Tag: art diy

Expressive Flowers

Artist Tips of the Year

Mireya

Practice for Flow Not Perfection

Blue Flowers in a Blue Vase

Practice isn’t about getting good or great. Practice is about letting go. At some point, there’s this voice and you realize it’s there, always has been. I have sat and sat for hours trying to paint something. Nothing happened. On this occasion, I had one color, one damaged brush, and five minutes.

Paper Collage is a Great Way to Learn About Color

Collage pink flowers and lettering the words free soul in Spanish

I’m putting together a creative exploration course with a paper collage. Sometimes I go into the process knowing that I’ll be creating flowers but it’s nice to just use random tools to stamp and blend colors. Then I’ll get an idea and start cutting and arranging. The idea blooms right before my eyes. That’s what happened with the letters M and L.

Social Media needs my attention and consistency

Various papers painted with vibrant orange and pink tones

I like to experiment and paint. I occasionally post on Pinterest. When I do the results are awesome. At one point I had 80k monthly views. I had no plan but to share my work. It worked. I am still learning about SEO. I have ideas. Here’s to more traffic.

Focus on the Moment

I know I’m the artist and I get attached to my work but I shouldn’t. I should only be that spiritual connection that comes as I create. I’m not the end result of my work. Nor am I entitled to the fruits of my labor. My best ideas come when I focus on the moment. For example, I many times have the opportunity to paint with my students. I set up the paint and brushes and wonder what will come of the dried-up dollar store palettes and beyond-bent shapeless brushes. These thoughts have nothing to do with me, my spirit. What is me is curiosity? I’m always curious about what everyone will paint? And every time before my eyes, the children mix up interesting colors, and awesome textures and they are artists. No one gives them permission. They just pick up the brush and go for it.

Expressive Flowers

Textures of 2022

Mireya

One of my techniques is texture. I love the surprise of trying a random tool to see what happens. These are the ideas that satisfy my curiosity.

Stamping with a candle lid is one of the best texture ideas I’ve ever had. I don’t want to say best because there are many more textures to come.

The textures that come from stamping with a paper roll are random and beautiful. Oh, this makes me think of the ceramic pitcher at Anthropologie. I’ve got to work more with this kind of texture.

Creating writing paper by stamping with ribbon? What an idea!

pink flower pattern on textured paper.

Stamping with a facial sponge creates a rough vintage texture. It’s fun to do this and then paint over it.

This was absolutely random. I used a semi-dry flat brush. I love it!

There are many textures that I painted for paper collage purposes.

Expressive Flowers

There’s a Gem In Every Project

Mireya

Ana & George was my first book project. For a short time, it was published but I stopped selling it because it was too much of a work in progress. The story began with a destined-to-be queen bee. Bellisia wanted to travel the world, and engage with all her worker bees. She wanted to fly with the butterflies and visit all the flowers. Somehow Bellisia turned into a baker bee named Ana.

And slowly all these characters emerged. Each one with a spirit that refuses societal norms. It’s not about being different. It’s a want to be yourself. I kept going back and forth with ideas. I would sit for hours and write. Then throw it away and start over. I loved imagining the characters, letting my mind wander, and writing. I got to be part of the adventure. Painting is my love and my adventure. Every project I work on is an adventure.

I now realize that I let this story go for good reasons. What do I know about writing and illustrating a chapter book? Absolutely nothing. That’s exactly why I had to write it. If it weren’t for this story I wouldn’t have had the courage to write Different Is Beautiful. I have many more poems and stories to write.

I just read Ana & George. It’s been years since I’ve read this story. I thought I deleted it. I’m glad I still have it? Maybe I can turn the book themes and characters into a whimsical thought journal book? What a cool idea! I should do some creative writing while the idea is still fresh in my mind.

Siempre,

Mireya

Expressive Flowers

All That Is Me

Mireya

Wait that’s not the brush I used to paint the brush strokes or stamp the stigmas but everything about these blooms is me. I stamped with the back of a paintbrush. I sporadically mixed a wonderful peach. And the warm yellow, it was great. Then, I wanted more pink. Let’s just say this wasn’t a happy mistake. I went through four sheets of good watercolor paper. I kept trying to recreate the peach tone. I kept trying to paint the strokes. It just wasn’t working. The more I tried the further I deviated from the freeness that allows me to paint.

So why is all of this me? This painting session was about what happens when I let go, when I let go of what should or could be and simply paint. Yes paint like the young spirits who in the moment, ooed and awed over randomly mixing tones of green. They painted like true artists. No one gave them permission. They just painted. That’s how I paint when I’m painting blooms. Some ideas work and others are filled with brilliant lessons.

Now that’s the me I want more of. Here’s to the peach flowers that led to this post. What a lesson! These pink blooms are me coming back to all that is me, the color, the texture, and peace. I’ve been painting lots of paper collage flowers. More on that tomorrow.

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Siempre,

Mireya

Expressive Flowers

Blooming orange thoughts

Mireya
Three orange collage blooms on a pink background

I like painting these flowers. I want a book filled with them. Each bloom will have positive thoughts. It’s obvious, how much we need positive thoughts. Yes, these blooms are my next book project.

Here’s the first one.

Pink flower with world needs love quote

And the inspiring Anthropologie window display that started it all.

I just now see, that’s me, my shadow. What a wonderful artist. We all are.

Expressive Flowers

Lovely Pinks Ornament Flowers

Mireya

I posted new artwork on society6. I worked on my calendar. I started my journal! I’ve stalked up on supplies and ready to go.

Here’s my summer to do list:

  • Promote books with Pinterest story videos for each of my books
  • Self love art projects. One idea is painted book paper blooms inspired by an Anthropologie window display. This begins July
  • Read. I have chosen poetry and a biography for starters. I have a list of books
  • organize/map out a collage course Oh I could host a mini course idea here and video on Pinterest
  • AND the biggest of all is to continue with flower exploration. It’ll be part 2 of There’s No Right Way to Paint a Flower

Now I’ll go review my notes, and go for a wonderful walk.

Expressive Flowers

Pink Swatches and Flowers

Mireya

I took a few notes. Then I put my old palette to use. It’s almost gone. I’m ready to transition to my new pan set. Adding a little yellow green to permanent rose makes warm pinks.

Painting for fun. Mixing colors to see what happens. It’s all so wonderful. Practice for the sake of practice. Let there be no agenda. Quiet your voice. Begin to paint with poise. Let go of complaining. By quiet your voice, I mean the human one. Let your spirit shine. Let your spirit paint. Let your spirit create!

Creative Exploration

Paper roll blooms

Mireya

Love making these flowers. So easy to make and different beautiful petals every time. I’m posting this right now because I need a reminder to keep creating keep making art. I am my best tool. Here’s to creating more. Here’s to just making art and being you.

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Creative Exploration

Keep going

Mireya

I keep trying to paint this pattern and it hasn’t come out same. At all. What brush did I use? The colors are great together. All I know is when I painted this I let go, just did what I wanted. I need lots more of this. Oh and without hesitation I added it to the shop. This is the work my dreams are made of. The work that flows. At least that’s what the greats say.

Maybe I’ll paint another butterfly today.

U

Creative Exploration

Ceramic Pot With Acrylic

Mireya

Why am I exploring culture? The more I do, the more I feel connected to the world. I’ve admired it always, especially when I’ve gone to Mexico or San Diego. Along the highway, on my road trip I saw the Colorado Mountains and the Pennsylvania’s sign. Welcome to happiness is a great title for this book. Nature along with the people, what a great idea. For this project I’m going to bulid a collection on pinterest, learn and paint what catches my eye. I don’t know how I will organize this or what I’m painting but it’s going to be good.

Note to self:

Stop judging your skils and your work. Paint. Explore color and see what happens. Let the vase be slanted. Practice your drawing and PAINT. Explore. Watering down acrylic makes for good ceramic glazing textures. Instead of going from culture to culture paint what catches your eye.

If you are painting ceramics, think about what story you want to tell? Reminds me of a Egyptian vase? Oh.

Materials I used are acrylic paint, round brushes in sizes 1 and 7

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Thanks for reading. Have a good weekend!