I’m so thrilled that Amy Maricle at Mindful Art Studio is hosting the 2024 Inchie Challenge. I’ve had the pleasure of participating in the past 2 years and it was always a blast! There’s something so special about creating these mini works of art.
So, naturally, I had to jump on board once again. It’s become a bit of a tradition for me now, and I just can’t resist the opportunity to focus my creativity in such small sizes. These were all created on 2 inch square watercolor tiles and Amy provides the prompts for 12 consecutive days.
I’m catching up but these are my creations for the first 3 days:
Day 1 – Leaves
Day 2 – Patience
Day 3 – Love
If you’re even the slightest bit curious about exploring your creative spark, I highly recommend joining in on the fun. Visit Amy’s website at Mindful Art Studio and click the link at the bottom of the screen to join the Inchie Challenge. Trust me, you won’t regret it! Who knows, maybe we’ll end up sharing some Inchie-inspired masterpieces together. 😊🎨✨
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“Imagination is the most marvelous, miraculous, inconceivably powerful force the world has ever known.” ~Napoleon Hill
I’m excited to unveil my latest creation: “Raspberry Rhapsody,” a captivating pink abstract painting that’s truly one-of-a-kind. Measuring 9×12 inches and crafted on 140lb watercolor paper, it promises to enchant with its delicate palette of soft pink tones.
This piece was brought to life through a blend of watercolor paints, colored pencils, and pen, each stroke infused with creativity and passion. To elevate its allure, I added a touch of magic with pearlescent watercolors, lending it a mesmerizing shimmer that captivates the eye.
“Raspberry Rhapsody” is available in my Etsy Shop (if interested) and would make the perfect gift for Mother’s Day✨
Hope this inspires you today, thanks for stopping by!!
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“Art evokes the mystery without which the world would not exist.” ~René Magritte
Inspired my latest artistic adventures in creating mini works of art on watercolor tiles, I had an idea on how to put it all together. This is a sneak peek of a new 9×12 inch abstract painting I’m in the process of finishing up.
There are a lot of interesting elements in this piece that catch your eye like the shimmering metallic paints and delightful designs throughout. I’ll have it up in my Etsy Shop by Tuesday so stay tuned….
I hope this inspires you in some way today, thanks for stopping by!!
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“I dream my painting and then paint my dream.” ~Vincent Van Gogh
As artists, we all encounter moments when inspiration seems elusive. When I hit a creative roadblock, I often turn to nature for inspiration. However, recently I stumbled upon a book by Kate Rebecca Leach, titled “Creative Abstract Watercolor,” which gave me a refreshing approach to abstract art.
Leach’s unique style, characterized by playful geometric shapes, has sparked my imagination. Her book serves as a source of inspiration, leading me through the process of creating abstracts in a fresh new way. I’m experimenting with using the designs from my smaller tiles that I’ve been creating and seamlessly blending them together to form a larger cohesive piece.
My latest creation is this 9×12 inch watercolor abstract, painted in varying shades of pinks and purples. Each section of the piece has its own distinct flair, resulting in an engaging and intriguing piece of art.
I hope sharing my journey inspires you today. Thanks for stopping by!
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“Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple , that’s creativity.” ~Charles Mingus
I’ve been enjoying exploring some new ideas and creating these 3×3 inch mini works of art also known as inchies. Each design uses the same color palette and features simple yet interesting artwork. These designs, or variations of them, will be incorporated into a larger piece I’m working on, so stay tuned for that.
Once my larger piece is done, I’ll add these inchies to my stash to use in my art journal at a later date. But the process of creating these mini works of art is simply calming and so fulfilling. They’re a joy to make! What do you do to create moments of joy in your day?
Hope this sparks your creativity for a weekend art project! Thanks for stopping by!!
Excited to share with you my latest painting, “Whispering Blooms.” This was created on an 11×14 inch canvas in captivating hues of blues, pinks, yellow and green. Delicately painted, it features splashes of color set against a textured background, evoking a sense of serene beauty and ethereal charm.
The original painting is available in my Etsy Shop if interested.
May this artwork breathe inspiration into your day, thanks for stopping by!!
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“I tried to draw my soul, but all I could think of was flowers.” ~Natalya Lobanova
Working on my camera shyness, I thought I’d make a short clip introducing my new painting, ‘A Walk in Monet’s Garden.’ This piece was created on an 18×24 inch canvas, where textured layers of acrylic paints in tranquil blues and lush greens bring the scene to life. I’m eager to hear your thoughts on both the painting and the video. Please make sure to leave a comment below😊
If interested, the original painting is available in my Etsy Shop.
Hope this inspires you today, thanks for stopping by!!
I’m thrilled to announce the completion of not just one, but two paintings this week! The weather here has been very rainy and I like to get photos using natural sunlight. So I haven’t had luck today but tomorrow we should be back to that beautiful Florida Sunshine which plays a huge part in my artistic inspiration. In the meantime, I thought I’d give you a couple of sneak peeks of these textured paintings I created with vibrant, happy colors!
Hope you’re having a lovely weekend, thanks for stopping by!!
I am passionate about self improvement and feel there is always room to grow. This is a heartfelt quote I wrote which resonates deeply with me and is displayed on my art journaling page:
“Life is precious and if you’re not careful will pass you by if you don’t stop to smell the roses.”
These words serve as a gentle reminder to slow down and appreciate the beauty of life. Even though there may be days filled with chaos, it’s important to remember special moments, no matter how small and reflect upon them with gratitude.
As we journey through life, let’s cherish each moment and embrace the beauty that surrounds us. May we find solace and inspiration in the simple joys of everyday life.
Hope this inspires you in some way today. Thanks for stopping by!!
I remember shopping at the grocery store when I was a kid with my mom and being able to buy fruits only when they were in season. I also remember everything bursting with flavor and aroma. But if you go shopping today, pretty much every fruit is available year round from all around the world and sadly they don’t taste or smell as good as they used to.
After doing a little research I found that many fruits are artificially ripened using different chemicals and here’s why: In order for fruit to ripen naturally, it must contain ethylene, a gaseous plant hormone. Green, unripen fruits have low levels of ethylene. But as the fruit matures ethylene production increases and signals the plant it’s time to ripen the fruit. Even after the fruit is harvested, ethylene continues to be produced and as a result it decreases the shelf life of fruits.
Scientists came up with a way to extend the shelf life of fruits by picking them while green and ripening them with artificial ripening agents. However, this process is highly contested around the world because of the health risks associated with these ripening agents. It is said that consuming fruits, on a regular basis which have been artificially ripened can cause heart conditions, lightheadedness, and even skin ulcers depending on the ripening agents used. Thankfully most of the world banned the use of the really toxic agents but there are a few countries which still allow them to be used.
The reason the fruits don’t taste as good as they used to is because by artificially ripening the fruits only the external peel actually ripens. The inside of the fruit will basically remain green and raw. I’ve had avocados which I left out to ripen on the counter but they never did. After some time I ended up cutting them open only to find they were rotting from the inside out and now I know why.
With almost 80% of fruits being artificially ripened, I’m left scratching my head. It’s hard to tell what has been artificially ripened and what hasn’t unless you contact the companies and find out. Apparently, organic fruits aren’t excluded from this process but are less likely to be artificially ripened.
So what do you do? Fruits are very important for a healthy diet. Your best bet is to go back to the old ways and buy locally grown produce that will “hopefully” not be treated with these artificial agents. An even better idea is to plant a small garden and grow your own food. Mother nature made growing many plants fairly easy and you’ll have better control over your health plus you’ll reduce your grocery bill too.
Hope you found this post helpful, thanks for stopping by!!
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“A garden feeds more than the table, it feeds the soul.” ~Unknown
Flowing Waters Art 