I wrote the words below a few years ago.

It’s summer. I have all this time to work on my favorite hobby. Yes! I love to paint abstract flowers. I am reading Aladdin, Show Your Work, and art blogs.

Interesting to see that only a few things have changed. I am reading an art book, and I started reading Don’t Call It Art by Austin Kleon. Show Your Work is also his book. It has been a hot day, and what better time to relax in the breeze, read, and eat something good.

First of all, I love this print I made in 2024. I remember painting this. It wasn’t coming together. A bit of a mess, and then this beauty happens. I hope I have the original file! I do and added it to my shop. Yay!

Here Are Some Posts that Will Help You Stay Cool and Creative

1. Remember Tempera Paint? I posted about how fun Tempera Paint is. I am reposting it here as a reminder for those who missed it. If you are looking for a fun activity for summer school or for lazy, creative days at home, give tempera paint a try.
2. Paint Your Heart Out is a book filled with ideas from finger painting to stamping, and hopefully, whatever else you will think of! Make sure you subscribe to get it for free.
3. How Not to Teach Art. I like this post because we all too often learn of a tutorial and try to copy it. That could be good practice, but why not paint your version, your story? Read the post for my Van Gogh lesson that supposedly guided the kids, but they taught me the powerful lesson!
4. A James Pierce Quote Art deteriorates when it is done for the audience. Pierce, this thought is wonderful. Seriously, someone could say our art is ugly, but if we believe that, then that will hurt us far more.
5. Corita Kent Rules: Print these up and add them to your creative space or classroom! Rules need to be written in our art journal books or hung somewhere in our creative space. I just have a rule. There is only make! There are a lot of thoughts that go into that book, but this is the one!
6. Flow with Paper Collage. Paper Collage is something you should try. There is something magical about painting paper and using different tools to create texture. Then you start cutting the pieces, and it all comes together. You learn to love and appreciate the process. Shouldn’t we always?
7. I bought a $2 set of oil pastels, and here we are! Art does not have to be expensive. I’ll keep telling myself this because the prices have gone up. No worries, store brands are great!

I have enjoyed reading these posts again, and happy that I wrote them! Corita Kent is number 1 on my list. I went through posts from the last couple of years. Most of these were popular. A few of them are simply important to me. Lately, I have needed to redirect and focus on my art. There is so much noise out there that it can be distracting. So yeah, I’ll be browsing Anthropologie, taking notes of what captivates me, and painting.

I found this workshop on painting loose roses. I can’t wait! Yes, that is what I want. Sometimes I look at my work, and I can see where I am trying too much. In the meantime, here’s a video of Suzanne Allard creating. She just makes marks, and it’s beautiful. These are my dreams! I’ll be living this way in the summer! Everyday!!

Now I am going to paint. If you are taking a course or reading something that speaks to you, let me know. I might want to read it too. Check out all of the rules and the video, and let me know which idea speaks to you.

Ok, let’s go paint! It’s going to be good!

Thank you for being here! When you subscribe, you will get a link to an ebook filled with fun ideas to paint flowers.