10 years of watercolor painting!

Today I am celebrating 10 years of pursuing my dream as a working artist. The road has been winding and long, and there are many miles yet to go, but it is something I truly love. Here’s a little more about my story and how art has shaped my life for many years.

I didn't choose art. It chose me. I started drawing when I was 3 years old. All through my school years, whenever someone asked me the classic childhood question, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" I always answered, "An Artist". I took every available art class through public school and after graduation, I was accepted into the Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design in Denver, CO. Although I was unable to complete my degree there, I moved back home to Arizona and took every art class I could through community colleges, some at ASU and eventually the Scottsdale Artists School. My art career has not been linear by any means. I have started and stopped and worked other jobs continually all while pursuing my dream. I have wanted to quit too many times to count, but there is something inside of me, that is called to pursue art as a career. I believe this is a God given gift and it is my strong desire to fulfill my purpose by creating art.

I was very blessed to have found an amazing teacher and mentor when I was 14 years old. Tonja Sell helped train me through my high school years and prepared me to apply and eventually be accepted to art school. She is an incredible artist and we are still friends today. Her work can be found on Instagram @tonja_sell

My art journey has taken quite a few turns and continues to do so. I’ve been an entrepreneur since age 18, so, what I do for money has not always been art. I have learned over the years that being an artist is not necessarily a career choice- it is who I am. 

I have explored a variety of mediums since school age. I have drawn with pencil and charcoal and pastel. I have worked with oil paint for many years. I love pen and ink sketching. 

My work with watercolor began ten years ago. I had painted with watercolor on and off for years but really preferred oils. In 2011, I took a watercolor class at the Scottsdale Artists School. When my instructor did her first demo and taught us to allow watercolor to take on a life of its own, I exclaimed, “I didn’t know you could do THAT with watercolor!” I was instantly hooked. I decided to dedicate a full year to only painting with watercolor and really try to master the medium.

I enjoy pushing the “rules” of watercolor. I didn’t used to admire the medium of watercolor because I thought it had to be pale, pastel and washed out looking. When you eliminate the stereotyped ideas of watercolor and actual play with the medium, you can push it in ways that are quite surprising. I like to have a continual play of transparent and opaque, bold strokes and soft delicate areas, geometric spaces and curving flowing lines. This push-pull of techniques and design elements keeps the viewer engaged and excited as they explore the painting. My approach is not traditional and that is what I love about it. 

I’m excited to take a moment to celebrate this 10 year milestone, but I’m even more excited to see what this next year holds. I’m eager to get back in the studio and create new paintings and I’d like to show my work in a few different venues next year as well. I hope wherever you are in your own personal journey, that you make time for your dreams. I really believe it is important to pursue our highest purpose in whatever form or fashion that may take.