I find myself experimenting with new materials. I find it so enticing to try all that I can, enchanted by all the possible mediums, brushes, surfaces, colors, styles, and techniques - oh my! At times it feels overwhelming to go on this journey of experimentation. I am an infant with heaps of identity development to do. On the flip side, like a carpenter ant in a thick forest, I have the promise to always have more growing and exploration to do. My time on earth is more limited than the time it would take for me to crawl my way over every scaly tree.

TULIPS

I am in love with tulips. I am in love with color. I think I started these paintings trying to answer the question - what style do I want to paint in? And I left with thinking I am in love with tulips. I am in love with color. I sometimes tell myself I need to narrow things down. Too many aesthetic ways of envisioning things overcrowd my mind and stifle my momentum. But how can I choose just one? I can’t. I won’t. (And so she stubbornly continues to be stifled).

BOUQUET COLLAGE

This was so much fun! It is different than my usual way of making art and I love it. It forces you to be playful and abstract. I feel like a kid again tinkering away among a menagerie of shapes, glue, and paper clippings.

TRACE MONOPRINTING

I only recently discovered this very old method of printing. There are so many methods within printing alone as I understand it. This one is called trace mono printing (as it results in a single unique image per print). It involves a sheet of plastic or glass, ink, and cheap computer paper. When you layer it all together and draw on the back side of your paper, the ink only prints where marks were made. I adore the fuzzy texture to it. There are ways to add more value too - either in the printing stage or post print - though I very much like the simplicity of using only some fuzzy, descriptive lines.

BOOKS

Fairytale and fairy books - Some new books I have added to my collection. I found these on Facebook marketplace. The woman said she inherited them for her dear late friend so now I feel an even greater responsibility to treasure them.

Rough Sketch - My mother recently found this book in my brother’s old bedroom. We have no idea where it came from as he has never been much into art or such readings. Maybe from his boy scout days? The book takes you on a journey of how an artist creates landscapes using poems and illustrations on each page.

I am I am I am - Not art related but a book I enjoyed nonetheless. Have you ever wanted to read a memoir whose stories are told through near death experiences? Well look no further! Honestly the near-death experiences keep things interesting but the heart, insights, and delicate writings of Maggie is the main melody of the book. I had never read a book of hers before, but for those unfamiliar you may know her as the author of Hamnet.

ART MUSEUM

I found myself back at my local art museum. Some of my favorites were this starfish and the work by the surrealist Dorothea Tanning . One is simple, quirky, and vogue. The other, fantastical, intricate, mysterious.

JIMMY LEE SUDDUTH

A new artist I am currently admiring is Jimmy Lee Sudduth. I discovered his work at a local restaurant here in Nashville. From my dinner chair, my eyes lingered at the chalky descriptions of figures, cabins, and dogs. Admittedly, I was gearing up to learn the artist’s name so I could later stalk their instagram and artist website. But no ma’am, Jimmy was an authentic Appalachian painter, most active in the 1970s - 1990s.

I really appreciate the inventiveness in his work and being. Jimmy was deeply connected to nature and the environment around him in southern Alabama. He sourced untraditional materials like mud mixed with sugar water or coca cola or motor oil, color extracted from plants, and used his fingers instead of brushes “because they never wore out.” It’s such a shift from how I imagine art making today. It reminds me that art can be done in so many ways. The only limits are your imagination!

UNTILL NEXT TIME

I believe in kindness. Also in mischief. Also in singing, especially when singing is not necessarily prescribed.

-Mary Oliver

Things I Made

I painted some Carolina wrens. I’ve been enjoying the act of painting and admiring birds more and more (who doesn’t?). I typically like to try to send a small painting or hand painted card to the mothers in my life for Mother’s Day, so I looked to the birds for inspiration. Wrens are wonderful mothers to their young (+ good art models) and so they became my muse this year. I also had fun gluing them to mounting boards. This is my first time doing such a thing and my gosh it makes it feel so professional and elevated.

I have been enjoying my sketchbook for small practices and sparks of inspiration. I started this one in January and I am nearly halfway through it now. This page was the result of watching The Gardening Show with Zach Galifianakis. If you haven’t heard by now, it is one-of-a-kind. The future is agrarian.

Here was a study x 4 of an Edouard Vuillard painting: The Yellow Curtain. I wanted to explore different mediums with his technique and overall impression. I love the way he uses pattern, broken color, and the underpainting, unifying the entire composition. I am mainly a user of gouache and although I’ve dabbled in oils and acrylic before, they intimidate me with their viscosity, shininess, hazards, and smells.

Here are some of my takeaways:

• I was pleasantly surprised that you could make oil paint dry more quickly and have a matte-finish by simply painting on clayboard.

• I really liked the ability to have a more of a visible underpainting + having visible texture from the brushstrokes that gouache simply cannot do.

• I found it very challenging to work with acrylic and oils. I find it hard to control the paint and to mix the colors. It feels like I have too much paint loaded on my brush every time and I am not used to paint that reflects the light so much, making it hard to mix and evaluate my colors.

• I am considering trying acrylic with a matte medium. I appreciate that acrylic is at least less of a hassle as well as hazardous than oils. I deemed this as my verdict and next plan of action, however:

• After a few days when everything dried, I found a frame from my frame collection that was perfect for it. I expected to select the oils on clayboard, but I surprised myself by being heavily drawn to the oils on paper version. Perhaps I don’t mind shiny paintings after all. In conclusion: I still feel clueless.

Books I Enjoyed

• Unstrung Heart by Edward Gorey. I’ve only recently discovered the magic of Gorey when I found one of his Amphigorey books at an antique shop. Then re-discovered him as I was going down a rabbit hole of literature that inspires Wes Anderson’s work. This was my first time reading one of his early books and I absolutely loved it.

• From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs Basil E Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsberg. Guess what? This one was also the result of my Wes Anderson inspiration search. You may have heard of this one, as it is quite popular even for my generation although it was originally published in 1967. Although it is a children’s novel, its themes and writing style is for all ages. If you relate to Margot in Royal Tenebaums or Susie in Moonrise Kingdom, then you will also relate to dear Claudia.

• From Ted to Tom by Edward Gorey. Another Gorey and oh my! I’m so fortunate my library had this one. It is a gem (although, I am always a sucker for a book about letters). Edward “Ted” writes letters to his friend Tom. These are his real letters and envelopes from his time in New York in the 1970s. And of course, each envelope has the most beautiful and creative illustration.

  

• Reading Art: Art for Book Lovers by David Trigg. I stumbled upon this one at my local library and I could not pass it up as it combines my two loves: art and books. It is essentially a collection of art of varying styles throughout history that depict the motif of the book. Here are some studies I did of some of the art that I found in the book. It is Art-Book inception: Art in a sketchbook done from a book about art about books.

New Materials

I got this retro watercolor set from Schminke Aquarelle line for my birthday. I was reading some articles on Jackson’s when I stumbled upon this. I’ve been curious about revisiting watercolors, and when I saw the beautiful warm color palette in the set, I was sold.

Museum Visits

Now, I do not always get to go to art museums and travel, but I just so happened to have two local exhibitions that I was excited about! In Nashville, we have one art museum, The Frist and another Monthaven Art Center in Hendersonville. I was so enamored and thankful I got to see these paintings in person from my favorite artists. It was hard to leave the museum, my legs ever circling back to my favorites.

Lessons from the Masters

One thing I hope to do soon is deep dive into the masters, a project I will deem Lessons from the Masters. I’ve collected quite the list of old masters whose work I admire and have even completed several master studies over the years. My goal with Lessons from the Masters is to spend a dedicated length of time studying their work and biographies more deeply. I’ve narrowed my list down to about 10 masters for now and have begun with Edvard Munch - someone who I recently begun to admire and do not know much about. He has and will continue to be my teacher for the next few weeks. His lessons await me and I will be sure to share them with you.

Completed Works

Some original completed works. These are all gouache on various board (aquaboard and clayboard). I am still very much in the process of shaping my identity as an artist. But I am trying to not put any pressure on myself at all. I am here to explore, play, and have fun.

• Spring Mending - This was the result of creating a piece for a gallery that had a theme: The Garden of Earthly delights. Although it caused me stress, sometimes it is nice to have an assignment with a deadline to get you creating. I did not use a reference for this which is new and scary to me.

• Bookshelf Overflow - This piece was a delight and a personal one for me. It represents the abundance and love my partner and I have for books, as it depicts a chair in our apartment where all of our ‘bookshelf overflow’ books go.

• Fool for You - This was also a result of an assignment. This year I’ve been enjoying doodling little fools and clowns, so when a local library was hosting an art gallery in April with the theme of ‘fool,’ I jumped at the opportunity.

Parting Words from Anaïs Nin

"We do not grow absolutely, chronologically. We grow sometimes in one dimension, and not in another, unevenly. We grow partially. We are relative. We are mature in one realm, childish in another. The past, present, and future mingle and pull us backward, forward, or fix us in the present. We are made of layers, cells, constellations.”

Remember to plant seeds of love and kindness and keep making imperfect art.

-NAT <3

I have been yearning to bind and create my own book for a while now. One of the many crafty prospects forever bellowing into my ears.

I decided that my first book creation would serve as a gift for my partner’s birthday. Because what better motivation than the commitment to give?

I did not have a clear vision. All I knew was that I wanted it to feature painting and quotes from the books he read in 2025 - I let the crafty process decide the rest.

Material Used:

• Scrapbook paper

• Strathmore Mixed Media Paper - 400 series

• Windsor and Newton Gouache

• Watercolor brushes

Tools Used:

• Printer

• Paper Cutter

• Scissors

• Book Binding Kit

• Glitter Glue

• Stick glue

I very much enjoyed the entire process. From binding the book, selecting the quotes, painting the book covers and author portraits, to collaging them all to the page.

Another thing I most certainly appreciated and learned about myself: I really enjoy working on a project. That is an endeavor that provides direction and a through line for a series of creative acts. I also enjoyed that, at the end, all the work cohesively assembled together into a tangible object. It was an elevated level of satisfaction that I don’t usually get from my usual one-and-done paintings.

I feel so excited to create more of these books and project-based art in the future.

I hope that this inspires you to either make your own book or other new craft that has been on your mind. And perhaps to give “project-based” art a try.

Remember to keep planting seeds of love and kindness and make imperfect art. And to enjoy the process, as Dostoevsky reminds us:

“It’s life that matters, nothing but life-the process of discovering, the everlasting and perpetual process, the discovery itself, at all.”

-NAT <3

Dear Marie,

Thank you for sharing your garden with me. Not just because it is a beautiful thing in an ordinary place - like an oil painting posted on a shelf in a grocery aisle - but because you showed me what it means to be an artist: To honor your heart and your geniuses. To do what needs to be done and to not question it. To dutifully show up daily and nurture both the creation and the creative spirit. To be generous and courageous by sharing it with the people.

And thank you for kindly taking the time to speak with me. And remind me of the thing I needed to hear most: to be okay with uncertain times. To faithfully and quietly continue on and wait for spring to come. To use our gifts of expression and appreciation like little hearths in the muddy snow.

And lastly, thank you for inspiring me and my own art. You are both an inspiration and aspiration to me. I am sorry I lost the PO Box number you gave me, but I am sure I will see you again soon - faithfully toiling in your sanctuary.

Thank you,

-NAT <3

This is probably the first year where I felt especially inspired, open, and eager to paint my Valentine’s Day cards. I found it hard to choose just one idea, and in fact ended up making a series of ballerinas that I really enjoy too but will perhaps save it for next year…..

This painting of two doves came from being inspired by all the birds that have come to visit me at my bird feeder. I can see the feeder from my apartment’s living room and it has provided endless joy. I am lucky to have my balcony very close to a large oak tree, making it easy for them to fly in and out.

I will share last years card as well - it was my first attempt at printmaking. I remember it being much more difficult than I had imagined - both in the skills of carving as well as stamping. It took multiple attempts to achieve a print with ink in all the right places. I hope to give printmaking more of my time this year.

I hope you have a lovely and artful Valentine’s Day and are able to celebrate the love you have for the people in your life. I will leave you with an “interesting” but romantic playlist, a list of my favorite Valentine’s inspired activities (or gifts), and a fitting quote for this season.

Activities: (to do with or for someone dear, to express your love)

• Make cards!

• Write a poem

• Write a love letter

• Make a garland

• Make dessert

• Eat dessert

• Enjoy a bouquet of flowers

The longer I live, the more deeply I learn that love - whether we call it friendship or family or romance - is the work of mirroring and magnifying each other's light. Gentle work. Steadfast work. Life-saving work in those moments when life and shame and sorrow occlude our own light from our view, but there is still a clear-eyed loving person to beam it back. In our best moments, we are that person for another.

James Baldwin

Remember to plant seeds of love and kindness and keep making imperfect art.

-NAT

For here and for now, I only did 30 because to me that is enough - well 32 if you count the two that I scrapped because A) they were not pretty and B) they didn’t fit into a 5 x 6 grid. I bid them well.

Why Pantone Postcards

I must admit that I have had these postcards in my collection of odd painting surfaces for nearly two years now. I’ve done a few here and there but in December, I did one nearly everyday.

I love the idea of small, daily paintings - how approachable it is. I am drawn by the unique card to use as a canvas with the creative challenge of deciding what to paint on based on the specific color the card is. I also enjoyed the names of some of the colors (such as Celestial and Whisper Pink). And how fun it is to hold the cards in your hands! As if they are all Pokemon cards.

Process Insights

I mainly used my go-to Gouache to paint on these. However, this water-based medium does not cling to and absorb into the surface well, which is why you will need a bottle of clear gesso. I’m not sure if this was only my experience but painting with gouache on a gesso’d postcard was a bit of a scratchy experience! I do not think my tender brushes appreciated it.

Also, for a few (see below) I used flashe paint. It was my first experience using flashe! No priming was necessary and it was highly pigmented. I can’t wait to explore this medium more.

Closing Thoughts

I still have nearly 70 cards left. But I may be interested in doing a similar thing on card stock rather than this plastic coated surface. Next time I paint on Pantones, I will definitely be more inclined to pick up my new flashe paints rather than the gouache - no priming or scratchiness. I would also take the time to tape down the white part of the card to keep it clean :).

Here’s to joyful painting! Hope this inspires you to pick up some of your materials that may be collecting dust. Or perhaps invites you to try a new painting surface or medium that you’re not familiar with.

Spread seeds of love and kindness and make imperfect art <3.

-NAT

It is the time of wool socks, cinnamon, and old fashioned spice cookies. Some of my usual Christmas traditions are not going to happen this year. I usually travel home to Louisiana, bake an array of desserts with my mom all week long, and spend Christmas Eve packed in the car to admire the neighborhood Christmas lights.

This year I’ve been reflecting on tradition lately and what it means to me. I used to think tradition was not one of my core values. A lot of the things I grew up doing or was culturally informed I should do, I never cared for.

However, I am realizing more and more what tradition means to me. That it can provide meaning, purpose, comfort, and connection with not just ourselves but to the collective mind and the natural world. I just have to figure which of these tradions matter to me and which ones feel rooted in values I don’t align with.

One book I read and would like to reread soon is Sasha Sagan’s For Small Creatures Such as We: Rituals for Finding Meaning in Our Unlikely World . A beautiful account of Sasha’s (daughter of Carl Sagan) way of carving her own traditions and rituals for herself and her family, with her own insight of what tradition looks like in other cultures and the science of why humans yearn for it.

What does tradition mean to you? What traditions do you currently enjoy following or want to follow?

Greetings

One tradition that I do enjoy participating in every year is creating holiday greeting cards. Typically I would create them by hand, which feels of course more tender and sentimental. This year, however, I drew the design on my iPad and had them printed. Although I prioritized convenience, it allowed me to not feel overwhelmed (as I typically do) as well as feel a bit of an imposter (which is a good thing, as it is the first step to feeling like the real deal!). It is a simple design but it is mine and I am proud. I’ve grown a lot as an artist this year and have developed a clearer idea of what I want my art to be and this represents that.

Side note: While we are talking greeting cards, I recently had the pleasure of reading The Rose Period’s post about just that - featuring the charming holiday cards of famous artists. It was so refreshing to see the scrappy, behind-the-scenes art of these renowned artists and I feel even more connected to them for it.

Do you typically make holiday cards? How did they come out this year?

The Little Things

A new tradition that I want to start doing every year (or perhaps every solstice?) is to reflect on the small moments of the year that brought me joy. In past years, I would reflect on the big picture things. The things I accomplished, how well I met the measures of my goals, how I can improve. I think this is good and all but this is my machine mind at play: my thinking, optimizing mind. I want to remember to call to my creative, inner-child mind more often and to do this I would like to practice reflecting on the small, joyful and magical moments I experienced. Here are a few for me this past year:

• Being visited by Helen the Heron at my apartment’s pond (she graced our presence for about a week)

• Finding a bouquet on the ground like a rare treasure (Even though I realized later on that it was not by accident.. someone was trying to create dried bouquets!)

• Finding a beautiful pottery cup at my local thrift craft store with my initials magically carved into the bottom of it

• Getting to the last page of my journal

• Getting to the last page of my sketchbook

• Seeing the fireflies on night walks in July

• Being able to eat popcorn and butternut squash again after months of pause due to health

• Seeing many sunsets, full moons, and rain showers

• Finding the first daffodils unearthing in the spring

• Getting a letter in the mail from a friend

• Finding an old, brown calligraphy pen in my sharpie bag that is perfect for drawing. (I’m pretty sure it was my Maw Maw’s - yet somehow the ink has not dried?)

• The delight of over hearing my neighbor practice the trumpet while on my daily walk

• Discovering what felt like a secret garden on one of my usual walks (it was a private garden, with a gate hidden behind some trees and a sign welcoming the public)

• Looking over and seeing whatever silly ballerina pose my cat is in

  

Think back to the small pleasures, the surprising, delightful moments. What experiences brought you joy this year?

-NAT