What Inspires You Wednesday: ArtPlay

Watercolors & Patterns

Since Easter morning, when I took my Mom's big old paint supply box out to the backyard and sat and just gave watercolors a try, I've been creating something with watercolor just about every day.

I am a girl obsessed. It feels like a stress relieving mental vacation for me, when a real vacation is far off in the distance. It is giving me a much needed burst of creativity away from the mouse, that in turn makes me more productive at my desk for having had the time away. I often start and end my day this way and it only inspires me to do it  more.

Right now, I'm just trying to create for creating's sake. To see what feels right. What looks right. Whether it's flowers, or experimenting with colors, landscapes, or a lot of patterns I feel like I just need to produce and I'll find my groove and style and I don't want to limit myself at all. That itself feels incredibly refreshing when by day, I'm creating for business purposes and it can be an entirely different process. As a creative person, sometimes I just need the freedom to create whatever strikes my fancy. The watercolors feel like they're all about letting the business stuff of the day go. Making mistakes, trial and error and simply going with the flow and just creating. Period.

I've really been having a blast playing with patterns, among other things.  I finally took one of my watercolor patterns and imported it into photoshop and then into illustrator where I created a bigger, overall pattern.  I must admit, I'm quite like it and am inspired to do that with many more of the patterns I've already painted.

I think what I'm really liking is that there are no rules. Yeah, I'm not the kind of gal that's into rules.

I also painted my first two watercolor buildings last night. I took a trip to New York and the Empire State first and then ended my mental vacation in Paris before I hit the sack. If you follow me on instagram, you may have seen it already, but there it is again.

Did you know that the Eiffel Tower was built in a matter of two years? Before the turn of the last century? No kidding. It was also criticized by many architects and designers of the times, but in the end I think this icon has had the last laugh. Someday I'll see it in person.

Not half bad for a first go. The funny thing is, I really didn't like how it was looking at the beginning, but I stuck with it and was pleased with it in the end.  There is more forgiveness with watercolors than I would have thought. I'm feeling inspired by that too. Not judging too soon and letting things unfold. It's a good lesson.

If you're like me and love patterns, be sure to check out all the inspiration on my patterns & texture pinterest board. Gorgeous stuff.


Tonight I doubt there will be any painting at the end of the day. It's playoff hockey between my Bs and our rivals, the Montreal Canadiens. In game 7. At home. I'm hoping my boys look like themselves on the ice tonight. The President's Cup winners- the team with the best record in hockey this year.  The last game we looked like a different team all together. Of course, when we win the Stanley Cup this year, we'll be able to say, 'it wouldn't have been the same without beating the Habs in a game seven to get there'. I'll close the windows, but you still may hear me all the way from here.  Nothing like getting the heart racing........

I know I can count on you to make it a great day, right? I'll do the same.

Ciao for now,