bag

Commissioning a painting is a beautiful way to honor a memory, a loved one, or a moment that deserves to live on. I work closely with you to create a one-of-a-kind piece that brings that memory to life through texture, color, and feeling. Whether you already have a favorite photo or we need to take one together, I’ll help guide you through selecting the perfect reference image. We'll also discuss the style, size, and any specific elements you'd like to include, so the final piece feels truly personal and meaningful. Canvas sizes and pricing vary, depending on scale and complexity. Once we settle on the details, I’ll provide an estimated quote and timeline. Most projects can take anywhere from 3–8 weeks to several months, depending on size and my current commission schedule. Whether it’s a portrait of your dog, a family moment, or a place that holds deep meaning, my goal is to create a piece that helps you feel that memory every time you see it. To start your custom canvas, reach out through the contact form or email me directly — I’d love to hear your story.

My Approach to Commissions

An impressionistic painting of a winter winter landscape at sunset, with snow-covered trees and a path leading into the distance, illuminated by a warm orange and yellow sky.

Finished Commissions Gallery

A red baseball cap with a patch of a black dog standing on a landscape with green hills, blue sky, and colorful vegetation, placed on snow and surrounded by snow-covered pine branches.
Canvas tote bag with a painted image of a retriever dog in front of a lake and mountain scenery, placed outdoors on snow with a Christmas tree in the background.
A beige bucket hat with an embroidered patch of two dogs sitting on a dock by a lake, with trees in the background.
A beige bucket hat with an embroidered patch of a person rowing a boat on a lake or river, with greenery and water in the background.
A teal corduroy hat with a colorful embroidered patch featuring a mountain landscape, a cloud, and a bird, surrounded by blooming purple, white, and pink flowers.
Green corduroy bucket hat with embroidered patch of a dog, set on a rock with a mountain and cloudy sky in the background.
Gray baseball cap with embroidered dog scene in a park with autumn foliage.
Painted image of a person riding a brown horse on a racetrack, wearing a helmet, sunglasses, a green shirt, and blue jeans, with trees and a blue sky in the background.
A beige bucket hat with an embroidered patch of a person wearing sunglasses, holding a paddle, and surrounded by water, set against a backdrop of pink flowers and green foliage.
A khaki bucket hat with a colorful embroidered patch of people at the beach on the front, hanging on a wooden post near the water during sunset.
Gray corduroy cap with an embroidered patch of a black dog standing in a grassy field.
A brown corduroy cap with a rectangular embroidered patch of a black and white dog sitting on a log outdoors, with trees and sky in the background.
A brown corduroy cap with a colorful embroidered patch of a dog in a forest, resting on snow-covered ground.
A painting of a dog on a beach at sunset, with colorful sky and ocean sunset reflected on the water.
A cap with an embroidered patch of a dog and scenic background, held by a person's hand on a wooden deck with a forest in the background.

A Peak Into the Studio

Step into my studio and see my works in progress as they take shape and evolve.

Painting of a brown dog with a pink nose and a black collar, looking straight ahead against a background with green, gray, and blue tones.
A colorful painting of three young children sitting outdoors. The child on the left is looking down and holding a small object. The child in the middle is smiling and holding a phone to their ear. The child on the right is looking down at their hands
A painting depicts a young boy walking on snow in a mountainous landscape with snow-capped peaks in the background, accompanied by a brown and white dog walking alongside him.
A painting of a dog with a garden of colorful flowers around it, featuring green background and various pink, red, and yellow flowers.
Two paintings of dogs in progress displayed on an easel and a wall, with painting supplies and a second artwork in the foreground.
An unfinished oil painting of four children sitting together, with warm tones of orange and brown.
A colorful painting of a child in winter clothing walking with a dog on a snow-covered path with mountains in the background.
A painting of a child in a yellow and blue raincoat walking on a snowy or icy path, with a large brown and white dog standing nearby, and a forest of evergreen trees in the background.
A painting of a brown and tan dog with a pink nose and droopy ears on an easel.
A painting of a dog with a flower in its mouth, surrounded by various pink and red flowers and green foliage.
An unfinished painting on an easel depicts a child in an orange and yellow snowsuit and a dog walking in a mountainous landscape with a cloudy sky. The room has a window with floral curtains, a framed photo on the windowsill, and a palette with mixed
View of an art studio with two small landscape paintings on easels, paintbrushes, and a palette on a wooden table, with a window in the background showing sunny weather and a house's siding.
A person with long, curly hair wearing a gray sweatshirt and jeans painting on an easel, with a table of brushes and a colorful painting in the foreground.
A painting of a dog, specifically a brown dog with a white spot on its nose, on a wooden easel in a room with a window and a white wall.
A partially completed portrait painting of a dog on a canvas. The dog has a tan and white coat with large ears and is standing on a colorful background. The right side of the canvas shows the sketch outline of a person.
Unfinished painting of a dog's face on an easel in a room, with a window and curtains to the left.
Woman wearing a wide-brimmed tan hat hugging a brown and white puppy.

Contact Me

I can’t wait to hear from and start painting for you!

Illustration of two dogs sitting in front of colorful mountain scenery with trees, under the text 'Step Into Life Studio' and a paintbrush with a smiley face.