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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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.
Get Inspired with Paper Cutting Artist Carol Held
Get inspired to do paper cutting when you see the work of paper cut artist, Carol Held.
5 Ways to Fill Your Sketchbook
Use these 5 simple methods to fill your sketchbook, gather your ideas, and improve your drawing skills.
Making Art with Simple Materials
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: When was the last time you felt completely engrossed in your creative process? Lately I’ve been incredibly engrossed in my art, making art with simple materials. I’d like to help you imagine the same for yourself. In your...
Art Journaling When You Feel Sad
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: One of the questions I get asked most is how to art journal when you feel sad. My art journal has been a great source of comfort and self-understanding for years. I’m blessed to be able to share my techniques here. I’m hoping...
My Brooklyn Sketchbook Project Journal
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: I’ve been interested in cutouts and layering in my art journals for quite a while. It started with my class, Fluid Art, where I create tunnel journals. Soon I started using my cutouts as collage, as I teach in my new class...
Let’s Make Some Inchies!
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: Join the Inchie Challenge! You’ll get my free Inchie Workbook, and from August 20 – 31st I’ll be sending prompts and inviting you to create small art. For this challenge, we will be creating art that...
Fluid Art Journaling Pages
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: This week I had the pleasure of spending some time with you on Facebook Live to create some fluid art journal pages. I wanted to show you how I used mark making and layered paint to create intuitive images on this fluid art...
Intuitive Art Journaling
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: Intuitive art journaling is one of my favorite ways to work through feelings, let go of stress, and play with art. It’s a journey that started for me in graduate school, as I learned to use my journal not just to write, but...
Trusting the Process: Notes from an Intuitive Art Journaling Class
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: I’ve been having the most wonderful spring, spending time with my students in the Diving Deep intuitive art journaling class. As often happens, I’m learning almost just as much as the students as I teach. I’m so excited...
Let’s Make Perfectly Imperfect Art
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: In my Diving Deep class, we focus on learning to dance between intuition and technical skill. The skill we have been focusing on this week, blind and semi-blind contour drawing, is one that can really call up the inner critic....
Blending Art & Writing In Your Intuitive Art Journal
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: I’ve been thinking about how to give you some of the goodies that I’ve been developing for my Diving Deep: Intuitive Art Journaling class, and I’ve got a sweet idea. The PDF that I’m developing for the class is...
What Your Art and Your Coffee Have in Common
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: I’ve been thinking a lot about what empowers us to create. It’s slightly different for each of us, but one thing that artists of all kinds consistently talk about is trusting the process. What exactly does that mean? When you...
Intuitive Painting Techniques
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: The last days of the year are a time for most of us to take a deep breath and sink deeply into the couch after the holiday craziness. It’s also a great time to do some introspective art. Rather than endlessly scrolling...
Finding Meaning in My Art
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: These are the tools of my self-healing: A board. A painty towel. Varied colors of paint. Water. This is how I am finding meaning in my art: I wet the surface with a wide brush and let my emotions flow with the water. I’m not pushing...
Diving Deep in Your Art Journaling Practice
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: One of the most beautiful gifts in my art journaling practice is the ability to transform my feelings on the page, especially by working in stages and layers. Working over time and in layers creates a conversation between me and the art...
Studio Time: Tinkering and Gathering Inspiration
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: The last six months have been such an amazing time for me artistically. In the inevitable ebb and flow that any artist goes through, I’ve been enjoying a flow like I’ve never experienced before. I thought you might...
Adventures in Paper and Fluid Paint: An Accordion Journal Flip Through
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: What’s happening in your creative world this summer? I find it’s important to find a technique that lights your fire and makes you want to return to your art table every chance you get. Do you know what I’m...
How to Make a Little Art Everyday
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: I’d like to share a personal story about why I make a little art everyday. My parents both grew up poor. Their families were raised in the depression and so they learned to be resourceful and practical. They both scraped together...
The Inchie Challenge
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: By now you are probably aware that I am in love with small format art, and perhaps I’ve even managed to give you the bug too. Perhaps, you’ve signed up for my new class, Fluid Art, which teaches how to use high flow...
The Simple Art Technique I Just Can’t Stop Doing
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: If you’ve been hanging around in the Mindful Art Studio community for any period of time, you know about my passion for dots. I’ve enjoyed doing simple patterns for some time, but since discovering high flow liquid acrylic...Creating a Fluid Art Practice
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: One of the things that scares artists of all levels of experience is creative block. It’s something we talk about all the time in our Facebook group, Creative Self-Care, but something that even professional artists confront....
Your Job as an Artist is to Show Up
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: We have been talking this year about creative goals, and at different intervals, I’ve been checking in with you about mine. I’m happy to report that I’ve been pretty faithful to my goals, and I want to share how....