Tag: art journal

the art journal blog of an expressionistic artist who paints the way nature makes her feel.

how to be an artist

Lessons I Have Learned as an Artist this Week

Mireya

I have two big lessons to share this week.

Six roses painted with acrylic paint and finished with blue green leaves

Self-Control

I blogged about an abundance mindset and the in-between state of mind last week. To think you can, you will, your art is good enough…that’s self-control. We have to notice our destructive thinking and let go. I wanted to throw this painting away layers ago but I kept painting!

Keep Going

Click here to see an idea pin on how my pink roses went from basic shapes to interesting art! With every layer, I learn to listen to the brilliant voice that knows how to paint. Me! Plus, I’m painting on the same paper. That means I’m not wasting paper. Yes, I think about wasting paper and trees.

Wait! I have one more very important lesson.

Bloom With Care

Just as flowers need water, sun, and soil to grow we need water, sun, and soil to nourish our bodies and spirit. I should write a poem on this for my roses book? I will!

As always thanks for reading. Have a tip to share? Comment below. Did I mention that I won a Liquitex giveaway? I’ll be testing out the paint as soon as it arrives write a post about it.

Thank you so much for reading,

Siempre,

Mireya

Expressive Flowers
Mireya
Daily writing prompt
How do you know when it’s time to unplug? What do you do to make it happen?
View all responses

Tonight I thought about the days to come and the days that passed. The brightness that warmed my heart. There is a course to film. A Roses book to paint and write. And so I picked up the brush and painted. Did I do my best? Can I paint roses? What if I spend the entire summer painting and filming. BUT none of it is good en…

And with each stroke comes a breath of fresh air. I’ll share the painting in Sunday’s post.

Siempre,

Mireya

Expressive Flowers, Roses Project

Orange Peace and Hope Roses

Mireya
Orange roses with blue leaves painted in watercolor

Oh my! I completely forgot about Wednesday’s post entry. There’s a good reason! My interent was down and I was on the phone trying to fix it. The good news is I have. My blog post is a little late but here I am!

Now on to my orange roses. I was wandering around UCLA and found these orange roses! I painted the way these roses made me feel.

The orange shade stopped me in my tracks

Peaceful mind you don’t have to come back

You are always here

Tenderly holding me near

Magnificent color, how is it so

Together we glow

Yes, this is how the orange roses made me feel. The shade of orange is bright and terracotta. I just did research on terracotta and terracotta radiates warmth and happiness. These are the words and colors of how nature makes me feel. The blue is orange’s best friend. Blue is faith. Faith is what I was feeling too!

This design is in my shop if you want to explore it further. Thank you for reading! Thank you for being a part of creatively hue.

Expressive Flowers

Lessons I’ve learned As An Artist This Week

Mireya

Hello! Before I continue with today’s post I want to share a posting agenda. Every Sunday I’ll post the art lessons I’ve learned throughout the week. Every Wednesday I’ll post an update on my current project including tips. I’ll be posting a random tutorial post on one of the other days. Ok, let’s get this post started.

These are the lessons I’ve learned as an artist this week.

In-between state of mind

At the first sign of mistakes, I’II want to start over. I haven’t felt the need to start over! Ok, I threw out a few sheets of paper because I made a mess with the paint BUT I work in peace. I don’t think about the work being good or bad. Sometimes I do but then I choose to keep painting.

Abundance Mindset

I’ve been blogging for a long time. Every day there are more of you. Thank you so much! And I appreciate the kind feedback. I want to believe that I encourage all of you to paint and or add joy to your days. When I read your comments I say, “Really? You think my roses are beautiful? I’m in the practice phase.” I forget that what makes art wonderful is there’s room for all of us! We can all be given the task to paint a rose. How we paint the rose is art. There’s no right way to paint a rose! By the way abundance mindset is a term I borrowed from Ettavee.

Have a little plan

Neocolours are water-soluble crayons. Before I paint, I sketch with Neocolour crayons. When I hold a Neocolour in my hand it reminds me of crayons. And crayons are childhood. These crayons help me keep art loose, exploratory, and playful!

Pink and orange roses in a blue scalloped border vase
acrylic painted blue vase filled with pink and blue roses
Painting expressive abstract roses with acrylic paint
eight pink roses in various sizes with pink and blue leaves
blue vase filled with pink and orange roses

Sometimes I’ll set up my favorite color and sketch. Or I’ll think of how the orange roses on my walk made me feel and I paint! Most of my process is anything goes. There’s this artist who likes to mix up paint right on the canvas instead of a palette. All these little ideas help me start. All you have to do is start. You don’t have to know how to paint. Just paint! I’m fact if you’re thinking I don’t know how, you’re doing it wrong.

So basically it’s the little plans that create the state of mind and state of mine welcomes the abundance mindset.

Thanks for reading and being a part of creatively hue. What you think of these tips? The blog agenda? Comment below.

Siempre,

Mireya

Expressive Flowers

Fun Friday

Mireya
colorful word art lets do this on a cream tote bag

I’m here going over my week and the lessons I’ve learned. I won a liquidex hard body acrylic paint bundle pack. Blick Art Supplies always hosts giveaways. I have been entering always thinking I’ll win. I won. I’m supper excited to use my paint. I had to share my win because, yes it’s just a giveaway but I’ve been feeling hopeful and enjoying my journaling. This is a small step toward my roses project.

More on abundance mindset on Sunday’s post.

Siempre,

Mireya

Expressive Flowers

Roses-Everything Bouquet

Mireya
Pink and orange roses in a blue scalloped border vase

The roses this year are beautiful! On Sunday I painted orange roses inspired by the lovelies I saw at UCLA. I’ll share my orange roses painting in an upcoming post. I’m not quite finished yet. Oh but let’s go over the above floral arrangement. Did I sketch this with a pencil first? No, it was Neocolor Water Soluble Pastels. I use pastels to do a rough sketch and then get right into painting. I used the last of my sun-kissed yellow to paint flowers. The orange, yellow and pink roses express the friendship, peace, and love I experience with nature. The scallop border flower pot is cute, fun, and carefree. I can’t believe all of my sun-kissed yellow is gone. I guess that means I’m ready to use the premium cadmium yellow! Yes, everything goes. As an artist, you have to explore your tools. See what happens. Keep going!

I’m the artist who signs her initials with a small heart. I like blue flowers. I want blue roses. I want to paint and let the flowers bloom before my eyes. I express how nature makes me feel. In the words of Tabitha Brown, “It’s my business.” This is how I’ve been painting and will continue to paint. Thank you for your support and kind words. I’ve been selling a few books and there’s more art to come. Oh right, I will officially go over my summer plans. I’m excited for what’s to come!

Thank you for reading this post. Thank you for subscribing. Every day there’s more of you. Would you like to see a post on some of my favorite supplies?

Siempre,

Mireya

Expressive Flowers, Roses Project

Roses-Just Paint Them

Mireya
eight pink roses in various sizes with pink and blue leaves

I don’t know why I place so much thought in the outcome. I’ve blogged about hoarding my paint. I’ll use professional paint when I’m ready. Will I ever be ready! No, but as I paint I become ready. My mind wanders to the children I had the honor of chaperoning at the California Science Center. At first, the grown-up in me was reading the exhibit info. That was fine! The students got right into exploring. Some were so eager they forgot to wait patiently for their turn. We speak of it still.

Amazon like all print-on-demand platforms are changing its pricing system. That led me to update my book collection. There’s No Right Way to Paint a Flower is about painting and exploring. In that book, I painted flowers with erases, fingers and a variety of tools. I’ll keep filling my journal with lovely roses. I’m halfway through the journal. Actually, I am more than halfway done! I want to be like those children who are eager, curious and just want to explore. I am!

I saw large beautiful orange roses yesterday! I am overwhelmed with peace and love when I see roses. Days ago, it was yellow and pink roses. Once I finish the journal I’ll start painting and write the roses book. I’ll paint orange roses! I want lavender roses too! I’ll be sharing my progress in daily blog posts. I’ll post some of the artwork in my shop. This week I’ll talk more about my summer plans. Wait, I think I just did.

For today only, you can get the book for free. Click on this link. How do you paint roses? Have an artist tip? Or who’s your favorite artist? Perhaps a garden that you enjoy visiting. Comment below.

Siempre,

Mireya

Expressive Flowers, Roses Project

Roses-You’re the Artist. You’ve Got This!

Mireya

I do? I am? I am! I’ve been getting good feedback for my pink roses skillshare project. These expressive flowers were painted for a Skillshare class. There were many revisions. I was able to overcome uncertainty. That emotion flowed through. I have a good rhythm.

Pink Roses Painted with Acrulic paints in magenta

Now I’m not worried about what the artwork will like. Not going to lie, the thoughts are there but there not at my center. Yesterday’s post did give me clarity.

Painting expressive abstract roses with acrylic paint

With all of this goodness, I painted blue roses. The first layer was a mess. Then I added a second layer of darker blue, used my finger to blend the petals, and explore leaf shapes. As I dotted the centers of the flower, I thought of the actual roses I had seen in Heritage Square. Like a true artist, I just want to paint and share that. Some of my best moments are creating with students.

Thank you for reading. If you haven’t subscribed then please do because I am blooming! We are blooming!

Siempre,

Mireya

Expressive Flowers, Roses Project

Roses?

Mireya
acrylic painted blue vase filled with pink and blue roses

Ok, so I never really appreciated the beauty of a rose. Roses. Typical. Right? I started noticing them last year. This year roses are huge and in such gorgeous colors. I want all this in my art, in my book? Here are my two thoughts. Why just paint roses when I miss painting all of the other flowers I paint? Oh but roses, you beautiful roses are keeping me out of my comfort! Do I know how to paint them? No. I’ve been practicing. I still don’t know what I’m doing. I love what’s happening with my work. It’s not great but I don’t want to throw it away either. My art seems to be blooming from this peace zone. All artists need to have mindfulness, connect and create from your spirit.

Sounds like I’m right where I need to be? I needed to clarify. Not to worry, I’ll be sharing my blue roses in the next post.

Siempre,

Mireya