I’m happy to finally share the cover for the board book I’ve been illustrating, “Mama’s Favorite Job,” written by a stay-at-home-mother, Kelly Murphy. It will be self-published by its author and available on her website this Fall!

The kitchen is called “the heart of the home,” because it is where meals are prepared, conversations had, and families gather. So much of the meaningful work of caring for children is done here, and so I thought it a fitting scene to have the mother cradle her baby, bathed in warm window light.

Each scene is hand-painted in watercolor!

Stay tuned for the official release date and behind-the-scenes of how it was created.

Do you know a mother that would appreciate this story? Consider sharing!

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If you have a dream of writing and publishing your own children’s book, I would love to discuss illustrating your story!

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Step into a whole new whimsical world…with my hand-drawn coloring book.

Has your little one ever wondered how flowers might laugh and dance?

Children will love discovering the unique personalities of 25 different wildflowers and bringing them to life with their own colorful imagination. Each flower is paired with a quote that inspires one to grow and bloom with beauty.

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Check out my other kids’ products!

The cutest prints, stickers, coloring pages + more

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I hope that these pros and cons will provide some insight on why one may choose to paint traditionally over digitally and give you a better understanding of my practice.

PROS

1. It’s educational. May it be acrylic, oil, watercolor, or gouache, each has its own technique to learn. Watercolor can be difficult to control because it requires the right ratio of paint to water. Though, how rewarding is it once you’ve learned to master it?

2. It encourages personal growth. Working traditionally opens up new challenges, particularly in working through mistakes. There is no undo button that allows you to keep working until you get it just right. There is a different kind of practice involved that helps you accept mistakes as a pathway to improvement.

3. The original paintings can be sold or displayed in a gallery. There is a certain impression you leave when people know that you painted it by hand. It’s an excellent way to battle AI and preserve the dignity of imagination and hard work. Your work doesn’t have to solely live inside a book, but the originals can be a special addition to one’s home.

4. It’s a break from technology and connects you to the past. It’s amazing to reflect on the master artists who had to study and work through the same challenges. Without photo references or tutorial videos, they truly had to study their subjects and learn how to work with media through live experience. Working hands on becomes satisfyingly meditative through swirling a brush through paint and water or feeling the sticky texture of clay. Plus, you save yourself some eye strain from staring at a screen.

5. It’s fun to shop for art supplies! Picking up new pencils and paints or working with clay brings me back to childhood where I can experiment and play. Often, it’s during play that we discover exciting new ideas and ways of working.

CONS

1. There is no “undo” button. If you make a mistake you have to learn how to improve next time. If it’s bad enough, you might have to start over. There’s a risk that it won’t turn out the way you envision. I don’t consider this a true con, though. I think it’s all apart of the journey; there is no straight path…wouldn’t life be boring if it was?

2. It takes more time and effort. Again, this isn’t necessarily bad. You do have to spend time ordering supplies, measuring and cutting paper, mixing paint and scanning or photographing the finished piece, but there is value in taking those extra steps that shows devotion to one’s craft. With how fast and convenient things are nowadays, I find myself craving “slow living;” to take time to find inspiration, play with ideas, and develop those into a beautiful piece of art. It’s like building your own garden, planting seeds, and nurturing them as they grow into a harvest. Art is often more about the practice than the finished piece.

3. It’s more expensive. For me, this is the truest con. Quality art supplies aren’t cheap! Though, you really don’t need anything fancy to be a “real” or “good” artist. I appreciate the simplicity of pen or pencil to paper.

   

   Stir up your own childlike wonder and joy with Artistic Letters.

I enjoy both methods and choose one over the other depending on the type of project, though traditional painting will always have my heart.

In such a technologically focused world, working hands on is a great break, and to me is more rewarding because of the different kind of skill one has to master in working with a particular art medium. While challenging, it is also fun! Art is such an adventure in so many ways. As a follow up to this, I’ll share a list of my most used art supplies soon.

If you’re looking for a special piece for your home, check out my original paintings!

I also take custom commissions.

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Do you have a creative practice? I would love to hear how you prefer to work!

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Step into a whole new whimsical world…with my very own coloring book.

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“There are places in the heart you don’t even know exist until you love a child.” - Anne Lamott

I’ve been working on a special something behind the scenes…my next children’s book! This one is my first board book, titled “Mama’s Favorite Job” by Kelly Murphy. It will be published this Fall.

“A sweet and comforting story about a mama who discovers that her favorite place to be is right beside her little one. Filled with cuddles, giggles, and everyday moments of love, this heartfelt book celebrates the special bond between mother and child and the joy of being together.”

Let me introduce you to our main characters, Mama and baby!

Look out for the sweetest scenes, hand-painted in watercolor.

I’m happy that the stories that are coming to me have wholesome, family and faith centered messages. The authors I have worked with thus far have all taken the leap and self published.

“Possibilities” has become so much more than we would have imagined. Cindy has sold over 1,000 copies, has read her story to over 20 classrooms, and is sold it in over 15 stores. She’s also had the great idea of partnering with the local children’s hospital to donate books to patients. Aly’s light continues to shine!

“Caroline was a complete joy to work with in bringing my story “Possibilities” to life! She captured the very essence of our family and my vision for the story. I look forward to more collaborative projects with Caroline in the near future.”

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If you have a dream of making an impact by writing and publishing your own children’s book, I would love to discuss illustrating your story!

Send an Inquiry

Step into a whole new whimsical world…with my very own coloring book.

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If you’re looking for a cute gift for a nature-loving friend or loved one, you just might find that special something. Your support of small businesses means the world!

ART PRINTS

You can now hang some of my most popular paintings in your home! These are all giclée prints, which are high-quality, archival-grade inkjet reproductions of original artwork, designed for longevity and superior color accuracy.

ORIGINALS

Each painting has a story to tell, and it’s even more special to make that story last with a one-of-a-kind original.

COLORING BOOKS and PAGES

Step into a whole new whimsical world, with my very own coloring book!

All images come from my imagination, are hand-drawn and AI FREE!

Individual coloring pages are available as digital downloads to print straight from home.

GREETING CARDS

It can be easy to send a quick text message, but something memorable remains when it’s thoughtfully hand-written and sent on a beautiful card. Choose from five designs!

NOTEPADS and STICKY NOTES

If you’re tired of boring stationery, I got you. As with all of my work, these are made using original watercolor paintings and designed in Photoshop, resulting in beautiful notepads you can’t find anywhere else.

STICKERS

“OOOO, stickers!!!” as the kids will say!

These vinyl stickers are durable and waterproof, lasting for a few years vs a few seconds (especially if they’re in the hands of children, haha). They’re a great way to add joy to your ordinary water bottles, notebooks, and car bumpers. Choose from ten designs.

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Storyline

“Shrinking Violet” by Laurel Snyder is a colorful and unique fairytale about a young girl, Violet, who lives in a castle with her friend, Bird. While their home is stately and enchanting, it can also be quite scary for Violet when there is “a rustle in the rafters or a spider on the stairs.”

“And this was no good,

“Because when Violet got frightened, she shrank. When she shrank, she got frightened…”

Along with imagination and calming thoughts, her friendship with Bird is the best thing that comforts her. But one night - he goes missing from his nest. Because of her love for Bird, Violet takes courage to venture out into the night to find and rescue him. Seeing Bird in danger, Violet shrinks to the smallest she has ever been.

“She had never been so scared, so small. What could she do?”

Despite this desperation, Violet discovers courage and not only grows with confidence, but actual size as she towers above the trees as a giant and wards off the predator.

Fear and Courage

As I googled “shrinking violet” for pictures to add to this post, the results popped up with the idiom of “shrinking violet” which describes a person that is shy and timid. I hadn’t heard of this term before, but now it brings the story full circle. Violets are small flowers that grow close to the ground, become hidden by foliage, and easily overlooked.

The concept of shrinking and growing pairs so well with fear and courage. Fear can be such a big emotion that makes us feel small, while courage can make us appear much bigger than we are or feel. Many circumstances are out of our control which in return bring out so many emotions, but what I think is the key to this story, is that we have a choice in how we respond.

Courage doesn’t truly come out of nowhere — there is a driving force. In this instance, it is Violet’s love for bird that fuels her inner strength. With this, she takes action. After she rescues Bird, she has new self-confidence.

Illustration

I’m a huge fan of LeUyen Pham’s work. She is also the illustrator of the acclaimed chapter book series, “The Princess in Black.” She really knows what she’s doing in making you feel the emotion of the story, particularly through color and perspective.

The purple and blue tones do well to create a nightly atmosphere. It is subtle but beautiful, how Violet’s skin tone is actually a light violet color, which is how our skin tone might appear under the shadows of the night.

I love the unique book formatting. Some pages are split with a block of color for text placement, framing the illustration in a unique rectangle shape which compliments the compositions of those scenes.

The use of various perspectives in this story paired so well with the action and emotion of a given page. When the predator swoops in, the illustration is zoomed in on its claws, and when Violet is the largest she’s ever grown, her face takes up the entire spread.

I appreciate the simplicity of children’s books to convey a theme or moral. In “Shrinking Violet” there isn’t any grand adventure involved, as it is with most fairytales, yet great courage is chosen out of deep love to make a difference. What better lesson, then instilling the power of friendship and love to face big emotions?

Check out the book!

If you enjoyed this review, let me know!

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Step into a whole new whimsical world…

With my very own coloring book!

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Pretty details from my brand new stationery set.

View the set

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This is part one of showing you how it all came together!

FINDING INSPIRATION

Having spent so much time outdoors, it’s been such a delight to discover so many flowers. I hadn’t realized they came in so many shapes and sizes. Each has an inherent personality that I just had to capture. I couldn’t help but see their blooms as hairdos and their leaves as hands.

CHARACTER DESIGN

To many, a flower is just a flower. But if you look a little closer, with a touch of imagination, it becomes so much more.

Character design is my favorite part of the illustration process. It’s all about carefree exploration, especially in the safety of a sketchbook. Nothing needs to be refined yet, as it’s a place to spill out ideas.

When working from photo reference, I strive to slow down to pick out and study the natural characteristics of a subject which I then use to inform my character design.

One of the very first characters I designed was a coneflower.

These might remind you of a character from Alice in Wonderland.

I did look to those for inspiration but I didn’t love how their faces were slapped on the petals. I preferred how my designs personified the flowers with a proper head, little leaf ears and petals as hair.

I discovered how various ways of drawing their petals can impact their personality. For example, long and droopy petals can indicate shyness and a short “bob” could indicate a bubbly personality. Having them hunched and missing petals could indicate old age. Some of the boy flowers have leaves on their chins as “facial hair.”

This is how I distinguish the same type of flower into various characters.

Have you ever looked at a droopy flower and thought, “It looks so sad!”? Maybe they do, in fact, droop when they’re sad or tired. Or bend over in laughter, or dance in the wind…There was so much to play with when thinking about how flowers can be personified. This inspired how I might place them in a scene. But we’ll get to drawing each page of the book in the next post!

I especially loved drawing younger flowers as “buds.”

I’m so happy with the unique design of these flower characters and I hope that they may inspire your own imagination.

Here are some examples from the book alongside the real flowers!

If you haven’t grabbed the coloring book yet, check it out!

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Feel free to drop any questions or thoughts on my process or your own!

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As creatives, it seems as though we are either in hustle mode or struggling with creative block, and there’s little in between. It can be easily to forget to slow down and embrace those moments of quiet so that we can refuel our inspiration and creativity. Another artist made an excellent comparison of the necessity of slowing down to a fallow field, where farmers will intentionally let a cultivated field rest and recover its nutrients for a season.

Often I will feel stuck if I am low on projects or motivation, but taking time to rest by taking a nature walk, reading fun stories, baking, whatever it may be, is part of the process. We cannot constantly go, go, go, or we’ll suffer burn out and we can’t hopelessly wait around for inspiration or motivation.

Nature will always be one of my favorite ways to quiet my mind, while also keeping it open to inspiration. I always seem to find something whimsical and inherently creative in nature, such as unique flower characters that I created for my coloring book, “Wildflower Friends.”

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I always aim to keep an open eye and wonder whenever I’m out in nature.

Here are my favorite things from the botanical garden:

A maple tree canopy’s spindly trunks and dappling light.

Azalea bushes taller than me!

There was even a secret tunnel through the bushes. What better way to feel young again then crouching beneath the leaves, eager to know what’s on the other side?

Discovering a dove tree. I am constantly surprised by how many unique flowers I still haven’t heard of or seen before.

Exploring nature is always an adventure to me. I never know what I’m going to find and what will inspire me. That takes me back to its inherent creativity. It expresses itself in ways I can’t imagine by myself. It is quite literally a breath of fresh air to stop, listen, and take it all in.

It also fosters an appreciation for the little things. There is so much to be in awe of when slowing down; it’s these small moments that I aim to capture in my art.

What is your favorite way to rest and recharge?

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Check out my original paintings

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If you’re looking for a gift for a nature-loving friend or loved one, I just might have that special something.

Use the code SPRING20 for 20% off your order.

Valid through April 30th.

This includes every single item I offer:

• My new coloring book, pages and stickers for engaging kids

• Handmade notepads, sticky notes, and greeting cards to capture reminders and messages

• Custom watercolor house portraits to cherish the memory of your home

• One-of-a-kind original nature paintings and art prints

• + more!

  Shop Here

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Experimenting with a Chapter Book Style

THE STORY

Within the realm of children’s illustration, there are many age groups and genres to create art for. Beyond picture books, there are board books and chapter books, coloring activities and games…realizing this has sparked some excitement in trying new things when building my portfolio.

Chapter books have a timeless black and white style which reminds me that art doesn’t have to be complicated; there is beauty in simplicity like black and white. When someone is just learning about art, they are encouraged to begin drawing or painting in black in white so that they can focus on their drawing skills and value (the range of light to dark). Color theory is a whole other ball game!

It’s personally refreshing for me to take it back to the basics, while also trying a different technique.

THE PROCESS

Generally, I gravitate towards a smooth watercolor style and outline in watercolor instead of pen or colored pencil. However, for these two paintings, I outlined in pen first and did some minimal “cross hatching.” This is a technique used to create shading, texture, and tonal value by layering sets of parallel lines that intersect or cross over each other. I then added watercolor on top as more of a finishing touch.

It was fun to imagine what one would find in a bunny’s reading nook. My own reading nook would certainly feature bookshelves, a comfy chair and houseplants. I wanted it to feel extra cozy by having the lamp light the room at night.

THE REFLECTION

On the outside, the work of a professional artist may seem quick and easy, but there is a very detailed thought process involved in planning the composition, designing characters and capturing color and lighting. Truly, it can be hard work!

Just like the little joys of chasing a butterfly or cozying up with a book, there is beauty in simplicity. My love for capturing life’s little moments has been a natural discovery of mine in recent years. It’s a big reason why I love children’s illustration. Children are so easily in awe of life’s simplest joys that we can overlook as adults. I aim to keep that spirit alive through my work!

What’s something simple but meaningful to you?

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Check out my original paintings

Shop Originals

Step into a whole new whimsical world…

With my very own coloring book!

BUY NOW

view the set

If you’re looking for a gift for a nature-loving friend or loved one, I just might have that special something.

Use the code SPRING20 for 20% off your order.

Valid through April 30th.

This includes every single item I offer:

• My new coloring book, pages and stickers for engaging kids

• Handmade notepads, sticky notes, and greeting cards to capture reminders and messages

• Custom watercolor house portraits to cherish the memory of your home

• One-of-a-kind original nature paintings and art prints

• + more!

  Shop Here

  Thanks for reading Artistic Letters! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

I thought I would give a run down of all of the services I provide and how the process works for each in case you are looking for a special something this year.

Children’s Books

My main specialty is illustrating picture books, as I have a passion for storytelling through whimsical hand painted imagery.

Illustrating my first picture book, “Possibilities” opened my eyes as to just how important stories are in shaping young readers. I’m so happy to see the impact that its author, Cindy Boudreaux, is making through its message of embracing differences and recognizing each person’s unique potential. To this day it has five star reviews!

Learn More

If you have your own story in mind, I would love to help bring its words to life!

With a finished script from you, here is the process I follow:

1. Discussing the story’s vision

2. Researching references

3. Sketching concepts for each page

4. Refined drawings

5. Final paintings

6. Final cover design, book formatting, exporting files

Children’s Wall Art

With a special theme, bedrooms, nurseries and classrooms can be so much fun to design, but sometimes you just can’t seem to find the right piece.

From sleepy animals to mythical creatures and more, I can work with you to make something your child will love to see hanging on the wall.

Coloring Pages + Books

A unique project I did recently was design coloring pages of a couple and their family. It was such a great way to engage kids at their wedding! I can create custom coloring pages for classrooms, children’s ministries, parties, or personal use. Additionally, I have some of my own in my shop as digital downloads that you can print right at home.

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Hand-painted Magnets

These are one of my best sellers. Not only do they cherish your favorite flower, animal, etc., but they’re functional! They feature durable magnetic backing and a decorative border as a finishing touch.

These make such cute little gifts for mothers’ day and birthdays. You can easily order one online and describe the subject you have in mind.

Order here

Watercolor House Portraits

“Home is where love resides, memories are created, and laughter never ends.”

A custom house portrait cherishes your family’s unique story. Each is hand painted in watercolor and can include your family name, year established and/or address.

These are some of my best sellers and they are 30% OFF through April!

Order Here

If you have an illustration project in mind I would love to work with you.

Send an Inquiry

My first coloring book is finally here!

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I thought it would be insightful to do an occasional book review to help discover inspiring books for your own children, if you’re a parent. Or, if you’re young at heart!

A story, in particular, that I really love is Eyes that Kiss in the Corners by Joanna Ho.

Beautifully written in lyrical prose, it shows how a girl embraces self-confidence and identity by the loving comparison of her eyes to her family members.’

The girl sees love through her mother’s eyes.

“When Mama tucks me in at night, her eyes tell me I’m a miracle. In those moments when she’s all mine, flecks of dancing gold tell me I’m hers too.”

The girl sees her ancestry through her Amah’s eyes.

“Her eyes are filled with so many stories; I can fall inside them and swim until time stops.”

The girl sees her sister’s love for her through her eyes.

“I hope she looks at me like that forever. Because when she looks at me in that Mei-Mei way, I feel like I can fly.”

I really appreciate that this story’s message isn’t “in your face.” It truly shows rather than tells how the girl loves herself and her heritage. The girl is unnamed, presumably so that she represents any little girl of Asian heritage. I truly love expanding my horizons with stories from different cultures.

Describing her eyes as “kissing in the corners” and “glowing like warm tea” is such a beautiful, poetic expression. I haven’t seen such poetic writing in picture books very much but I think it pairs so well with this story’s message and tone.

It seems that often stories about identity feature bullying or the character feeling insecure about being different, though in this one the girl is already so confident in herself. She has so much strength through her family’s love.

I think this is an excellent book for instilling confidence in any little girl and embracing differences. It’s also the first of a series!

Check out the book

If you enjoyed this review, let me know!

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My first coloring book is finally here!

If purchased from my website, kids can take home some flower friends with a free sticker bundle!

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Otherwise, it is also available on Amazon.

Pretty details from my brand new stationery set.

View the set

It’s inspired by my experience of working at a garden center and discovering so many different flowers. Who knew they came in so many shapes and sizes? I can’t help but see a unique personality in each and just had to turn them into characters!

“Has your little one ever wondered how flowers might laugh and dance?

Children will love discovering the unique personalities of 25 different wildflowers and bringing them to life with their own colorful imagination. Each flower is paired with a quote that inspires one to grow and bloom with beauty. With sunflowers basking in the sun, petunias dancing in the rain, or daffodils emerging from the snow, your child will step into a whole new whimsical world.”

The book features:

• 45 total pages to color with 25 individual wildflowers and 20 full scenes

• Single-sided pages suitable for markers, crayons, and colored pencils

• Balances large and easy to color designs with smaller details

• Suitable for children 4 to 12+ years who love flowers and whimsical characters!

Although meant for children, the book can be for anyone who appreciates the inherent beauty and creativity that nature offers through flowers. These wildflower friends are a reminder to look closely at the little things and appreciate them as a child would. It’s not only intended as an engaging activity, but as an inspiration to stay true to oneself. Just as each flower is unique in its design, so is each person!

I hope that this coloring book will be a unique treasure.

If purchased from my website, kids can take home some flower friends with a free sticker bundle!

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Otherwise, it is also available on Amazon.

Tell me your favorite flower you’re hoping to see!

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Pretty details from my brand new stationery set.

View the set

Crafty Girl

THE STORY

One thing that is important to show in a children’s portfolio is the ability to draw the same character across multiple pages. I like to compare it to a telephone game. For example, the character’s proportions or skin color shouldn’t change so that they look completely different from page one to page thirty.

Most of the characters I’ve painted have been standalones without true action and story. Therefore, I knew I needed to place a character in a sequential scene for my portfolio!

I thought about some fun things a kid might be up to and how I, myself, use to make things out of found objects. There are so many creative nature crafts! I eventually landed on leaf printing.

THE PROCESS

A regular part of my process is researching references. An artist definitely doesn’t already know how to draw and paint everything! In this case, it was fun to see how people have gotten creative with leaf printing.

I decided against adding a background because I wanted the focus to be on the character, Ava and use her action and props to tell the story. My favorite detail is her craft box. Even to this day I have cardboard boxes of hoarded art supplies that I’m sure I’ll use for something…

On the box I added “Ava’s Art Supplies” in colored pencil as if she’d written it herself. It’s always so fun to design a character’s outfit; I wanted Ava to appear carefree and girly with her cute hair clips and oversized clothing. Her action poses came to mind pretty naturally: she’s confident in gathering her craft materials, determined as she works, and so excited to present the final result.

These little details are actually so significant in bringing a character to life!

THE REFLECTION

This is one of those feel good pieces in which I loved the idea, process, and final result. Not every piece is like that, of course, but it sure does give a boost of confidence when it is! Overall, painting this crafty girl was great practice in storytelling. As mentioned above, a full scene isn’t necessary to tell a story. Ava’s characteristics, action, and props work together to show you how much confidence and fun she had creating her craft project.

The way in which kids can paint and draw without any real expectations inspires me to worry less about results and focus more on the process; to take it back to the core of creating art because it is purely fun!

What’s something you’ve done recently that was just pure fun?

Leave a comment

A special surprise…

You can now buy my first coloring book one week early on my website!

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view the set

The everyday task of note taking becomes a bit of fun when you have something cute to write on! I’m happy to release my second stationery set: three garden themed designs each with a matching notepad and sticky note.

Authentic and hand-crafted design is a huge part of my work: the images featured are hand-painted in watercolor and put together in Photoshop. That’s what’s special about something hand-made rather than mass produced; it’s a little treasure you can’t find anywhere else!

Buy each separately or order the complete set to save $10 and receive a free dragonfly sticker.

I hope they will add some joy to your day!

Shop Stationery

Also, things on SALE!

My woodland stationery set and greeting cards are discounted through the end of March.

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I am one of those people who bring a physical grocery list with me to the store and stick little reminders to my desk. Personally, I love taking a step away from technology for a bit with something as simple as hand-writing. There’s something timeless and peaceful in its tangibility.

There will be three sets, each with a matching notepad and sticky note.

Look out for them on March 12th!

Feel free to check out my woodland stationery set in the meantime.

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I’m offering an exclusive sale of some original watercolor paintings I used to create my upcoming stationery set. For all of the garden lovers out there, these are for you! These will be available in my online shop for a limited time until March 3rd. Anything that is not sold with come with me to in-person markets, so grab one while you can!

Each painting is a small size so when framed it will serve as a cute decor hanging on your wall or sitting on your desk.

Find a sneak peek of the new stationery set at the end!

Shop the Collection

All new garden stationery set COMING SOON!

Each is a matching notepad and sticky note.

Sunset Dragons

THE STORY

I’ve really been into reading fantasy books lately, particularly those about dragons and I thought, “Hey, I need a fantasy piece in my portfolio!” Chinese dragons were on my mind and that made me think of Chinese mountain landscapes.

The vast and airy quality of these landscapes is breathtaking. I thought it would be a fitting setting and perspective for some soaring dragons. My dragons’ design is a European style, so it’s a bit of a cultural mishmash.

THE PROCESS

I always begin a piece with small sketches or thumbnails to develop the best composition, or arrangement of subjects on the page. The one that I decide on is turned into a developed value sketch!

Planning ahead allows for a smoother process when drawing and painting the final piece. The challenge for this one was choosing the best perspective that would help the composition flow. The viewer’s eye starts with the main subject, the orange dragon, then follows its tail to the next dragon, back towards the sunset, and over the waterfall into the misty valley below. In a way, this takes the viewer on a visual adventure with the dragons!

THE REFLECTION

This was a fun piece to design in hopes of conveying a magical and adventurous atmosphere. Personally, it’s not one of my favorite paintings I’ve created. I can’t pinpoint exactly what it is about it; sometimes one painting doesn’t resonate as another does. Though, each piece, good, bad, and just okay are all part of the creative process. With each new illustration, I aim to learn something knew even if it is through mistakes or if the final result isn’t quite how I imagined it would be.

I’m excited to create more fantasy scenes. Unicorns and mermaids are definitely in the future.

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This painting, “Weightless” captures a similar feeling of drifting above the clouds.

“Up and away, she drifted into the clouds . . . w e i g h t l e s s.”

Release your cares with this sleepy elephant and drift into a dream.

View art print

Here is the official cover and synopsis:

“Has your little one ever wondered how flowers might laugh and dance?

Children will love discovering the unique personalities of 25 different wildflowers and bringing them to life with their own colorful imagination. Each flower is paired with a quote that inspires one to grow and bloom with beauty. With sunflowers basking in the sun, petunias dancing in the rain, or daffodils emerging from the snow, your child will step into a whole new whimsical world.”

The book features:

• 45 total pages to color with 25 individual wildflowers and 20 full scenes

• Single-sided pages suitable for markers, crayons, and colored pencils

• Balances large and easy to color designs with smaller details

• Suitable for children 4 to 12+ years who love flowers and whimsical characters!

There isn’t an official release date, but it should be in late March/early April.

Don’t miss the release!

It will be marketed toward children, though really it can be for anyone who appreciates the natural beauty, creativity and life that nature offers through flowers. I haven’t seen a coloring book out there that is quite like this, so I hope that it will be a unique treasure.

Some individual pages are already available as digital downloads. That means you can print them straight from home for the kids!

I also have some inspirational Christian coloring pages.

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Tell me your favorite flower you’re hoping to see!

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"Sometimes the greatest thing to come out of all your hard work isn't what you get for it, but what you become for it.” Steve Maraboli

As a dedicated artist, I’m constantly striving to improve my work. I’ve made it a point this past year that with each new portfolio piece I will challenge myself in a different way: draw a subject I haven’t before, paint a new season or time of day, experiment with media.

As I personally grow and evolve, it’s only natural that my art will, too. If you read a recent post of mine, Why I Love to Create Art for Children, you’ll know that my art has greatly evolved from realism when I first began. I’ve since found a consistent, childlike style that I love, but part of the fun is never knowing how it might change and improve.

With that in mind, I thought it would be fun to take you along for the ride in a dedicated series, where with each new painting I’ll explain the inspiration, process, and reflection. I think it’s important to not only show you the finished product, but the story and process behind it; that’s what make the whole experience worthwhile.

I’m titling the series “Piece by Piece,” as a sort of play on words, since works of art are often called “pieces,” as they are part of a whole body of work. I would also say that each is a piece of me in one way or another, since art is a way to self express.

A Toast With Friends

The Story

A lot of my paintings are inspired by little real life moments in nature, though for this one I unfortunately can’t say I’ve sat around a campfire with some animal friends, roasting marshmallows (although that would be so fun). It is inspired by an early snow we got this past December, which reminded me of the beauty of different seasons and the importance of change.

The Challenge

Most of my work is spring themed, so I knew that I wanted to paint a different season. Not only did I decide to paint a snowy scene, but one at nighttime with a firelight glow. I love capturing realistic lighting in my work, because light can do so much to tell a story in how it changes colors and therefore mood (this is where my background in realism comes in handy). I did a bit of research for references of firelight on snow. Snow takes on blue and purple hues at night, and when lit by a fire produces such a beautiful rainbow gradient. This was so perfect in representing the warmth and safety of friendship which contrasts against the cool blue background.

Painting snow covered trees was also a challenge. I found a helpful technique online for painting the foliage first while leaving blank space for the snow. In the past, I would have drawn each tree completely and fiddle with the placement of each branch, but this was a great confidence exercise; the challenge isn’t always in technical skill!

The Reflection

I’m sure a common theme for these new portfolio pieces, is that you never know if you can do or will like something unless you try. I’m not going to be happy with every piece I make, but that’s all apart of the process. I strive to stick with mostly painting traditionally, because personally I find the process more worthwhile, in that I don’t have to nor want to depend on an undo button( or AI!). Some things are going to be mistakes, but that’s just apart of being human. Going into a painting knowing that I can mess it up and can’t always fix it is uncomfortable and scary, but it is apart of the challenge. The challenge of being human, really. Though pushing through that is apart of building confidence.

Thankfully, I’m very happy with this piece. If I’d been too afraid to challenge myself I wouldn’t have known that. I can certainly imagine it as a Christmas card next year and even an art print.

I have a fun character design to share with you as my next “piece.”

Stay tuned!

I would love to have discussion on topics like this, so don’t be afraid to leave a comment!

What’s something you did that was a challenge but are glad you pushed through?

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