Finding a Sense of Wonder in Your Art
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: I’ve been hosting Slow Drawing Parties since the beginning of the pandemic, and so many folks have told me how important the practice is to their lives. But when folks first start, especially if they are new to art, it can be hard...
Join the Simplest Things Challenge!
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: Last year, during all the stress of the pandemic and lockdown, I pondered a simple question: What would happen if I created the simplest thing I could in my journal today? It’s a pretty radical question, isn’t it? How often do...
The Best Gifts for Artists 2021
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: This year, in the spirit of reducing the amount of stuff that might end up in our oceans or landfills, I’m suggesting some less tangible, but highly valuable gifts. Some of them are completely free, and others are an investment....
The Mindful Art Studio Book List 2021
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: Every fall, I compile a list of books that have made an impact on me that year. I include a broad scope of topics because our art practice is made up of bits and pieces from every part of our lives. I think about books as an important...
Is it Art Talent Or Art Work?
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: Over the last two weeks, we engaged in a simple art challenge. The idea was to create for a short period of time, on a small square, every day for 12 days. You were invited to let go of perfectionism and embrace play and...
You Don’t Need an Art Style, You Need an Art Practice
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: One of the most common questions I get from students is this: How do I develop my style as an artist? It’s a logical question, but it’s the wrong question. Trying to develop your artistic “style” is a bit like...
The Inchie Challenge 2021
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: Each summer I host an art challenge that focuses on getting you to meet your top art goals – make more fun, meaningful art. There is so much that can get in the way of your creative life. I want to help you make art making so...
The Simplest Things
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: At the Nature Spells Book Retreat last week, one of the things we discussed was the power of making space for the simplest things. We think our ideas need to be grand, or complicated, in order to be good enough. But it’s not true. I...
Do Less, Make More.
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: One of the things that has fascinated me most about art over the last few years is how powerful it is when we create space. I find the less I do, the more I make. For me, and my students, it’s about creating space: Physical space in...
How to Sew Your Own Journal
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: I have been making my own journals for some time – some sewn simply, some rolled or loose, and some folded accordion style. I love the playfulness of these techniques. But I have longed to sew a more traditional book – a...
To Get Creative, Get Curious
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: What is sparking your creativity these days? For me, it’s been the tiny, itty bitty interior spaces of natural objects. I’m fascinated by the abstract shapes made by the gills of a fungus, or the holes and crevices in a piece...
5 Minute Art Journaling Prompts
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: Finding the time to do the things we love can be hard – especially when so many things compete for our attention, and especially during a pandemic. I’ve been hearing from students for years about how hard it is to find the...
Journaling Prompts for Coping with Quarantine
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: One of the things I’ve thought a lot about since the start of the pandemic is how we not only cope, but thrive amidst difficulty. Some folks are in survival mode because of their family, job issues, mental health issues, or other...
How Art And Nature Are Helping Me Through The Pandemic
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: Greetings to you in 2021! In the fall each year, I take time to reflect on the year just past. Overall, Iv’e been very lucky, and despite all the difficulties, I feel very grateful for what 2020 taught me, especially from many great...
The Best Gifts for Artists 2020
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: Each year I compile a short list of gifts that I think would be wonderfully nurturing for the artists in your life. It’s a list that I hope you as an artist share with your loved ones to give them ideas, and also as a way to spur...
The Mindful Art Studio Book List 2020
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: Each fall I compile a list of books that have inspired me throughout the year. I love sharing the books that have inspired my work and enriched my life. While I’m usually share books mostly about art and artists, I’ve realized...
How I Grieved My Brother’s Death Through Art
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: Over the weekend, I was listening to an On Being episode with artist Dario Robleto. His work centers on using unexpected materials to remember: the earliest recorded pulse waves cast in gold, his parents’ record collections ground...
Playing With Inchie Art
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: I had to keep quiet about my BIG ART approach for a long time while I was building my class – it’s so fun to share with you now about it. I wanted to get playful, I made a little video for you that shows my process: For this...
Making Small Art Work
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: When I line up a bunch of little papers, and make playful swoops, marks, and swaths of color, it feels playful and free. When I’m staring at a big, blank piece of paper or a canvas, it can sometimes create pressure. – you...
Mindful Art Parties
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: Since we went into quarantine, each week I’ve been holding a live, free Mindful Art Party. It’s a time you dedicate to yourself, to connect and create with artists from all over the world. Despite social distancing, we can...
Drawing to Calm Anxiety
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: Whether you are quarantined at home, or an essential worker going out into the world to make sure the rest of us get our needs met, most of us are feeling anxious, out of sorts, and generally unsure of what to do with ourselves, at least...
Art Can Help Us Through Times of Loneliness
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: Like many of you, I’m feeling some anxiety in this time of uncertainty. When I lay down to go to sleep at night, there are a host of thoughts and anxious questions that start reeling through my mind. These questions need to get set...
Why I’m Obsessed with High Flow Acrylic Paint
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: Students frequently ask me about high flow paints, and why I like them so much. I thought it was an excellent question and wanted to share why I’m obsessed with high flow acrylic paints with you as well. Let me first say a word or...
Layered Art Journal Pages
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: I thought it would be fun to give you an idea about how to work in a “process oriented” way in your art journal. It’s time we kicked perfectionism to the curb! Let’s focus on finding the joy in making art again....
Art Alchemy Is Open for Registration
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: At the end of 2019, I thought about what I wanted to offer in 2020. I thought about what you needed most in your art practice. I thought about what I needed too. And as I reflected on your feedback in classes, the blog, social media, and...
Drawing Beautiful & Imperfect Faces
If only you give your portraits a chance to exist – imperfectly, beautifully, just like us – they will take you magical places.
Best Gifts for Artists 2019
Each year I compile a list of my favorite art related supplies for the year. This year I’ve included supplies to help you make art on the go, empower your artistic voice, decorate your home with original art, and finally take that class with me that you’ve been dreaming about. These are the best gifts for artists in 2019.
Finding Your Creative Spark
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: Today I have the pleasure of sharing a lovely podcast interview I did with Suzanne Redmond, of The Left Brain Artist. You may be familiar with this podcast already, as Suzanne has a thoughtful, easy-going style and has interviewed some of...