For the past 10 days I have been experiencing a self-love painting challenge. Do I have 1o paintings to add to my shop? No, but I have learned! In this post I will share what I have learned.

Creative Exploration is Golden

It is fun exploring new ways to use your tools. I remember taking this course by Adolfo Sera. He had this box of various tools. Since then, I have wanted my box of tools. I have my box of tools. Yes, here is the course! It is nice to relax and have nothing to do and nowhere to go but draw! I try and experiment with any tool that ignites my curiosity.

Never mind what they think. What do I think of my art?

This is a big lesson for me. I have looked at my art. Out of the 1o painting there are a few that I will use for future projects. Part of me thinks what will you think of my art. What will you think of my art? Wiil, you say wow you call yourself an artist. That’s what you came up with? Yes, I had that thought. Then I came to my senses!

The truth is I don’t care about what people think of my art. Did I have fun? Yes, I had fun! Did I learn something new? Yes, I learned about color. I got back into paper collage. The work of Eric Carle and Corita Kent reminds me again that there is only play.

There is only make

I was creating art and thought I was going good util it was awful. Then I had to tell myself, oh come on you are an artist. There is no good or bad art. Pick up the paint brush and paint.

About the awfulness, art does have an awkward phase. You may not like your art at first. Keep going. If you are not having momentum with paint, then how about markers. When you feel like you have it wrong, your body will tense up and how are you supposed to release your magic on the canvas.

The biggest lesson that I have learned is to be unapologetically me. I am proud of my work. I am going to keep painting. My ides will grow. I believe in my work. AND, because I have learned this, it makes me want to paint even more! Isn’t that how children are with their art?

I am an artist, but I have to do the work! There is nothing else I’d rather do because nothing compares to art.

Then there are the lessons of now I know what I don’t like

I am still working on creating unity within my work. I can see my work and I have great ideas, but I need harmony. I like to explore new tools. Maybe I should designate certain days of the week where I do journaling. Then designate a few days where I work on a project. How about journaling first. Then work on a project?

I don’t like doing tutorials. I love and do best when I give a sample, say here are the supplies now make it your own and have fun. That always works with my students. Many times, they have shown me better ways to create art! That is why I like to work with tools like ornaments because it sparks my curiosity, and I think about the art not my abilities.

If you are interested, here is a link to all of my projects.

• paper collage flowers
• painting textures
• heart shape tulips
• I am roses in a heart shape
• flowers painted with ornaments
• doodling
• You Are Love
• stamping with doilies
• Abstract Heart

If you enjoyed this post, and these projects then stick around. Spring is coming and I have so much more to paint! I will spend a few days going back to the drawing board with my website design. Maybe I will paint different flowers. I will be enrolling in a course and blog about it. Thank you for being with me on this art journey. I truly enjoy every moment.

With Love, Mireya