If I’ve spent so much time trying to make one painting work, I usually feel less attached to another ruined painting and can take it in a new direction. Maybe I won’t get it right in that next try, but if I’m playing and not caring so much about how a face turns out, I can uncover something that does work. Then I can go... Continue reading

If I’m not liking my art, I have to cover it up. It’s usually the eyes or face that I don’t like, so I’ll often dump water on top and smudge the features out. This leaves some of the eyes and features behind and gives me a new place to begin, but since I can still see some old outlines, it’s a way to continue... Continue reading

Comparison can be soul-crushing. The other day, I happened to find myself scrolling online, and ended up completely feeling like all of my paintings were horrible. My first thought was, “I’ll never be able to paint anything beautiful again.” Then I felt so bad about my artwork I thought, “There’s no sense in even creating.” So often I look at other people’s artwork and wish... Continue reading

I’ve been taking some time to really slow down and indulge in being creative. All of my experiences and emotions go into my paintings. Part of my creative process is trying new things and covering up what I don’t like, which is forever changing and evolving just like everything else in life. Whenever I create, I only keep out the art supplies I use most.... Continue reading

A few days ago I was painting and I started to feel like all of my characters were looking too painted on. You know, like the girl looked like I’d cut her out and pasted her on top of an abstract background. There didn’t seem to be any freedom or flow. Everything looked rigid and tight. Do you ever find it difficult to try something... Continue reading

I’ve been soaking up all sorts of new inspirations on my artist residency these last few weeks. And one of the things I’ve realized is that I’d fallen into a comfort zone with my artwork. I was getting so comfortable adding fingerprints, dots and swirls to my backgrounds, that when I started to create areas with lots of solid color (inspired by the ocean and... Continue reading

My latest paintings represent freedom and femininity to me (like a creative spirit coming to life). They seem to be bringing out more and more of that in me too. Yet the other day I was painting and I started feeling super scared to make a mistake. I realized I’d uncovered a few new techniques and I was really loving my character (especially the eyes).... Continue reading

Before I can even begin to paint a face, I have to loosen up and play. That way I feel more free once I add my character. Here’s 5 Ways to Cover up the White Space + Create Luscious Layers: Fingerpaint – My favorite way to cover up a blank canvas is to fingerpaint. There can never be a wrong way and it’s so fun... Continue reading

A lot of you have been asking how I create the black lines in my paintings (and how to keep them from cracking or smearing). And, I have to say, I’ve tried a lot of different supplies to find the right black lines to go over all of my mixed media layers. I tried so many different pens and inks, but they either looked too... Continue reading

One of my secrets for letting go and painting more freely is to make it easy for myself to create, so I always have a few backgrounds going at once in my studio, I add layers whenever I have a few minutes – some acrylic inks. acrylic paints, paint pen and water-soluble oil pastels. Painting these first layers helps me stay loose and adds whimsy... Continue reading