When I read the word abundance in Color Me Floral my spirit said yes! Today was one of those sessions where I began with high hopes and ended with what was not my art. In this post, I share a few projects and gather my thoughts. I want to paint another butterfly. We can paint beautiful butterflies and flowers!

I have been reading Color Me Floral and loving the abundant flower arrangements. I have been painting them for months.

Not sure how I started painting abundant flower vases but I wanted small vases filled with abundant flowers and leaves. Abundant flower gardens are Just Ask by Sonia Sotomayor. We are each a blooming beautiful flower. There is room for all of us. Oh my, that is what my students and I painted! I paint abstract flowers. These are my thoughts. That is how I paint my flowers! Why then did I need validation? I don’t.

My latest project is finger painting. Today it was a butterfly. I got out my supplies and mixed beautiful colors inspired by three bowls I saw at Anthropologie. I had high hopes. I printed up a butterfly drawing. This is the same drawing I have given to my students to paint and add jewels and glitter. They always paint fabulous ideas. Kids always paint in that carefree anything-goes creative spirit. They speak abundance!

I referenced the paper butterfly, thought of EttaVee’s work, and stopped finger painting altogether. I picked up a brush and started painting. Several details later, the butterfly wasn’t me anymore. I was trying too hard. Interestingly another artist blogger had the same experience.

Today I want to say that I–we shouldn’t wait to read abundance and see other artists create abundant flower arrangements for it to be ok. It warmed my spirit to see Ettavee’s textured flowers and to know me too! I have lots of texture in my finger-painted flowers. I should never doubt my ideas.

I am painting. I kept myself busy for two hours and I learned a fabulous lesson. Like I wrote days ago, it’s important to have you and your ideas when you’re painting.

In the next post, I will share a step-by-step painting with me finger paint butterfly. I am still gathering ideas for the back-to-school art supplies list.

With Love.

Mireya