Category Archives: Behind the Scenes

Exploring Abstract Techniques in Art

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While I’m busy making little tweaks and fine-tuning my new Etsy Photography Shop, I’ve also been happily experimenting in the studio and diving into abstract work. Lately, it’s all about trying new techniques, playing with different supplies, and seeing what happens when I push myself outside my usual comfort zone.

These pieces were created on 140 lb handmade watercolor paper—and I’ll be honest, it’s not my favorite. There are areas where the paint just refuses to soak in, no matter how much I layer it on. The paper also has a yellow-green tinge, which works beautifully with some color palettes… and not so much with others. Part of the process, right?

That said, I am absolutely loving this color palette. It has a cool, calming vibe that really speaks to me. In the first image, though, I wasn’t thrilled with how the paintings were coming together. I tried adding a touch of shimmering metallic paint to see if that would elevate them—but they still didn’t quite win me over.

The second image features more organic shapes, and this is where things started to click. I love the way the shapes seem to glow, and that soft energy makes the piece feel really fun and alive to me.

By the time I reached the last image, I pretty much threw everything in my creative arsenal at it—short of the kitchen sink 😉 That one I truly love, especially the way the gold paint catches the light and adds that extra glow.

Art is always an experiment, and not every piece needs to be a favorite to teach you something new—and that’s part of what keeps it exciting.

I also want to send warm wishes to everyone affected by Winter Storm Fern. I hope you’re staying safe, warm, and well.

Thanks so much for being here and sharing this creative journey with me. Have a wonderful day!

Share the Happy❤️

Explore Flowing Waters Photo: New Shop on Etsy

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I’m so excited to finally share that my new Etsy shop, Flowing Waters Photo, is officially open! 🎉 After lots of time, planning, and behind-the-scenes work, I’ve finished transferring all of my photographs to this new space, and it feels wonderful to see it all come together.

To give you a little history, my love for photography began when I was about 10 years old. My father helped me craft a simple camera out of cardstock that actually worked, and that little creation sparked a fascination that’s stayed with me ever since. A few years later, he gifted me my first real camera as a birthday present—one I’ll always treasure. It opened my eyes to a whole new way of seeing the world and capturing the beauty around me.

Today, I use my Nikon Z50 to photograph everyday moments that catch my eye, transforming them into images that feel meaningful and timeless. This shop is a reflection of that journey and my love for noticing the small details that often go unnoticed.

All orders in the shop include FREE Shipping, so you can enjoy browsing without worrying about any extra costs. I can’t wait to continue sharing more art and photography with you.

Thanks for coming along with me on this creative journey. Wishing you a wonderful day!

Share the Happy ❤️

Behind the Scenes of My New Etsy Photography Shop

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Lately, I’ve been spending a lot of time behind the scenes, quietly building and reshaping my creative space. I’m in the process of setting up my new Etsy Shop, Flowing Waters Photo, and it’s been both exciting and thoughtful work. This shop will be dedicated solely to my photography—real moments, captured through my own lens. With so much changing in the creative world, it felt important to create a clear home for my photographic work. As new images find their place in the photo shop, I’m moving them out of my original Flowing Waters Art Shop so each space can shine in its own way.

While there’s been plenty of organizing, uploading, and decision-making, I’ve also been sneaking in some much-needed studio time. Those moments—brush in hand, paint flowing—have been a refreshing pause from the technical side of things. I’ve been experimenting with watercolor abstract ideas, letting myself explore without a set outcome in mind. Some pieces surprise me, others challenge me, and a few remind me that not everything needs to be perfect to be meaningful.

I love sharing this part of the journey with you—the in-between moments, the experiments, the small steps that often go unseen. Creativity isn’t just about the finished piece; it’s about the process, the curiosity, and the joy of trying something new. I hope you’ll continue to peek behind the scenes with me as Flowing Waters grows and evolves.

Thanks so much for being here. Have a wonderful day!

Share the Happy❤️

Whispers of Light ✨

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As an artist, I often find myself deeply connected to the pieces I create. Each brushstroke carries its own story, and sometimes I like to sit with a painting for a while—reflecting on the process, making sure it feels complete, and letting the piece breathe before deciding what comes next.

Whispers of Light, my newest 18×24 abstract, is one of those pieces I took my time with. I blogged about it back in May, sharing how I paused in the middle of the night and waited for morning light to guide me. That quiet moment became part of the painting’s journey.

With its luminous layers of turquoise, rose, golden peach, and warm earth tones, this piece carries a sense of calm and gentle radiance—like a breath between thoughts. I’ve truly enjoyed pouring my heart into it, and now it’s ready to step beyond the studio.

It’s always a little bittersweet to move a painting from my studio into my shop—like closing a quiet chapter—but it also brings me so much joy to imagine it finding a new home. I love the thought of its soft glow becoming part of someone else’s story.

✨ Whispers of Light is now available in my Etsy Shop: Flowing Waters Art Shop

If this piece speaks to you, I’d be delighted for you to take a closer look. Thank you for being part of my creative journey and for supporting handmade art.

Wishing you a day filled with light and inspiration!

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Festive Christmas Artwork for Holiday Cheer

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  • “Owl Always Love You!”

I remember as a kid how sad I was when summer ended and school started back up again. The silver lining, though, was knowing that Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas were just around the corner. Those cozy holidays always made the transition a little easier.

This year feels like it has flown by—how about you? It seems like time moves faster and faster as we get older, but maybe that’s the beauty of life: to grow older, learn, and hopefully become a little wiser along the way.

I’m deeply grateful for each day I get to be here creating art that brings a smile to others. This past weekend I channeled that gratitude into preparing for the holiday season and worked hard on adding all of my Christmas artwork to my Etsy Shop.

I still have a few festive pieces in progress, and I can’t wait to finish them up over the coming weeks so they’ll be ready to join the collection. It’s such a joy to share these little bursts of holiday cheer, and I’m excited for what’s to come!

If you’d like to get a head start on your holiday decorating—or find a special handmade gift—stop by my Etsy Shop to see the new Christmas collection. 🎄✨

Thanks for stopping by—wishing you a joyful, creative week ahead!

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Whispers of Light: A Painting Comes to Life

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Some paintings take their time with me. They don’t rush, and they don’t reveal everything at once. Whispers of Light, my newest 18×24 inch abstract, is one of those pieces.

It started months ago with soft washes of color and textured movement layered onto canvas. I blogged about it back in May—how I paused at midnight, resisting the urge to keep going, and waited for the morning light to guide me. That moment of stillness helped me see the work with fresh eyes. I didn’t know it at the time, but that pause was part of the painting’s story too.

As I added final touches in the weeks that followed, I kept returning to that early light—the quiet, glowing energy that filtered through the window that morning. The colors in this piece—turquoise, rose, golden peach, and warm earth tones—carry a softness, a hush, almost like a breath between thoughts. There’s boldness in the movement, yes, but also a sense of calm rising through the layers.

That’s where the title came from. Whispers of Light felt right—it speaks to the way this piece came together: slowly, gently, and with trust in the quiet moments.

Now that it’s finished, I feel both proud and at peace with it. It’s a reminder to listen to intuition, to light, to softness. To know when to pause, and when to move forward.

Thank you for following along on this painting’s journey—it means so much to have you here.

💫 Have you ever worked on something that unfolded slowly and surprised you in the end? I’d love to hear about it in the comments!

Wishing you a weekend full of quiet joy and radiant little whispers of your own.

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Trusting the Process in Abstract Art Creation

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A Painting in Progress

Working on these abstract paintings is always an adventure—each layer tells part of the story, even the ones that get buried beneath others. This 18×24 inch piece has been evolving for quite some time now. I’ve been adding layers slowly, letting each one guide the next, and I’m finally starting to fall in love with it.

The Midnight Pause

There’s always a point in the process where I feel the urge to keep going—adding more color, more movement, more energy. Last night was one of those moments. I was tempted to keep layering well past midnight, but something told me to pause. So I listened. I stepped away and promised myself I’d take another look in the morning with fresh eyes. I’m so glad I did.

A Fresh Look in the Morning

This morning, I brought the painting into a sunnier room and propped it up by the window. The natural light made the colors come alive in such a lovely way. I sat there with my delicious chocolate shake, just soaking it all in—and that’s when it hit me: it didn’t need much more. Maybe just a few soft lines or subtle shapes, but nothing major. For now, it feels close to complete. And that feels really good.

Trusting the Process

It’s moments like these that remind me why I love making art—learning to trust the quiet pauses just as much as the bold brushstrokes.

Let’s Chat!

Have you ever taken a break from something creative, then come back to it with fresh eyes? I’d love to hear how that’s worked for you—feel free to share in the comments!

Thanks so much for stopping by. Wishing you a beautiful and relaxing weekend!

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Exploring Abstract Art with Watercolor Brushes

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I recently got a new set of watercolor brushes, and I couldn’t wait to try them out! I grabbed my 5.5×8.5” watercolor journal and spent a fun afternoon playing around, creating this colorful abstract. It’s amazing how different each brush feels—getting used to their bounce and how much water they hold is part of the fun.

I love experimenting in my journal, testing out new patterns and designs. Some might make their way into bigger pieces, and some are just for the joy of the process. I’m a bit obsessed with curves—you’ll often see circles, waves, and leaves pop up in my art. They remind me of the ocean and trees, two of my favorite things.

For this painting, my favorite parts are the blue leaves near the top and the dark blue waves at the bottom. There’s something calming about those patterns—I love the flow they bring to the piece. What about you? Do you have a favorite part?

I hope this little peek into my process brings a bit of inspiration to your weekend! Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing this creative moment with me!

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“‘Others have seen what is and asked why. I have seen what could be and asked why not.’” ~Pablo Picasso

Photo by Asad Photo Maldives on Pexels.com

Exploring Dark Watercolors in Abstract Art

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I decided to try something a little different in my 5.5×8.5″ watercolor journal. For this practice painting, I worked mostly with darker watercolors (shown above-left) instead of my usual brighter palette (shown above-right). I love how bold it turned out and how the brighter colors really pop against the deeper tones.

What didn’t quite meet my expectations was the neon-colored paint pens I used—they didn’t stand out as much as I’d hoped. One challenge with watercolor abstracts is that the paint moves and lifts when wet, which can cause those vibrant colors to get a bit muddied.

Still, it was a great practice piece, and I enjoyed the process. That said, I definitely prefer a lighter, brighter background for my work. How about you—do you lean towards bold and dark, or light and bright?

I hope this inspires your creative muse this weekend! Thanks for stopping by!!

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“Creativity is seeing what others see and thinking what no one else have ever thought.” ~Albert Einstein

Diving into the Unexpected: My Underwater Abstract Adventure

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I love using my watercolor journal for practice sessions whenever I’m experimenting with new techniques or exploring fresh design ideas. Today, I decided to play around in my 5.5×8.5″ journal, and what started as a bit of fun turned into an unexpected abstract piece! 🎨

At first, I wasn’t sure where the painting was going, but it soon took a surprising turn—right into an underwater world! 🌊 The result? Something totally different from what I had envisioned, but that’s what makes the creative process exciting.

There are parts of the painting that I’m really drawn to, and others not so much, but I’ll take those elements I love and carry them forward into my next artistic adventure. That’s the beauty of experimenting—it’s all about discovery!

I hope this inspires you to pick up your brushes and create something fun this weekend! Thanks for stopping by, and remember…

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“Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.” ~Scott Adams