Author Archives: Maria - FlowingWatersArt

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About Maria - FlowingWatersArt

I'm a self-taught mixed media artist and have been creating art and a positive atmosphere in my life for as long as I can remember. I live in sunny South Florida, which serves as my inspiration for my use of bright fun colors with a whimsical flair. My goal is to inspire and empower you to find your inner happiness through creativity, as I have in my life. This website includes different tips and techniques that will hopefully inspire your inner muse to create. Welcome and join me on a wonderful journey in creating art!

Stampington Art Journaling Magazine

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The big day is here! I just received my newest issue of Stampington’s Art Journaling Magazine in the mail and my article along with my Angel Journal are featured on pages 118-122🎉 Angel Valentina, shown above is one of the angels in the article.

Many of you followed me on this incredible artistic journey as I created these angels and filled my journal. It was a wonderful experience and I’m so grateful that my art was chosen for publication and that you were with me on this journey.

Thank you to all of my readers for your love and support. It means the world to me💖💖

This issue is scheduled to hit the newsstands on April 1st so make sure to pick up your copy so you can read the article✨

Have a beautiful weekend!!

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“Angels live among us. Sometimes they hide their wings, but there is no disguising the peace and hope they bring.” ~Unknown

Thoughtful Thursday The Joys of Spring

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Photo by Alesia Kozik on Pexels.com

The first day of Spring in the Northern Hemisphere is coming this Monday, March 20, 2023 and it will run until June 21, 2023. You may have already noticed the warmer temps moving in, birds nesting and beautiful flowers beginning to bloom. Also, on this first day of Spring the hours of daylight and night are almost equal. It always takes some adjusting to the new longer days ahead.

On my lovely morning walks I’ve seen many squirrels busy building their nests. You can tell the difference between a bird and squirrel nest from the ground because birds primarily build their nests with twigs. Whereas squirrels use fresh branches with the leaves attached. You may also notice a lot of small pieces of fresh branches with leaves on the ground.

This was a photo I took with my phone of a squirrel nest. They’re easily seen once the leaves dry and turn brown. Squirrels can have anywhere from 2-4 babies usually between the months of February to May. They have a hefty appetite and will eat their own body weight every week which is about 1.5 pounds. I love watching them in the mornings with their high energy, it motivates me on my walks 😊

Have you checked your yard for signs of any new babies that may be coming soon?

Hope you enjoyed today’s post. Thanks for stopping by!!

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Watercolor Abstract

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I thought with Spring upon us very soon I’d share with you, this watercolor abstract I made a while ago. I used my Cricut machine to cut out the letters for the word Imagine and I framed it in a 12 inch square frame. This painting hangs in my studio because it was one of the first things I painted when I came back to my art after a somewhat long hiatus😊

I love that the flowers are loosely painted and you have to use your imagination to see them. It was also a fun way to experiment with the paints and let the colors mingle.

Our imagination is so important in our everyday lives. We use it for everything our minds dreams of and we create from that. So have some fun today and use your imagination✨

I hope you’re week if off to a great start! Thanks for stopping by!!!

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“Imagination will often carry us to worlds that never were. But without it we go nowhere.” ~Carl Sagan

Art Journal Dreams Workshop with Laly Mille

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This past week I joined Laly Mille a very talented artist from France for a free online workshop. It was absolutely wonderful as we created this journal spread together. I find Laly’s art mesmerizing with the lovely colors and dreamy romantic layers that pull you into each painting.

This butterfly spread took several layers but it was worth the wait. Originally I wanted the angels to be fully visible but then I thought angels are rarely seen but you know that they’re there. So I covered them a little, making them much softer and I liked how they turned out. I love pretty much the entire spread but my favorite part I think is the twinkling fairy lights, they look magical ✨ What’s your favorite part?

I highly recommend you hop over to Laly Mille’s site and revel in the beauty of her art at LalyMille.com. She also offers online courses which are available on her site.

Hope this inspires you to create some art!

Thanks for stopping by!!!

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“I dream of the painting and then I paint my dream.” ~Vincent Van Gogh

Thoughtful Thursday Benefits of Lavender

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Photo by David Bartus on Pexels.com

Lavender is one of my most favorite herbal plants. There are several varieties, each with a slightly different scent that produce beautiful lilac colored flowers. It has a delightful scent making it the most popular form of essential oil and it has a lot of medicinal benefits too.

Lavender came from the Latin word lavare which means to wash; and yes you guessed it, lavender was widely used in ancient Rome, Greece and Persia for bathing because of it’s disinfectant and antiseptic properties. It was also believed to purify the body and mind.

Dating back to ancient times, lavender has been used to combat a variety of ailments including:

  • boosting moods
  • headaches
  • acne
  • hair loss
  • insomnia
  • anxiety
  • stress reliever
  • eczema
  • dry skin
  • insect bites
  • wound healing
  • helps prevent digestive issues
  • reduces inflammation

You can use lavender in the form of tea, extract, essential oil or the plant itself. For example, chamomile lavender tea is a quick fix for a sleepless night. You can also put a few drops of essential lavender oil on a tissue and slip it inside of your pillow case to help you drift off into a somber sleep.

Lavender is an all around wonderful herb. I hope you’ll give it try. Just remember herbs can be more potent than we give them credit for so use them in moderation. When in doubt, check with your healthcare provider to make sure it’s a good fit for you.

Thanks for stopping by!!!

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“Laughter, joy and kindness are the herbs to gladden the heart and delight the soul.” ~Unknown

Simplest Things Journal

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I’m really enjoying filling the pages of my Simplest Things Journal which I started as part of Amy Maricle’s Simplest Things Challenge at Mindful Art Studios.

I made the 3 inch square flower painting last week and wanted to find it a home. I was drawing a blank on what to do next in the journal and then I read a comment on Instagram by an admirer about the flower and butterfly:

“The little butterfly with the trail just makes it, I love how the daisy is reaching out for it.”

So I thought lots of swirly, crisscrossing butterfly trails would make the perfect background, and there simple too which fits with the theme of this journal. It was pure luck that the trail of the butterfly on the painting lined up with the trail in the background. I mean honestly, what are the odds? 😂

But it’s a happy colorful creation. What do you think?

Hope this inspires you to create some art!

Thanks for stopping by!!!

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“Color is the place where our brain and the universe meet.” ~Paul Klee

Simplest Things Journal

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I added another painting to my Simplest Things Journal. I’m really loving the slow drawing process. It quiets the mind and soothes the soul 😊 This was a design I made in a smaller version and thought it would make an interesting big design. But instead of painting another circle, I wanted to try a freeform design.

What I love most about this design is how the lines overlap in some areas making thicker lines that look like folds and creases. What do you think?

Hope this inspires you to create this weekend!

Thanks for stopping by!!!

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“Art is a natural as sunshine and as vital as nourishment.” ~MaryAnn F Kohl

This was my inspiration for the the painting above 😊

Thoughtful Thursday Color and Moods

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Have you ever thought about how color affects how you feel? Many people associate colors with different things like trees, the ocean, flowers or even a cool summer’s breeze which evoke positive emotions and make us feel good. But you can also associate colors with negative things because we create these associations in our mind through our personal life experiences.

Our brain reacts to sensory impressions. Visual impressions make up 80% of that. And that’s a pretty big chunk. So it’s no wonder that color can greatly affect our moods. Studies have shown these are some of the generalities of how colors can make you feel:

  • Blue: Calming, Dependable, Peace, Trustworthy, Wisdom
  • Green: Growth, Nature, Contentment, Health, New Beginnings
  • Red: Love, Power, Confidence, Passion, Excitement, Anger, Danger
  • Yellow: Happy, Joy, Spontaneous, Hope, Danger
  • Orange: Kindness, Warmth, Enthusiasm
  • Pink: Romantic, Soft, Playful
  • Purple: Wealth, Glamorous, Mysterious, Creativity
  • Black: Sophisticated, Powerful, Serious, Luxurious, Aggressive
  • White: Fresh, Clean, Pure, Truth, Simplicity
  • Gray: Passive, Low Energy
  • Brown: Earthy, Stability, Support

Pay attention to the colors in your environment and how they make feel, especially the clothes you wear. You may be quite surprised and discover new things about yourself!

Hope you enjoyed this post today, thanks for stopping by!!

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“Color was not given to us in order that we imitate nature. It was given to us so that we can express our emotions.” ~Henri Matisse

    Sunflower Photo taken by Maria Vidaurre

    Whimsical Journaling

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    Journaling is a great way to have fun and unwind from a long week. This was actually a warm up exercise which is part of an online class I’m working on by the very talented Katrina Koltes.

    Art journaling is anything you want it to be. It can be an abstract or a more serious painting or anything in between. You can write your thoughts in your journal and then cover them up or don’t. But the choice is yours. The main goal is to simply do whatever your heart desires and makes you happy😊 So what are your waiting for? Grab your journal and have some fun this weekend!

    Hope this inspires you in some way, thanks for stopping by!!!

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    “What keeps my heart awake is colorful silence.” ~Claude Monet

    Thoughtful Thursday Wayne Dyer Quote

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    I was listening to a recording of Wayne Dyer today and thought I’d share this wonderful quote with you on one of my abstract watercolor paintings:

    “With everything that has happened to you, you can either feel sorry for yourself or treat what has happened as a gift. Everything is either an opportunity to grow or an obstacle to keep you from growing. You get to choose.”

    Hope this inspires you in some way.

    Thanks for stopping by!!!

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