Still life and urban sketching? More like “still hiding behind art supplies and questionable architectural doodles.”
Are you a flower person? Do you prefer the show-offs—those high-maintenance roses that demand constant attention? Or are you team humble-but-underrated daisy? Pink and fragrant? Wilted and questionable? There’s a flower personality out there for everyone, and no judgment here.
Three peonies walk into a painting. Nobody leaves.
So this summer, I enrolled in a Flowers painting course—a decision that absolutely upended everything I thought I knew about myself as an artist. Turns out, I’d been dodging still life like it was a personal insult for years. Plot twist: flowers are actually incredible. Who knew? (Apparently, everyone but me.) Through watercolor, ink, and an embarrassing amount of trial-and-error (hello, muddy brown petals), I discovered that my supposed “non-negotiable” artistic preferences were basically fiction. This course demolished my creative self-image in the best way possible, and I’m here to share all the glorious discoveries—and occasional disasters—in these flower-filled posts.
Three pink peonies in a garden, immortalized in watercolor and ink—because apparently, I decided to get fancy with my subject matter this year.
One peony, no filter, zero chill.
Bon voyage! Until the next creative adventure (and the next time I convince myself I can paint something completely outside my comfort zone). Stay healthy and keep those flowers watered—they’re needier than I am.
All paintings belong to me. Seriously, don’t steal them. I’ll know.
Tools used for this painting extravaganza: Watercolours by Charvin and Van Gogh (the fancy kids), GrayPas Expressionist pastels (for when I need drama), Derwent watercolor pencils (reliable sidekicks), and Faber Castell artist pens (the MVPs). Paper: Strathmore Watercolour and Mixed Media albums, 15×20 cm (6×8 in.)—perfectly sized for my wildly ambitious vision and limited attention span.
Floral Obsession: Still Life, Urban Sketching, and the Great Peony Conspiracy
Let me tell you about the time I became irrationally obsessed with peonies. Why peonies, you ask? Well, my mom had enough of these pompous pink showstoppers around my parents’ summer house to start a floral beauty pageant. I loved their tiny, adorable pink hats (yes, I’m calling them hats) and their scent—which basically smelled like summer decided to become a fragrance and live in a flower. Naturally, I had to paint them obsessively.
Picture this: A peony serving looks like a Queen at her coronation ball—because apparently these flowers didn’t get the memo that humility exists. Draped in regal reds, blushing pinks, and tender violets, each petal screams “I’m fancy, look at me!” So I painted one in impressionism style with watercolor, trying to capture that whole “I woke up like this” vibe. Spoiler alert: it took me way longer than I expected.
She’s pink, she’s proud, she’s basically royalty
Fast forward to now: I’m practically planning my next European adventure as a glorified flower reconnaissance mission. Armed with fresh art supplies and an unhealthy obsession with botanical subjects, I’m ready to sketch and paint my way through Europe—watercolor and ink in hand, zero chill about flowers. My travel companions are probably rolling their eyes. That’s their loss.
Behold: a tender pink peony in all its impressionistic glory, captured in watercolor. Yes, I made it slightly dramatic. It seemed appropriate given how peonies carry themselves.
Still pink. Still judging you. Still perfect.
Bon voyage to you! Until the next travel adventure (probably somewhere there are flowers to paint). Stay witty, and remember: life’s too short not to have strong opinions about flowers.
All paintings belong to the author and are protected by the sacred code of “don’t steal my flowers.” No image is to be copied without permission.
For the curious minds wondering about my artistic arsenal: I wielded watercolors from the fancy brands (Charvin and Van Gogh—yes, I went full art history nerd), pastels from GrayPas Expressionist, Derwent watercolor pencils (the real MVPs), and Faber Castell artist pens. My canvas of choice? Strathmore Watercolor and Mixed Media albums, 15×20 cm (6×8 in.)—AKA the perfect size for portable flower obsession.
For my artist colleagues. Workshops. Holidays spirit for creative community. Paint your world.
Summer is officially here! I have an exciting plan to create a series of paintings depicting seascapes. I will explore these landscapes under various weather conditions, times of day, and seasons.
Some artworks will be done outdoor, on the beach (“en plein air’), while others will be created in my studio. Follow along for behind-the-scenes insights and my creative process as I navigate both worlds! Get ready for some exciting connections to dance!
What is your process of creating an imaginary artwork?
Wave in Rhythm: A sunset story is my first artwork with an imaginary sunset scene over the sea. It is illuminated by the setting sun. I captured the clouds from my photo reference that I took last week.
Waves in Rhythm: A Sunset Story. The painting is vibrant and full of colors. It depicts a sailboat with orange sails against a sunset over the sea. The artwork captures the essence of a lively Charleston dance.
Color palette. I was using a limited palette, a mixture of cobalt, ultramarine, and orange.
A vibrant color palette featuring ultramarine, transparent orange, and cobalt paints, showcasing the artist’s tools for creating seascapes.
Interestingly, in English, “orange” refers to both a fruit and a color, while other languages have separate words for each. I refer to this color as the fruit orange. “Orange sunset” sounds tasty, doesn’t it? :)
Soundtrack Inspiration
How about to play music while painting? Do you like it? I love it .
It captures the essence of sea and any imaginary story’s sounds, for this art is Charleston music! :) This rhythm can influence your brushwork and composition.
Similarly, there are some emotions linked with both the sea and the dance. How does the sight of the waves in motion resonate with you? Does it evoke joy or a sense of freedom? Maybe nostalgia?
An artistic depiction shows a couple dancing the Charleston. They are against a backdrop of dynamic waves. This scene captures the lively spirit of summer.
Likewise, both are forms of expression that echo life’s rhythms. This serves as a metaphor. It merges the fluidity of sea waves with the rhythm of dance in the jazz age. Paint it like a lively Charleston—dynamic, energetic, and full of life!:)
Just listen any Charleston music and your brush will do various brush techniques—including swirling, dabbing, and stippling—enhanced the illusion of movement in the wave paintings :)
At the end of post, I will share my favorite list of Charleston compositions that you can find on YouTube.
I am capturing the essence of the sea upon my watercolor paper. Its waves are crashing gracefully. Meanwhile, an orange yacht sails onward toward the horizon of distant lands. What tale does this scene whisper?
It depicts an enchanting couple aboard the yacht. They are lost in a lively dance of the Charleston. Their laughter mingles with the sound of the waves. Who can truly say?This is my story. Can you tell me Your story?:)
I invite you to join me on this artistic journey. Together, let us create a series that celebrates the beauty of the sea. Let’s foster connection. We can inspire others to cherish the natural world around us. We’ll blend art and relaxation. Grab your paints; we’re about to make waves!
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Every wave tells a story; Let’s make waves together! Keep an eye out for updates, sneak peeks, and finished pieces as we celebrate summer through sea landscapes.
The magic of the holidays is in the making! Join me on this artistic adventure as I explore the captivating world of #TravelVibes #ArtAdventure
All paintings belong to the author. No image is to be copied without permission.
Below is Soundtrack Inspiration. The list of compositions shows how the rhythm of the waves mimics the upbeat tempo of the Charleston music. Both evoke a sense of joy and liberation.
1. “Let’s twist again”-Chubby Checker California Jubilee
2. “Sway Dancing”-Rita Hayworth
3. “Hit the Road Jack”- Ray Charles
4. “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)” – Duke Ellington
5. “Take the ‘A’ Train” – Duke Ellington
6. “Cheek to Cheek” – Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong
Summer is here! Are you one of those people who gets bizarrely excited about local markets while traveling? Because I am definitely guilty. My favorite one in Rome is practically next door to the Vatican (meaning I can repent immediately after overspending on berries). It’s called Mercato Trionfale, and yes, the address is coming up—patience, my friend!
Our family camped out in a Vatican-adjacent hotel, and we visited Mercato Trionfale so often the vendors probably thought we were casing the joint. But no—we were just on a top-secret berry reconnaissance mission. Berry shopping was our favorite activity. Yes, that’s how wild we live.
For this post, I hunted down the brightest, most absurdly colorful paintings from the market—because apparently I’m obsessed with painting fruit. And not just any fruit, mind you. Only Italian berries would do. My standards are ridiculous, I know.
(And yes, watermelon technically counts as a berry—yes, really. The internet didn’t lie to you this time.)
A watermelon is technically a berry. Botany is a liar and I love it.
Now, cherries. I absolutely adore Italian cherries, especially because they somehow trigger my most sentimental memories. Apparently, my brain associates their aroma with my parents’ summer house—you know, that magical place where there was always a bowl of bright, juicy cherries on the table, sometimes sweet, sometimes shockingly sour (the betrayal!). The smell of cherries instantly transports me to endless summer evenings at the cottage, all leisurely and carefree. Cherries basically smell like bottled joy and femininity and everything summer is supposed to be. Romantic, right? (I’ll wait while you roll your eyes.)
Sweet. Sour. Zero warning. Cherries are the trust-fall of fruit.
My daughter texted me this photo of their breakfast in Positano, Italy—perched dramatically above the Mediterranean Sea with berries, fruit, and orange juice spread out like they were posing for Vogue. Naturally, I was instantly jealous. So, I did what any reasonable artist does: I added myself to the scene by painting in my sketchbook and favorite Staedtler pencil. Problem solved! Now it’s basically like I was there (in my imagination, which is just as good, right?). Fingers crossed my dream trip actually happens someday!
My daughter’s breakfast view. I painted myself into it.
And then there are grapes. Fun fact #1: they’re also berries. Fun fact #2: apparently they’ve been lounging around Earth for 65 million years. Now, here’s where it gets delightfully ridiculous. According to a (probably made-up) ancient legend, grapes showed up eons ago as the children of Earth and Sun. Back then, they didn’t take months to ripen like spoiled celebrities—nope, they went from morning to sunset in one day, like productivity on steroids. The ones that ripened by dawn got the rosy blush from the morning sky and turned pink. The afternoon bunch hoarded the sun’s gold rays and went golden yellow. And the latecomers? They borrowed the Southern night’s dark, velvety blue tones and went deep purple. Essentially, grapes are just showing off their gradient wardrobe collection.
Grapes: 65 million years old, still unbothered, still gorgeous.
And that, my friends, is why grapes come in so many fabulous colors. Voilà! Nature’s color palette at its most extra.
Bon voyage! Until the next travel misadventure! (And stay healthy—berries help with that.)
All paintings belong to the author. No image is to be copied without permission. (Yes, I’m watching. I have eyes.)
Nerdy tools section: All these beauties were painted with Watercolour brands Van Gogh and Cotman. Paper: Canson Mix Media album 28×35 cm (11×14 in.) and Canson Watercolour album 25×35 cm (11×15 in.). Yes, I’m that person with the fancy supplies. Don’t judge.
Mercato Trionfale address (for your pilgrimage): Via la Goletta, 1, Rome. GPS coordinates recommended to avoid wandering around like a lost tourist. (Though we all know you’re going to wander anyway—that’s half the fun.)
Join me on this artistic adventure as I explore the captivating world of #TravelVibes #ArtAdventure
Art and travel club 