Fine Line Flower Tutorial
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: Over the last six years, presenting roughly 40 different patterns and botanical drawings each year has taught me a lot about how to draw from nature. What initially sparked my interest most about nature’s patterns is the way that...
Developing Your Artistic Voice
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: This quarter in The Gathering, we are focused on developing your voice as an artist. So many of my students tell me that they love the slow drawing and botanicals we create, but they struggle to make their own patterns and drawings. They...
Poppies Art Journal Page
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: How long did that take you? It’s one of the questions I get most often as an artist, but in a way, I think it’s the wrong question. While students are often genuinely curious about the time the work takes, I think...
Working Through Artistic Resistance
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: I know you might not share my opinion, but I love winter. I think it’s an incredibly beautiful time. When we are lucky enough to have snow, everything is coated in a white peacefulness, a stillness. And when you bend down and look...
Lamy Safari Vs. Lumos Pro
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: Because I host a live slow drawing and slow painting workshop every week, one of the questions students ask most frequently is – What pen are you using? While the pen doesn’t make me draw better or worse, when you draw a lot...
My #1 Trick to Overcome Creative Block
Dear Wonderful, Creative You, For me, one of the biggest secrets to overcome creative block is repetition. This might seem counter-intuitive, because I think a lot of people assume repetition feels boring. But I don’t find repetition boring in art, on the...
Self-Doubt and Taking Up Space As An Artist
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: I have a fabulous treat for you today. I’ve been chatting with artist Helen Wells (author of Expressive Sketchbooks) for some time, looking for an opportunity to collaborate because her art and sensibilities speak to my heart. We...
The Joy of Simple Art
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: I’m talking about the joy of simple art because we have a free challenge coming up, but also because it’s one of the principles that has set me free as an artist. Having permission to do the simplest thing is about having...Swap Screen Time For Art Time
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: I know that you struggle to make time for art. You think about it frequently, and yet it’s hard to make it happen. There are a lot of things that get in the way. There’s work, chores, errands, and people to take care of. Hundreds of...Why Make Art at a Time Like This?
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: I’ve seen and heard a lot of artists questioning lately – Why make art at a time like this? They wonder whether it makes sense to make and share art when there is so much uncertainty and strife in the world. I question this...
Creativity Counts: Working Small And Often
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: Most of us think of the word “artist,” and imagine an apron-clad person, a smear of paint on their face, standing in front of a 3 foot x 4 foot canvas filled with gorgeous, realistic imagery. We imagine their perfect painting...
Guided Watercolor Meditation for Beginners
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: I’m excited to offer you this guided watercolor meditation for beginners. I think you are going to love it, and I can’t wait to see what you create! Meditating Through Art Have you ever slowed down enough while you are...
Make An Art Studio In Your House
One of the most important ways to make sure you make more art is to create an art studio space at home. I’ve got my 5 top tips for you today in this video.
7 TRICKS TO MAKE TIME FOR ART
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: One of the things I’m most passionate about as an artist and teacher is showing people that they do have time to create. Today I’ve got 7 tricks to make time for art in this short 3-minute video: What do you think? Which trick...
Easy Flower Drawing
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: Let’s dig right into this fun and easy flower drawing on a full-spread art journal page! I think you’ll be amazed at what you can do when you relax, take your time, and enjoy these simple steps. Wasn’t that fun? If you...
Art Books That Will Inspire Your Work
These are a few of the art books that will inspire you work and help you to live more creatively.
How to Make a Tracing Paper Envelope
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: I’ve got a wonderful video tutorial for you today. It’s one of my favorite techniques for making an art journal page interactive – a tracing paper envelope. I love the delicate, almost vulnerable feeling of tracing paper...
How to Fold a One Page Booklet
In this quick video, I’ll show you how to fold an easy one page booklet for drawing and journaling. All you need is a sheet of printer paper, scissors, and a pen or brush and ink.
Botanical Watercolor for Beginners
Watch this step by step botanical watercolor for beginners tutorial. You’ll make a beautiful leaf pattern in your sketchbook. So easy and fun!
15 Drawing Ideas You Can Do in 5 Minutes
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: I’m excited to share 15 small drawing ideas you can do in 5 minutes to fill your journals with joy. I thought it would be fun to share a few of my favorites to see if they spark something for you. If you work small, you can do a...
Fuel Your Creativity With Small Art
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: The Inchie Challenge has past, buuuuut, I still want to help you play with tiny 2 x 2 squares – that I loosely call “inchies.” It’s totally free and so much fun. You can sign up for my free weekly slow drawing...
What is An Artist Residency?
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: I’m just back from a week in Summerville, South Carolina for my artist residency, and I’m excited to share about it with you, in the hopes that you’ll create some dedicated art time for youself. What is An Artist...
Basic Watercolor Supplies + Skills
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: I get a lot of questions about watercolor painting and supplies, so today I’m setting out to make a comprehensive guide to help you on your watercolor journey. Watercolor can be a very technical, precise art form, but lately I love...
Jump-Start Your Creativity in 2024
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: This year is going to be SO full of creative goodness in this community, and you are invited to join in. The Simplest Things Challenge is a free 5-day challenge where you create something simple each day in your art journal. Sign up for...
Best Gifts for Artists 2023
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: I love creating a yearly list of gifts for artists. I love getting gifts, don’t you? But as time goes by, I feel more and more strongly that it’s important to have a few high quality supplies that we use well, rather than tons...
Mindful Art Studio Best Books 2023
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: Each year I compile a list of books that have been important to me and my creative life during the year. I hope you find a few that speak to you, and that you comment at the bottom to add your favorites to the list. This is a favorite...
5 Beginner Watercolor Techniques
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: Over the last year I’ve been playing with 5 beginner watercolor techniques that are relatively simple, and yet they give me room for so much play and discovery. Watercolor is so much about freedom and play for me – and I love...
Mark Making With Natural Materials
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: Making marks with natural brushes is one of the most fun and inventive ways to create. I’m excited to share some of what I’ve made and how it has supercharged my art practice. It’s been such an adventure to see how...