Today is Grandpa Bill's birthday. Hes my husband grandfather that I had the privilege of getting to know. He passed in 2024 and is missed dearly. Fun fact: Grandpa Bill was a big motivator in my joining ACI. He loved painting and often had his travel watercolor set with him. My mother in law did a show for first Fridays in December and featured a bunch of his work. It was to my surprise to find a watercolor greeting card on display. I had just done greeting cards for the first time this holiday season. It almost felt like a sign. I have posted some of his work, along with the card I had mentioned. He is sorely missed but forever loved. Happy heavenly birthday Grandpa Bill.

Art can feel like a solo journey sometimes… long studio hours, headphones in, deep focus mode on. But the truth is, connection is often the invisible thread that strengthens our work. Connection to: • Our why • Our story • Other artists • The people who experience our art Every critique, every shared work-in-progress, every encouraging comment builds something bigger than just skill. It builds community. So let’s open this up 💬 How has being part of a creative community impacted your growth? Have you made a meaningful connection through art recently? What kind of support or collaboration are you hoping to find right now? Drop your thoughts below. Tag someone here who has inspired you. Let’s intentionally build each other up. 🤝✨ Because art grows stronger when artists grow together.🌲

The new Ferris Wheel Press Inks came in! Recommended by others, come in cute potion like bottles and packaging is very aesthetic. Nothing got broken and the delivery was very fast too. I’ll be swatching them this weekend and bought a number of shimmery ones to add to my drawings. Once I get it swatched and drawn I’ll update on here.

Work in Progress Wednesday is here 🎨✨ Share what you’re working on right now! It can be a rough sketch ✏️, a halfway-done painting 🖌️, a color study 🎨, a finished piece you just wrapped up 🏁, or even something still in the idea phase 💡 Every stage counts 🙌 What are you currently creating? What phase are you in? What’s one thing you’re figuring out or refining? 🔍 What’s one part you’re really proud of so far? 🌟 This community is about the full journey, not just the polished final result 💬✨ Drop your piece in the comments and let’s celebrate the process together! 🚀

We love a stunning final piece… but can we talk about what comes before it? The thumbnails.The messy sketches.The color studies.The “what if I try this instead?” moments. Preliminary work isn’t just prep it’s problem-solving. It’s where composition gets stronger, values get clarified, and ideas evolve from vague sparks into intentional design. Planning before the final piece often means fewer frustrations, bolder decisions, and more confidence when it’s time to commit. Sometimes the “before” stage is where the real magic happens. Let’s talk about it: Do you create thumbnails or value studies before starting a final piece? Has planning ever completely changed your original idea? Or are you more of a dive-in-and-figure-it-out artist? Drop a before & after in the comments if you have one, sketches included. Let’s normalize showing the process, not just the polish. 👏 For my before and after this is my "Floating Cities on a Distant Planet" piece. My preliminary is in gouache in my sketchbook to study colors and composition. The final is mixed media with acrylic, gouache, and fine liners! As you can see, the concept shifted quite a bit from the preliminary sketch to the final painting. What began as mountains evolved into expansive gas clouds, which opened up the composition and gave the piece a more atmospheric, otherworldly feel. I also introduced a second floating city in the distance to create more depth and narrative interest. Instead of a traditional cloudy sky, I opted for cloud rings, which added movement and a stronger sense of scale. It’s a great reminder of how much can change between planning and execution, and how staying open during the process can lead to a more dynamic final result.