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...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...
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!
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...
How To Art Journal Every Day
This video will show you fun and easy ways to create tiny pieces of art and then combine them in beautiful little art journals. You don’t need any experience, this is for everyone!
The Three P’s Of Making More Art
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: Folks often ask me how I find time to make art. It is hard to make time to make art sometimes. It’s my job to make art, and even I struggle sometimes when I’m really busy with the business side of things. But there are a few...
The Power of Starting Simple
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: What is the simplest thing I could do artistically right now? I’ve found this is such a powerful question for my art practice. I don’t ask: What masterpiece could I make? We need to build our skills over time. You’re not...
Join The Inchie Challenge 2022!
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: This is one of my favorite times of year – The Inchie Challenge! Watch this video to learn why + how we do The Inchie Challenge. Join the Inchie Challenge Here: ‘ (You could win a free copy of my book Draw Yourself Calm!) I...
Making Art Work In The Time You Have
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: Last week I had the great pleasure of returning to Maine to camp for the week with my family. It’s always a time of incredible views, hikes, bikes, and far too many sticky buns and ice cream cones. It’s also a time that I...
Clear The Clutter and Make More Art
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: For some of us, it can be hard to make time and space for art making. It’s easier to buy art supplies than to create with them. It’s easier to put the things that need to be dealt with in your art space, than to deal with...
Our Longing For Retreat
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: It’s been two years since I’ve been able to return to one of my most beloved places on earth – to Squam Lake for an art retreat. When I arrived, the lake was a sight for sore eyes, and I felt myself sink into its...
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 Best Gifts for Artists 2022
Dear Wonderful, Creative You: While I tend towards minimalism, I enjoy a new art supply from time to time as much as the next person. But for me this is the key: I buy just a few, high quality supplies so that they work well and keep me having fun. Here are a few of...
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...
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...
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. I’ve been hearing from students for years about how hard it is to find the time to create, and once they do, how...
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...
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...