Spring green

It's so exciting to see the world come back to life! The forests are turning green and the birds are back to building nests and raising families. I've been seeing so many cardinals paired off in treetops and baby  bunnies finally ready to explore the world. Typically my breaks during the day consist of walking around my neighborhood or running errands in town or mushroom hunting with a few friends, but mostly it's been work work work for me these past few weeks. If you've been so kind as to place an order in my shop recently, thank you! I am hoping to finish everything in time for Mother's Day gift-giving. Plus, I'm attending a SCBWI conference this weekend which requires quite a bit of preparatory work- things like character studies and portfolio reviews. Yikes! So much to do.

I may have to neglect all social media and blogging until after these projects are finished. But I do hope to have a little more time after the holiday and conference. Wish me luck as I'll be attending my first conference alone and hoping my solitary status pushes me out of my typical reservations and helps me to meet new friends! Why is it always more intimidating to do things alone?

Anyways, I hope to have lots to share upon my return, but for now, I hope you're having a great Spring!

a feature and a film

Last night I slept peacefully beneath the sound of a million tiny raindrops. Is there anything more soothing? If rain is truly an indication of May flowers then I think we're set for Spring. Those pretty daffodils were here long before Seth and I moved in and are so resilient! And the magnolia trees are in full bloom with a sea of white confetti littering the ground beneath them. I really feel I must paint them at some point.

Today I'm so excited to share a feature of my artwork on 6th Street Design School! I painted a house portrait for Kirsten and she has very sweetly written up a little blog post about my work. And for something extra special I created this little film because I cannot stop taking video of all the birds and blooms around here. After all, I am one half my mother. ;) Enjoy!

Let's talk about something fun today.  Let's ignore the cold and snow and biting wind and dream about riding our bikes through the park with flowers blowing out of our baskets.  Let's talk about plum colored pants and little furry dogs.  And please, let's not mention the color gray.  Just for today!

I'd like to teach you how to do something I just started doing a few weeks ago.  Let's go back to the basics and start our days right, with clarity, Scripture reading, journaling, and painting our dreams.

Here's what you'll need (let's keep this simple):
a compact watercolor set
a cheap sketchbook
a pencil
a glass of water
a paper napkin
a small collection of visual references

What inspires you?  What colors and patterns make you swoon?  If you had the day all to yourself, what would you do with it?  What sort of things would you want to see?

Now, open the curtains and let in the morning light.  Start the tea kettle.  Turn on the music.  Ignore the clock, your phone, the computer.

Let's begin.  Lay out the fun visual references you've been collecting.  How happy are you right now?  What about those references make you happiest?  Now pick up your brush, wet the palette, and begin.  Who cares what happens after that?  This is just for you, for fun, for practice, for presence and joy.

Finished?  How does it look?  Does something bother you, please you, make you smile?  Remember those things.  Now, close the sketchbook and open your heart to what God has in store for you today.

Repeat each morning.  :)

*If you're on Instagram, tag your paintings with my custom label #morningpaintsketch and see the artists who have already joined the fun!

Spring Robin

Spring Robin
5x7 in Watercolor on paper, mounted

Click to purchase

Spring weather has brought the robins to our home in Minier.  To celebrate and to wish you a happy monday, I've brought my very own bright-breasted robin to life on paper.

Spring is coming...

I can't seem to get it off of my mind! 

Can you remember the last time you...

felt warm in the rain?

opened the curtains in your bedroom and found that the sunshine had replaced the snow?

smelled the richness of the grass?

actually heard a bird sing?

These are things I love most about Spring.  And soon...I will get to enjoy them!