Hello and thank you for stopping by! I’m Megha, & this blog is my little corner of the internet where I share my love for Watercolor Art, Art Therapy & Creative living. Whether you’re an artist, a curious beginner or someone looking for a mindful escape through creativity, you’re in the right place! Here, you’ll find insightful posts on watercolor techniques, the transformative power of art therapy & how creativity can enhance general well-being, having experienced the benefits first hand I now want to help others!
I also love exploring how art impacts our surroundings, from décor ideas to the emotional connection we share with our creative expressions. I believe that art is for everyone, and through my blog, I hope to inspire you to pick up a brush, embrace creativity & experience the joy and healing it brings. Stay a while, explore & let’s create something beautiful together!
I have never met anyone who doesn’t like to paint roses! What beauty this lovely flower beholds! If painting realistic watercolor rose was on your painting wish list, then you can tick it off today! In this post I will take you through 7 easy steps that will help you paint a realistic watercolor rosebud.
“Of all flowers, methinks a rose is best.”
– William Shakespeare
Materials: Professional Artist Grade Watercolors, No 8 Round Brush, No 4 or No. 3 Round Brush, Mixing Palatte, 2 Jars of Water, Tissue, 100% Cotton Watercolor paper – Cold Pressed
Techniques- We will be using both Wet on Wet and Wet on Dry techniques and Detailing
Whether you are painting roses or any other realistic Flowers, here are the 6 Secrets that you should know,
Choose the right materials- Don’t settle for cheap materials! Although right techniques are more important than this but right materials can make a big difference in your outcome. Good quality paper, brushes with good tip, vibrant transparent colors will make it look more realistic.
Understand your reference – Observe the colors, shape, proportion, layers, details etc. with a lot of attention this will make the task easy for you. Take time to study all these by paying attention to all the details.
Always sketch very lightly – This is very important as watercolors are transparent in nature and the visible pencil marks will ruin the beauty of your painting.
Use the right techniques – Get your techniques right, WOW, WOD, Dry brush. blending etc. , So you know what to use where
Don’t over do – With practice you will know more clearly which technique to use when and this will help you paint better
Have patience! – Art in general requires patience, but with realistic paintings this virtue is a must and is very important!
Real life reference – Simply choose real rose flower, this would be easier if you are painting for a while. If you are a complete beginner than avoid using this as it wont be very easy to do. Also this will be time bound as you must finish before the rose withers!
Picture from internet- If you intent to use the painting ONLY for personal use, that means not even sharing it in part on any social channel, just go for it! Use whatever you like! This is great option! But if that’s not the case you should be very careful when doing this, if it is out there on the net does NOT mean its free to use however you like, even the photos on Wikipedia might have certain rights, so always read the usage rights thoroughly and carefully without fail.
Using the Painting of another artist- Copying another is anyways a no no! This is ethically wrong and can be very disrespectful to the Artist. This is the least recommended even if you are doing this strictly for personal use, copying can never be justified. This has many cons, if you aspire to be a realistic artist then this method will hinder that in a big way as the very essence will be lost ,and also you will just be copying (including their mistakes) instead of using your own creativity and effort.
Your own reference- This is the best way! No copyright issues, easier to paint than real life, if you have multiple angles you have more scope to learn. No hurry to paint! You don’t have to be a professional photographer to collect your own references, just a smart phone and little creativity is enough. These days so many amazing editing tools are available and you can easily use that to enhance your pictures and give them a professional touch. And this is what we will be using in this tutorial.
Although Sketching is optional with watercolors, with this it will really be helpful, all you have to do is sketch very lightly the main outline. Turn the photo into black and white version, reduce increase contrast, shadows, brightness etc. till you feel that it is easy to to sketch.
If sketching is not your thing then just go ahead and trace, there is nothing wrong with it. You can use tracing paper, butter paper, light box, print and trace using a window etc.
Another one is Grid method and this is very accurate and beginner friendly too. You will never go out of proportion with this! If tracing is something you don’t like then this is the best way. This is my favorite too, saves times, give the assurance that you drew it and it is time and effort saving!
Choose your color palette as per the picture, but since you are an artist you have the liberty to choose your own tones! Always swatch the colors, only mix you own colors if you are familiar with color theory and can do this effortlessly. You can also check this FREE Color Theory guide HERE for a basic intro.
You can grab the Color set HERE.
Once sketching is done, lighten your sketch a much as you can as watercolors are transparent and we don’t want any see through pencil marks,. You are now ready to add Paint!
We will be using wet on wet
First layer the petal base color and spread it all through
Next add the second color while it is still wet, start with dropping and the color let it spread on its own beautifully
Next blend to mix
While still wet , lift color to make the light, refer to the reference picture
Pick up any extra color using the brush and wiping in the tissue
Other details will be done later
Complete all the petals in the same way
Once you are done with the petals, move on to the sepal.
Again we will use wet on wet
Start with a layer of watery yellow
Then add the green and let it spread
Next add darker tones referring to the picture
Details will be added in the end
Next we will move on to painting leaves,
Again we will use wet on wet
Start with a layer of watery yellow
Add the green
Next add darker tones referring as per the the picture
Details will be added in the end
Lastly the final touches like, veins of the leaves, dots or fine lines on the rosebud.
We will use wet on dry for detailing
Add lines to the petal
Add finer points to the sepal
Add dots and dark lines to the sepal
Add deep pink to highlight the rose bud
So that’s about it! If you break it down in simple steps it becomes really easy to do!
Do share your version with me, I would love to see it and share on my social channels, you can tag me @bytheartbug!If you prefer Video you can check it out here on my YT Channel,
Until next time,
Whether you are a beginner or a pro, these are handy tips that you should know if you love painting miniatures. Painting of any type requires some skill and when it comes to miniatures it can be a little challenging if you don’t have the right tools, right mindset and the right techniques in place. In this post we will discuss 13 must know secrets for Miniature Watercolor Artists to create better paintings!
Miniature paintings are also called limning and they date back to the 3rd century. They got their name from a medieval painting technique used by the Artists of 16th & 17Th century, they used to paint using minimum also known as Red Lead.
A miniature (from the Latin verb miniare, “to colour with minium”, a red lead) is a small illustration used to decorate an ancient or medieval illuminated manuscript; the simple illustrations of the early codices having been miniated or delineated with that pigment.
Source: en.wikipedia.org
The earliest miniature painting can be traced back to 7th century AD! These were so intricate and very detailed even though tiny. It is really amazing that the artists of that time used to paint such intricate details without the use of any fancy tools! Over the centuries the art of painting miniatures has come a long way. The modern versions are are different from the older ones but the techniques involved are mostly the same. With modern tools it can be said that is a little easier for the artists to create even the tiny details more clearly. But still it requires a lot of skill and precision but with practice you can become a pro at it!
Download the Cheat sheet here for quick reference!
Before we hop on to 13 must know secrets for Miniature Watercolor Artists to create better paintings lets check out,
Small but not cheap – You art might be small but that does not mean it will be cheap! Miniatures carry even more value due to the difficult nature of the making process.
If you have the right tools the process becomes so much easier and also comfortable. Sometimes we don’t have the right tools and give up easily because of that. The frustration of not getting it right can be sometimes due to the use of incorrect tools and materials. For example you can’t just use any paper for watercolor, it has to be specific 100 percent cotton paper to get the best possible results. With that said, I won’t encourage you to get the best possible stuff available out there, but a bare minimum is a must. If you are confused about what to buy and how to buy or how to start on a budget, you can check my FREE guide here!
As for miniatures you can use smaller version of the same material, like small paper, mini sketchbook or cut it to size, lower number brushes or detailing brushes and the paint anyways remains the same.
The magnifier also comes in very handy if you want to see the details clearly, I personally find it difficult to use, so I never use it! So it is totally up to you whatever suits you!
The right mindset is needed for anything you do! Isn’t it? Don’t just assume that miniatures are very difficult just by looking at other Artists work. Give it a try first! Paint at least 15-20 miniatures and then decide. Never give up or quit unless you give it your 100 Percent.
Nothing is impossible.
The word itself says “I’m possible!”
-Audrey Hepburn
It is very important to have a stable hand and for this you need to practice, forget about paintings, first start with the drill even before you think about painting something. Warming up is vert important. When I am painting miniatures I like to doodle a few lines and patterns just to make sure I have a steady hand and the brush has a good point! A little warm up will always set you on the right path whether you are a beginner or at a more advanced level.
Watercolors are mostly transparent and if you draw dark it will be hard to hide the pencil marks with the paint unlike other opaque mediums, and it can totally ruin your work. That’s why always remember to sketch very lightly if are doing so.
Don’t go ahead of yourself and start with something very challenging, if you do that although it may sound very brave but you will end up giving up too soon. So remember to paint something very simple when you begin.
Does not matter whether you are using miniature brushes or regular smaller number brushes the brush point has to be good. The whole of miniature painting is like adding very intricate details even when you are painting the background! So be careful about this, good point is a must not just for adding the details but required just for painting miniatures.
Always paint in good natural light, avoid painting at night at all costs if you can, no matter how many bright lights you put it will strain your eyes, if you try doing that in artificial light. A mix of natural and artificial works best for me.
Dirty water is a call for disaster! Unlike other mediums the transparency of Watercolors can not handle even the slightest of dirt, else you will get muddy results.9. Right amount of Water. You have to be really careful with the amount of water on the brush, a little extra can turn the game around, always keep tissue handy and be mindful of the amount of water you are using.10. The Right Size Matters, don’t just directly jump on the smallest possible size to paint, always start with something that you can comfortably do and then come down to smaller size.
What is considered a Miniature,
An often-used definition is that a piece of miniature art can be held in the palm of the hand, or that it covers less than 25 square inches or 100 cm².
Source: Wikipedia
So it can be anywhere between a palm sized miniature and a Micro Miniature like this one, smaller than a Nail!
With watercolors you have to be careful with layers, study your painting mentally first and plan how you will go about it. Remember light to dark is the key!Do your Layers Right
No matter what you do don’t forget to have fun. Unless you enjoy the process you are not going to like it.
This is the only key! Remember there is no short cut! No matter how expensive your supplies are or what all fancy tools you have, you will not become good at it unless you practice. Keep at least 15 minutes everyday and paint something.
Artists I hope these tips will come in handy and enhance your miniature painting skills!
Till next time,
Painting with watercolors is a great way to relax and calm your mind. Miniature painting has an added benefit as you would need to take out just a few minutes to paint something fun. Anyone can try this tutorial, whether you are a newbie or an experienced Artist, you can give this a try for some calming me time, and create something fun and cute!
Happy are the painters,
for they shall not be lonely.
Light and colour,
peace and hope,
will keep them company
to the end of the day.
— Winston Churchill
7 Ways Painting Miniatures help you Become Calm & Relaxed
Relaxing Activity – Art is a relaxing activity and it helps you become calm and centered and will gives you a sense of peace.
You can also check the video version on my YouTube Channel HERE!
Before we hop on to the tutorial, let’s break a few myths! There are a lot of inhibitions and myths when it comes to painting miniatures. People get discouraged even before trying, thinking they are hard or not for everyone etc. Lets have a look at the three most common beliefs about painting miniatures and find out if they are true or not.
This is not completely true. As a beginner if you are aware of the following you can easily paint beautiful miniatures!
Keep practicing – Practice is the only key, the more you paint the better you will become, as simple as that.
You don’t need anything special for painting miniatures. Simply cut the regular paper to the size you want, use either no.1 or no. 0 round brush, use normal paint, normal palette, water jars, tissue and you are all set! You can even use your failed paintings and cut out mini paper from that! That way you can have the satisfaction of using the paper finally and you can paint quite a number of them from a single paper! So it is a win
It is actually opposite! It takes much less time due to scale! You might need focus and concentration and that’s it! You mini art will be done in just a few minutes even it it has detailing, this is because it is small or too small!
Materials Needed -
You can check my Miniature Watercolor Supplies recommendations HERE-
Scissors
First choose your color, this is very important, that’s why I mentioned professional colors as they are more likely to be better quality when it comes to transparency. However you should still check the label and choose.
I am going with this lovely cascade green from Daniel smith, if there is no information on the tube swatching the colors can help you choose too.
Start with the outline, use wet on dry technique, you can create any shape, long, rectangular, squarish. oval, round, anything you wish! If you are not that comfortable with starting right away with the brush then draw the outline b-very lightly with pencil first, or choose a simpler shape.
Next clean your brush completely, load it with clean water and run around the still wet outline. Watch it bleed beautifully! make sure you still stay on the edges and leave the center part white.
After that blend the outline with the bleed to remove hard line and make the edges soft.
Leave white space to show the highlights on the bottle, paint the base of the bottle by creating a fine outline and then blending it for a softer look.
Choose your brown to paint the twig. Make branches to make it look more delicate and tender.
Lastly paint the leaves, you can use same brown o change the color as per your preference. Use just the tip of the brush to paint the tiny leaves.
I hope you enjoyed this fun tutorial! Do give it a try, share your creation with me! You can tag me @bytheartbug on any social media channel. If you wanna experience the calming powers of painting always paint with a free and open mind, enjoy the process rather than focusing on the end result!
Until next time,
You must have heard about Artists Block a lot, it is something very common about which we talk all the time! We all feel demotivated, lazy and even out of ideas when the block happens. You can check out this post for more on that. But what if it is the exact opposite? You are overwhelmed with Creativity Overload ? In this blog post I will share 13 Tips to get over it!
No doubt creative block is a challenge to deal with, but in todays times when there is an overwhelming overflow of information, one might feel like they are almost drowning in ideas! Now c’mon, be honest, how many saves do you really have on your Pinterest boards or Instagram! How tempted you feel to give that idea a try! or even better how that bug keeps on bugging you about how you can give it your own twist or come up with a better version of it?
“A creative life is an amplified life. It’s a bigger life, a happier life, an expanded life, and a hell of a lot more interesting life”
– Elizabeth Gilbert
Information or Ideas Overload is a very common situation these days. We are all addicted to our phones at some point or the other. Whether it is waiting in a line, or at the airport, waiting to see the doctor or even while eating, the nasty device has it grips upon us and fills our mind with an endless list of idea “to try”.
Too many ideas or inspiration can lead to anxiety, stress and even burnout. I sometimes feel blessed that I am a 90s kid, those days were so much fun when only inspiration came from either books, from friends or family! We used to be so excited to try them and we really used to bring to life almost 80-90% of them!
As artists we are always, almost constantly looking for ideas. This is a good thing as we all need to stay inspired. But there is a difference between looking for ideas and drowning yourself in ideas. Mindless scrolling on social channels, jealousy by seeing the work of others and habit of procrastination can be the major causes. This can cause confusion and overwhelm, you will be stuck with “too much to do but no time to do!” So instead of trying out the ideas you only end up thinking, overthinking and do nothing at all!
1. Categorize your lists:
Instead of blindly saving ideas online, categorize it topic wise. For example: Flowers idea, Landscapes to try, Birds to paint etc. instead of collection everything in one place eg. Watercolor ideas. This will keep your lists organized and you can look at one single theme at one time, this will make it easy to choose and you can start working on it
2. Prioritize your lists:
Set your priorities clear, what is it that you really want to paint and what are the thing or ideas you simply collect because you just like them. Unnecessary saving can lead to clutter and overwhelm. Collect inspiration as per your level, don’t save ideas that are way too pro level, looking at them will always give you anxiety rather than inspiration.
3. Set a time Limit:
When looking for ideas set a timer! Give yourself no more than 10 minutes! Believe me that is more than enough. This will not only teach you discipline but also save you from unnecessary scrolling and time waste.
4. Be mindful of unproductive scrolling:
Practice mindfulness, keep a watch on how much time you spend on collecting ideas vs time you spend on implementing them. It is vey important to strike a balance here. Else you would just feel anxious and drained.
5. Set clear Goals:
Set your goals and have clarity beforehand. Divide your tasks in chunks, what you will be painting on a daily basis, weekly, monthly etc. Or what is your final goal, to paint for fun, or to have a strict painting routine or to sell a fixed number of paintings a month. All this will help you stay focused.
6. Niche Down:
Don’t try to do everything! Know where your expertise or interests lie and work more on that. This will not only help you stay focused and stress free but also help you become better at that particular subject.
7. Create a daily painting routine:
This is a very critical practice for any Artist. This helps you stay disciplined, work on your passion every single day, improve your skill and a great way to use all those ideas.
8. Make content/painting plan:
Create weekly or monthly content or painting plan and stick to it. This will prevent all that mindless scrolling in the name of inspiration.
9. Apply the 5 second rule:
“Don’t wait for inspiration. It comes while working.”
–Henri Matisse
Don’t think! Just count 5-4–2-1 and start painting the first thing you see! After all these are all the things that you wanted to try at one point or the other, right!
10. Take a break:
Sometime all you need is just a break, a day off to get back on track. Spend time with friend, family or take a nature vacation. Have some calming me time. Go for a message or go to the spa! A little pampering always works!
11. Keep a Journal:
Have a habit of writing things down instead of relying on online platforms. This has a lot of benefits.
Writing takes effort it is not a ‘click and save’ thing, this will save you from collecting junk
12. Work with deadlines:
Set strict deadline for paintings, even if it is for personal use. This will make you work more and scroll less.
“Deadlines and things make you creative.”
–Jack White
13. Delete!:
Simply delete! Decluttering is the best way if you are overwhelmed with creativity overload. Just like a clean workspace helps you focused and stress free, similarly your idea and inspiration collection needs that cleaning every once in a while.
When we have too many creative ideas, it creates
lack of progress
All this is not good for a creative person. That is why it is very important to strike a balance and have clarity on “inspiration vs collecting clutter”.
“Creativity is a wild mind and a disciplined eye.”
– Dorothy Parker
To achieve your creative goals and stay motivated and happy as an Artist you need to deal with this ‘creativity overload”. This is a must for your mental well being and productivity!
Until next time,
Do those pretty Pinterest art studios inspire you a lot? But you get overwhelmed and think that is just for magazines or websites it is not possible to replicate? Worry not as I spill the 7 secrets to a pretty and practical home Art studio in today’s post.
An Art studio or a creative corner is very essential for an Artist. A beautiful inspiring art space has nothing to do with the area you have, whether an art corner or a whole art studio, you can easily use these tips to create a pretty looking and inspiring workspace.
You get access to a dedicated space where you can work without distractions.
It is a place to organize and store all your supplies.
Offers you privacy to work with focus.
It is an inspiring space full of creative energy.
Having your own sanctuary has the benefit of exploring your creative side and can help you fast-track your growth.
If Art is your full time business a dedicated space is must for you.
To have a sacred place is an absolute necessity for anybody today. You must have a room or a certain hour of the day or so, where you do not know who your friends are, you don’t know what you owe anybody or what they owe you. This is a place where you can simply experience and bring forth what you are and what you might be.
– Joseph Campbell
I recently started using this and I promise you wont lose anything! This is a habit that promotes all of the following-
Makes your life easy
Saves you from unnecessary buying
Keeps your place neat and tidy
Saves your time
Reduces stress
You end up really using the things you have
Helps with inventory management
Once you have it all sorted make an inventory list, you can have this on the phone or if you are like me and love old fashioned ways the print and keep records. This will hep you keep track of it, prevent unnecessary buys and help you keep stock so that next time when you are set up to paint you won’t go through the misery of knowing that you are out of that particular paint!
You can grab my FREE Watercolor Inventory list here!
“Clear the clutter to clear your mind.”
― Dr. Lucas D. Shallua
It really does not matter if you have whole art and craft studio or just a table in a corner, make it a habit to tidy up before going to bed and see the difference and spark in your creativity each morning! You can even set up the materials that you will need for next day’s project this way you will be all set to begin.
Don’t just in the name of beauty pick a fancy chair that you saw online! Consider how long you spend sitting in one place, how much support you need for the back, is the chair seat comfy and soft etc. Pick a table that is sturdy and light in color. You don’t want the furniture to be the focal point, so choose wisely.
Art materials are not something to be hidden behind closed doors! Once you organize and sort display it all in pretty matter, add you art, plants, sculptures etc. and create a lovely shelf. If open shelves is not your thing then glass door cupboards.
Use clear boxes or baskets, this will help you use the materials you have. Otherwise we just put it in closed doors and forget. For me I used to buy same things again because I totally forgot that I already have it! Has this happened to you? Or even worse sometimes things expire or become unusable because it goes out of sight and hence out of mind!
You can install sleek floating shelves almost anywhere!
Again does not matter if you have a studio or just a crafty corner, personalize it with things you like and things that inspire you. Do not just blindly copy others from Pinterest. Use stand alone frames to dismay your work, you can get prints in in any size as per the space, put in plants for freshness, if you like reading display a few of your books. Keep post its, journals and basic stationary handy.
There are so many ways to personalize your space, here are a few examples-
Plants
Flowers
Wall art
Quotes
Color theme
Specific theme like- Flowers, butterflies, rainbow etc.
Milestones
Recognition and awards
Gallery Wall
Mood board
Books
Remember this space is like your own sanctuary, so make sure it represents your as an artist, enhances creativity and feel inspired and comfortable. And ensure that you actually like to paint in there!
Choose a theme for a more cohesive look, it can be anything like butterflies, flowers or colors, anything that describes you!
Never ignore this, whether you are leasing or constructing, make sure there is enough natural light for at least in morning or evening. No matter how fancy the artificial light are they can never compete with the power of natural light. Set up your wok table in a well lit corner.
"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication."
– Leonardo da Vinci
Until next time,
"The only limit to our realization of tomorrow
will be our doubts of today."
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
Where do I even start? From feeling like a nobody in school, to being gripped by fear and nervousness whenever I had to speak to a stranger, to battling constant anxiety about everything.
To This!
When it all flashed in a minute in front of my eyes!
I was literally shivering with excitement with joyful tears in my eyes when it went LIVE! I've come so far from where I started! There were a million times I wanted to give up; the situation was such, the things were so, and I felt I had no energy. I used to say to myself, 'Until when should I have hope? When will this end?' But that's where I was wrong. I was hoping, I was wishing, instead of believing and having faith.
"The only way to achieve the impossible
is to believe it is possible."
-Charles Kingsleigh
It all started to change as soon as I had this massive mind-shift, once I changed the way I was seeing things and decided never to give up! My mentors and my therapist both played a huge role in this, and not to forget this book that I read! Once I made up my mind to work for it with faith instead of fear, I started seeing a change, this took years, falling back and getting up, success and failures but not giving up!
I came home after my Surgery and I got this call…
On the Cover of Sylph Magazine
To be honest if this opportunity had come some other time I would have been confused like anything about what I really do or what I really even want! I was all over the place and trying out everything. Always doubting my abilities and devaluing my worth. But somehow when this feature came along I had clarity on my goals, what I really want to do and what I want to focus on!
Amidst the chaotic pace of modern life, art emerges as a sanctuary of calm and healing. Embracing my passion as a career shift, I have personally witnessed the profound therapeutic effects of artistic expression. My journey has been unconventional, transitioning from an academic path with a PhD and professorship to rekindling my love for art. Art goes beyond making things look nice. It's a powerful way to look inside ourselves and find peace and clarity. When we create, we explore our deepest feelings and find comfort and renewal along the way.
Art allows us to delve into our thoughts and feelings in ways that words often cannot capture. It opens doors to self-discovery and personal growth, offering a unique avenue for processing emotions and navigating life's challenges. Whether through painting, sculpting, or other forms of artistic expression, individuals can express complex emotions, gain clarity, and foster a deeper connection with themselves and others.
In my own practice and workshops, I've witnessed participants experience transformative moments as they engage with art. From tentative strokes on a canvas to bold explorations of color and form, each creation becomes a reflection of inner experiences and aspirations. Artistic expression nurtures resilience and empowers individuals to navigate difficult times, fostering a sense of empowerment and renewal.
"Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves
at the same time."
- Thomas Merton's
In the creative process, we lose ourselves in the flow of expression while simultaneously discovering new facets of our identity and emotions. This dual experience of exploration and revelation is where the true power of artistic expression lies—a journey of healing, self-discovery, and profound connection with oneself and the world around us.
Embracing Mindfulness Through Art
Art has become my pathway to promoting peace and serenity in everyday life, demonstrating how it can uplift our spirits and cultivate mindfulness. Particularly in watercolor painting, there's a call to immerse ourselves fully in the present moment, embracing the creative journey as a means to release daily stresses and anxieties.
Recently, I completed my diploma in Art Therapy, delving deeper into the realm of color psychology and uncovering the healing potential of patterns, shapes and colors. This journey has solidified my belief that each of us harbors an innate artist waiting to be awakened through the discovery and embrace of our unique artistic style. My mission is to democratize the joy of learning art by emphasizing the process over the end result. I offer both online and offline watercolor classes tailored for students and homemakers, along with conducting art therapy workshops for corporate settings. Additionally, I create and sell watercolor paintings that not only inspire creativity but also ignite meaningful conversations.
I take great pleasure in organizing art jams at non-profit organizations, where we explore the enchanting world of colors and experience the therapeutic effects of artistic expression first hand.
My own journey into art therapy began during the lockdown period, a time fraught with high levels of mental stress and anxiety. Discovering the soothing power of painting, I found solace amidst chaos by tuning out the distractions around me. This experience not only provided relief but also brought immense comfort. Now, my dedication lies in sharing this sense of tranquility with others, guiding them to discover mindfulness, calm, and happiness through the transformative medium of art.
Crafting a Unique Teaching Philosophy
"I am thankful for the lessons that
the challenges have taught me."
- Megha Cassandra
In my Watercolor courses, I take a simple, step-by-step approach that's beginner-friendly yet rich in therapeutic potential. I encourage students to immerse themselves in the creative process, using art as a means to understand and express their emotions. Mistakes are welcomed as opportunities for growth and learning, fostering confidence and empowerment. Through empathetic guidance, I aim to cultivate a safe space where students can explore their artistic potential and discover comfort and healing through each brushstroke. I act as a guide where they are satisfied with the skills acquired and outcome they see!
"Success is not about how much money you make;
Thank you Sylph Creatives!
When I finally held the hard copy of the magazine in my hands, it was an indescribable moment. Seeing my face on the cover felt surreal and immensely gratifying. It was a culmination of years of hard work, dedication and a leap of faith into the world of Art and Art therapy.
This experience has inspired me to continue sharing my passion for art and art therapy with others. I am excited to see where this journey takes me next and am eager to connect with more individuals who are seeking solace, inspiration, and joy through the world of creativity.
– Steve Jobs
Until next time!
MJ
“The privilege of a lifetime is to
become who you truly are.”
- Carl Jung
I've been away for a bit recovering from eye surgery, but I'm thrilled to say I'm back and feeling great! During my time away, I've achieved my certification as an art therapy facilitator. There's so much to catch up on, and I can't wait to share this journey with you all!
Let me start it all again!
Who am I?
This is Dr Megha, founder of byTheArtBug, Watercolor Artist, Art educator and Art Therapy Facilitator. I am a full time Art entrepreneur.
Here is my journey from a Watercolor artist to diving into the world of art Therapy!
The journey began in a somewhat comical twist of fate! I've always been doing and teaching crafts, but whenever I shared my passion or about my classes, I would get the inevitable question: Very nice but "Do you also teach art?" This recurring query, frustrated me and led me to pick up a cheap watercolor set at a supermarket, and that's where my watercolor adventure began. Little did I know, those first brushstrokes would lead me on a path of healing and self-discovery through Art therapy later on!
So, I dove into painting with my new art supplies, and oh boy, it was a disaster! I had absolutely no clue what I was doing, but that didn't stop me from exploring and experimenting. I turned to YouTube, took some classes here and there, spent hours and hours learning, but did I get it right? Nope, not even close. Then I thought, maybe it's the cheap watercolors. So, I splurged on what I thought was a better kit, and to my surprise, it was just as bad! Terrible decision, right? So, I gave it all up for nearly a year. But then something surprising happened...
The Last leaf
I was out on my morning walk with a friend when I spotted this beautifully colored fallen leaf on the footpath– all yellow, brown, and greenish, like it was straight out of a painting. It reminded me of that O. Henry story, you know, "The Last Leaf", Key elements of the story include the strong bond between the main characters, Johnsy and Sue, and the compassionate act of their neighbor, Behrman. Behrman paints a leaf to inspire Johnsy and give her the will to live, ultimately sacrificing his own life in the process.
The story explores themes of friendship, sacrifice and the power of art to inspire hope. And we can’t underestimate the Artists’ skill! Despite abandoning his dream, his unwavering dedication to painting the leaf ultimately led to his masterpiece, though it tragically cost him his life. His sacrifice was what allowed him to achieve his lifelong dream. I can go deeper into this but for now let’s leave it here!
Anyway, I just had to pick it up and take it home to paint.
I sat down, grabbed my watercolors, and started to work. I mean, that leaf was my muse! And you won't believe it – the painting turned out amazing! I was so proud of it. I showed it to my husband, expecting him to be blown away. Instead, he just laughed and said, "Did you glue the leaf to the paper?" Well, I hadn't, but seeing him try to scrape it off was priceless!
That moment was my big "Aha!" It was exactly what I needed to kick-start my real journey into painting with watercolors. And you know what? Ever since then, painting realistic leaves has been my absolute favorite thing to do. It's like capturing a piece of nature's beauty with every brushstroke.
How did art therapy come into the picture?
All this was before lockdown. Well, this story seems all fun and hunky-dory, but I have always been an anxious person, suffered with depression on and off. I was painting on and off but not doing it professionally, and then came the lockdown!
Art is not always about pretty things,
it's about who we are, what happened to us,
and how our lives are affected.
- Elizabeth Broun
And it pushed me to the edge, triggering a severe nervous breakdown. In that moment of panic and desperation, I knew I had to take control.
So I said enough and went into therapy for the first time willingly. Then slowly, things happened one after another: from reading a book that changed my life, to success in therapy, to finding business mentors to dive into art full-time. So in a way, my ART is what saved me. During lockdown, I would paint a lot, teach, record classes and that helped me stay mentally sane. Art became my lifeline, keeping me grounded and mentally resilient as I navigated uncertain times.
And I wanted to dig deep and see how art actually helps in dealing with emotions and living a happy life. That's when my art therapy courses began.
“Life is full of challenges.
We all have them.
Art has helped me through my own deep valleys.”
- Sarah Jio
This journey has transformed my life, from surviving to thriving, and now, I'm dedicated to sharing the healing power of art with others.
So, jumping back to the present, I'm now a certified art therapy practitioner! You might be wondering, who exactly is an art therapy facilitator? Well, an art therapy facilitator is a trained professional who harnesses the therapeutic benefits of art to help individuals explore, understand, and express their emotions. Through art, they facilitate psychological healing and personal growth.
It's important to distinguish between an art therapy facilitator and a psychologist. While a psychologist analyses and treats mental health issues using psychological principles, an art therapy facilitator guides healing through art and creativity.
So what do I actually do?
I teach online watercolor classes and courses suitable for ages 15 years and plus (My Website, Skillshare, Foxsy, Creative Fabrica etc)
I sell watercolor resources - like Ebooks, guides. workbooks etc
I take Art Therapy Workshops (corporates, schools, other organizations)
I conduct 1-1 Art Therapy Sessions (My Home Studio)
I sell Watercolor Paintings ( Prints & Originals)
I teach 1-1 offline Advanced Watercolor Courses (My Home Studio)
Share a lot of FREE tips and tutorials on my Social Channels ( Youtube, Pinterest, Instagram etc)
This is my Full time Job!
Fairly simple right!
But let me explain a little more the classes and workshops,
Art Workshops:
Step-by-step guided instruction in painting techniques aimed at improving artistic skills.
Provides constructive criticism to help participants refine their techniques and achieve better outcomes.
Focuses on learning the correct artistic techniques to create specific artistic results.
Suitable for anyone with a basic understanding of art who wants to enhance their skills through structured learning.
Art Therapy Workshops:
Are led by trained professionals who use art as a tool for emotional expression and psychological healing.
Creates a safe space where individuals can explore their emotions through artistic processes.
Emphasizes self-awareness, personal growth, and healing through creative expression.
Encourages participants to focus on the process rather than achieving a specific artistic outcome.
Online Learning Options: · Pre-recorded classes and e-books available. · Beginner-friendly with affordable pricing. · Lifetime access and free trials for e-books. Offline Art therapy Workshops
Workshops for homemakers, students & corporates.
Mindfulness
Stress reduction
Self-expression
1-1 Sessions (Online and Offline both)
Essential watercolor techniques for beginners and aspiring painters.
Discover creativity through guided painting exercises.
Personalized feedback and tips for improvement.
Why did I decide to pursue this path?
“I could say things with color and shape that I couldn’t’ say any other way
– things I had no words for…”
– Margaret Naumburg
Having experienced first-hand the healing powers of art, I aim to share that transformative experience with others. I truly love what I do; It brings me immense joy and fulfilment to witness individuals discover their own creative potential and embark on their healing journeys through art therapy.
Creating art has been my sanctuary during challenging times, providing a therapeutic outlet for processing emotions and finding inner peace. The act of painting allowed me to express feelings that words couldn't capture, helping me navigate through personal struggles such as anxiety, overwhelm, sadness, anger and self-doubt. It became a coping mechanism, a way to regain control and clarity amidst uncertainty.
What’s next on the paint palette?
Looking ahead, I am excited about new projects, Art Therapy workshops and collaborations aimed at expanding my reach and impact. I also envision creating more accessible resources like online courses and e-books to reach a wider audience seeking mindfulness and creativity through art. My goal is to continue advocating for the therapeutic benefits of art and to provide supportive judgement free environments where individuals can explore express and heal through artistic expression. The best part is that it has nothing to do with being good at Art so anyone can benefit from it!
"Art therapy is not about becoming an artist;
it's about the art of becoming yourself."
- Cathy Malchiodi
In conclusion,
Art therapy is not just a profession for me; it is a calling rooted in my own experiences and a deep belief in the power of creativity to transform lives. I am committed to fostering a community where art becomes a tool for resilience, self-discovery and holistic well-being.
Until next time,
Have you ever been caught up in this dilemma of student or cheap vs expensive watercolors whether you have just started watercolors or when you were starting to paint with watercolors?
Most of you would answer that in a “Yes”.
Cheap and Student Vs Expensive Watercolors Challenge: Who Actually Wins?
This is something that all watercolor artists face at one point or the other, this is a big deal mostly when you start. Also do not mistake the use of words cheap and expensive, this is highly individual and differs person to person, so think this in terms of your budget. In this post I will mostly be discussing the over all quality of the paints.
Cheap and Student Vs Expensive Watercolors Challenge
Cheap = Student version Watercolors that are sold at supermarkets, the ones we used in Schools
Expensive = Professional Grade watercolors, the price range for these can be varied, depending on the brand,
For Example: You can get professional W&N for 25$ for 10 tubes (5ml)
Whereas a Daniel smith is sold at 52$ for just 10 tubes (5ml)
Both are good brands and I personally love them both, if I were to pick a favorite I would choose W&N not because it is cheaper but because I have used both and I prefer W&N more! So it truly depends on what you like as an Artist.
The most expensive does not always mean the best for you, that is certain.
I faced the same when I began, there was a lot of learning and wasting money and what not! But today I am sharing it all here, the good, the bad and the ugly!
The 3 main Watercolor supplies are
Watercolors
Watercolor paper
Brushes
These 3 are the most important ones that matter, In today’s post I will only be discussing the paint.
Affordability
When it comes to affordability of Cheap and Student Vs Expensive Watercolors, it is simple, the cheap one obviously!
So when you start should you only buy only this? I would say based on experience, you should buy the cheap ones and a professional set which falls in your budget.
Trying a student or cheap version will give you an opportunity to work with both and understand the difference between both.
The Pigments
The Transparency
Cheap Student Vs Expensive Watercolors Challenge – Watercolor transparency test
Lifting and Staining
Cheap Student Vs Expensive Watercolors Challenge – Watercolor Lifting Test
Granulation
An Example
The painting on the left is done using the cheapest supermarket paints.
The painting on the right is done with one of the expensive professional brands.
The Verdict
If you were to ask me I would say, Cheap and Student Vs Expensive Watercolors and who wins it, as a professional full time Artist Professional colors are the Winner! Choose as per your budget, the medium range brands are good enough as per my testing!
If are are an absolute beginner and never tried watercolor, go for a basic student version that is good enough! Once you get the hang of it and wanna explore more jump to medium range professional and then move up as you progress! That is how I started!
Do buy the supermarket cheap one at least once! Why? Just to get a feel of it as an Artist!
The is no question about the expensive professional colors in terms of quality, if they are within your budget you should definitely grab them.
Cheap and Student Vs Expensive Watercolors Challenge: Who Actually Wins?
It is not about affordability, it is about being smart in your choice! You can use professional colors on budget too! Want to know how check this FREE Guide!
I hope you found something useful in this comparison!
Don’t forget to save & share it!
Have you ever wondered “What is Color Theory?”
“Why should I know about it?”
“Isn’t it technical stuff?“
Does it really have any benefits for me, I am just an artist who paints?”
Color theory has nothing scary or technical about it! In fact it is more fun and beautiful to explore! There is not only “Art” but “Science” behind Colors!
We all know that Red Color represents bold, something hot, even anger and danger. Similarly Blue represents more calm, composed and serene and soothing feels. In order to understand your colors better you must play around with them, experiment with them and understand their symbolism.
“I think we all need to be able to dream in all colors.”
Victor J. Glover
What is Color Theory? A Helpful Guide you need to Understand and know Your Watercolors Better
What is Color Theory?
Color theory will help you know your colors, how to mix your colors and how to use your colors. It is basically the study of how colors relate to each other, work with each other, or not work with each other, how they are used to create visual interest, harmony and contrast.
Colors can be used to draw attention, create contrast, create interest and evoke emotions.
Therefore to use and understand colors efficiently, it is essential to consider the emotional impact of the colors, the way that different colors interact with each other, and the role that color plays in the composition as a whole.
Color theory also includes the study of color harmonies, which are color combinations that are aesthetically pleasing and create a sense of balance and unity in a design. Knowing these basics can help the artist create beautiful paintings, sometimes this quality is inherent but sometimes one must learn it to use the colors effectively. For example, Complementary, analogous, and triadic color schemes go well together. Let’s learn about these terms in the next part.
Being familiar with colors theory is not a theoretical blabber it is in fact more of a Creative process.
What is Color Theory?
Although this is more subjective so you can either paint keeping your perspective in mind or the perspective of the one for who you are painting. For example one might like bold contrasting colors while another may prefer muted tones. You can’t say which is more beautiful!
Color theory: 3 Main Characteristics of Colors
Hue – Simply the Colors like Red, Yellow, Pink etc.
Value – Lightness and darkness of color, like how it will appear in shade and in darkness
Intensity – Means the Saturation, whether a color is bright or dull, you can reduce intensity by adding water and increase it by adding black or grey to a color.
The Color Wheel
Unquestionably Color wheel can help you in understanding the terms used by artists’ better! It is a visual representation of the relationships between different colors.
So in color theory, the color wheel is a basic tool used to understand color relationships.
Here are the basic Color Terms used by Artists’•
Primary Colors – Red, Yellow & Blue•
Secondary Colors- Orange, Green & Violet•
Tertiary Colors – The ones you get by mixing a Primary with a Secondary•
Warm Colors – E.g. Red, Yellow, Orange•
Cool Colors – E.g. Green , Blue, Purple• Complimentary or Contrasting Colors – Colors on the Opposite side of the wheel•
Monochrome – Same Color different values•
Analogous – Any 3-4 Neighbouring colors on the color wheel•
Browns, Grey & Black – Mix a Primary color and a secondary color or Any Two secondary colors•
Triadic Colors– Any three Colors evenly spaced on the wheel e.g.. the primary or the secondary•
Tint- Shade made by adding white• Tone – How dark or Light a Color is•
Shade- Pure Color – E.g. Red, Yellow, Green etc.
You can grab my FREE GUIDE in which I have explained these terms even better and in detail along with charts.
10 benefits of Learning about Color Theory
We already discussed about what is color theory now let’s have a look at ten reasons how Color Theory can help you to become a better Artist!
1. Inspiration: Color theory inspires the Artist to come up with new and creative color combinations in their artwork.
2. Problem-Solving: By understanding of Color Theory the Artist can better answer questions like what colors to use for a specific topic or client, what is working, what is not working, what will look good etc.
3. Increased Confidence: Artists can feel more confident in their color choices by gaining a deeper understanding of color and its role in art.
4. Versatility: Understanding color relationships and harmonies will allow the artists to experiment with new color mixes and trying new color combinations, this will make their work more flexible and versatile.
5. Improved Color Mixing: Understanding color relationships and how to mix different hues can help artists mix any shade with ease and accuracy!
6. Better Composition: Color theory can guide artists in creating more visually appealing and effective compositions.
7. Professionalism: Knowledge of color theory is a sign of professionalism and mastery in the field of art, and can help artists stand out from the competition.
8.Cohesiveness: Understanding color will make the paintings look more cohesive and unified.
9. Emotional Impact: Knowledge of color associations and meanings can help artists use color to evoke specific emotions and increase the impact of their artwork as per their own style or a client’s requirement.
10. Help save Money: Understanding the colors better will help the artist mix any color they like so they don’t have to buy a plethora of expensive tube available out there!
Conclusion
In conclusion, understanding the basics of color theory is a very important for an Artist. Its importance lies in the fact that color has the power to evoke emotions and convey messages. By studying color relationships and harmonies, and understanding the emotional and cultural associations of color artists can use color more effectively to achieve their desired results.
Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned artist, incorporating color theory into your practice can help you become a better artist overall, it can help you become more professional, make you versatile and enhance your creativity in so many ways!
If want to go more in depth for even a clearer understanding of these terms, knowing about color charts, then check out this FREE Guide!
Until next time,
Do you feel stressed sometimes even to paint? I know that feeling! But with loose style watercolor painting you don’t have to take any stress at all! It is a very calming way to wash your worries away! So today lets learn how to paint Calming Loose Style Watercolor Roses in 5 easy steps!
Whether you are a beginner or an experienced artist, this is an exercise that can bring calm and joyful feeling whenever you feel stressed out or drained.
I will take you step by step and show you what all materials you need, colors you need and the reason behind choosing those colors and all the steps.
Are you ready for a therapeutic painting experience? Grab your materials and lets go on a calming painting adventure! In just 5 easy, simple and calming steps you can paint these beautiful soft looking roses!
What is Loose style Watercolor painting?
How to Paint Calming Loose Style Watercolor Roses in 5 Easy Steps
Is is an abstract style of painting with very loose strokes and flowy technique. It is a more relaxed artistic expression. Loose style focuses on free way of painting with no stress on fine details. Artists use wet on wet more for a more calming and soft painting experience.Loose style painting is very expressive that can help you play around with colors, explore the colors and enjoy the medium! It focuses on soothing brush strokes, simplified shapes, limited palette and an expressive approach. You can also check this guide for more.
6 reasons Why is painting in Loose style a calming experience
You can let go of perfection and explore your creativity. There are no rules here so you have all the artistic freedom. This makes the whole experience calming and stress free.
It is like mediation and helps reduce stress and anxiety as you don’t have to focus on details, worry about realism or work on intricate detailing.
Provides artistic freedom as there is no right or wrong way of painting, you are free to play around and explore the colors, shapes and brush strokes.
Painting in loose style encourages one to go with the flow and embrace the mistakes as you do not aim to control the colors. This helps you get rid of the feeling of frustration when the colors behave in their own way! There is joy in that too and loose style will help you appreciate that! You will become more adjusting and judgement free towards your own painting style.
Improves imagination and exploration power as you enjoy the process rather than focusing on a desired outcome. This will help you in general also when you paint, art is all about having fun and feeling the joy it brings, simply let go of comparison and perfection and learn to be mindful.
It gives you the freedom to play around with colors, brush strokes and techniques, making it a very therapeutic and stress free experience.
Materials you will need:
Watercolors
No. 8 round Brush
Cat tongue Brush No. 12
100% Cotton Watercolor paper
Water Jars
Tissue
How to Paint Calming Loose Style Watercolor Roses in 5 Easy Steps3 Secrets to paint beautiful soft Roses
1- Forget the symmetry, work in an imperfect style!
2 – Paint with a very loose hand and calm mind.
3 – Enjoy the process rather than focusing on the outcome.
Find more tips in this FREE Guide!
Now lets move on to the tutorial!
Step 1- Choose your colors
Choose your colors wisely! Color s are very powerful! If you want to relax and calm your mind go for softer tones.
Why to Keep your palette limited?
keeping your color palette limited will help you stay grounded and stress free. Use colors that are directly available to avoid the stress of mixing and getting the same shade again and again.
Pink: Pink is a very nurturing and calming color, so it will be perfect for this relaxing exercise! Pink has a calming effect on emotions and can help one relax. Softness of pink promotes comfort and purity. It brings in feelings of joy, happiness and love.
Green: Green is a very soothing color. We all know how happy we feel when we see greenery and nature! It is a very calming and refreshing color. It is associated with energy, abundance and optimism!
Step 2- Paint the center
Once you choose your colors, start painting the center with free hand “C” shapes curves, start with dark pigment. Keep the shapes uneven and imperfect. keep your strokes very gentle and loose for a calming experience. keep you hand loose and very free when you paint. Don’t forget the white gap!
Step 3 – Adding the Petals
Step 4 – Add the Highlight
Add more paint for the highlights. Simply drop in darker pigment, work with wet on wet and notice how the color beautifully bleeds and blooms!
Step 5 – Add the Leaves
Practice simple brush strokes to paint easy leaves with the cat tongue brush. Pay attention to the color difference that occurs naturally! Enjoy the strokes and the freestyle leaves.
Paint Calming Watercolor Roses
Conclusion
I hope you enjoyed the beautiful and soft nature of loose style painting! Remember to enjoy the process rather that focusing on the outcome! Give this a try whenever you feel stressed out, overwhelmed or drained. Immerse yourself in this calming painting experience to feel stress free joy and comfort. Always remember art is supposed to be a fun and fulfilling experience, this can also act as a warm up exercise for you to prepare for your other painting projects. Immerse yourself in the word of lovely colors through this simple watercolor painting exercise! Want more tips? Grab this FREE guide HERE!
Or if you prefer video, here it is!
Do share your version with me, tag me on any social channel @bytheartbug and I would love to see and share your version!
How to Paint Calming Loose Style Watercolor Roses in 5 Easy Steps
Until next time,
If you are reading this I assume you either want to learn watercolor painting or are very new to the medium! So do continue to read! So here are 7 helpful beginner Watercolor secrets no one tells You when You start painting!
When I was new to Watercolors and I used to hop around for ideas, inspiration and guidance, but I was either overwhelmed or confused. Not that there is no good stuff out there but I felt all the information was more like for higher level, when people stated with wet on wet instead of watercolor it felt like jargon what is so common once you dive into the world of Watercolors.
I was so afraid that I was doing it all wrong, I did not have the tools, I did not have the techniques and I was so scared to waste my materials when I started!
So after exploring all watercolor materials, hundreds of painting I can say that I know this medium well enough to share my learnings with someone who might be stuck like me. Whatever I am sharing here are mostly things I wish I knew when I started, things I learned the hard way!
Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes.
Art is knowing which ones to keep.
– Scott Adams
1. The Right Mindset
It all begins with a mindset, this may seem weird but write down why you want to learn watercolor. What motivates you, are you learning just for fun or you want to make it into a serious profession. If you constantly worry about making mistakes then it will be really difficult for you to get over the fear of learning a new skill. So keep an open mind and begin this wonderful journey with the intention of learning!
“Creativity takes Courage.”
— Henri Matisse
2. The Right Materials not the most Expensive ones matter
I am one of those artists who do not stress too much on the ‘expensive’ materials. When I began I had the most basic student watercolor set, average brushes and very basic paper. Due to the lack of right techniques I was not getting it right and failing again and again. And I blamed it all on the materials.
Buy student version of a good quality brand, experiment first
Buy only Primaries of a high end brand, stay in budget
Buy Professional set from a medium range local brand
As a last option get a basic set from a super market just to get a feel of the medium, then move to one of the above options.
3.Know Your Colors
You will not get anywhere unless you know your colors. The very first thing you should do when you get new colors or color is to make a swatch. Palette chart is a very important step of watercolor painting. It will not only help you understand the exact shades of your color set but it will be the first step to understand how watercolors work. As a general rule all watercolors become light as they dry. Also we seldom use white with watercolor and instead lighten by adding more water or leave white spaces. Swatching in proper way will help you understand this. If you skip this first step it will cause frustration later on when you will not get the desired results.
You can also grab this FREE guide to get a basic idea of the Color Theory!
4.Start Simple
Always start simple, this will not only be easy to do but will also make you confident as you finish your first project successfully. I would say don’t even paint just play with colors! See how they blend and mix, flow and bleed.
If you are serious about it, take a class! I am not talking about free videos available out there it will confuse you and can even overwhelm you. Find a class that is for absolute beginners as that would not only give you a fresh insight but also start you on the right track.
You can try my beginner friendly classes here!
6.Practice is the only key
I have said it before and would repeat it here again, unless you practice you will get no where. Do get the idea of practice right, it does not mean you do 10 failed painting and then give up. It is about discipline and consistency. Paint for at least an hour everyday as starters, you must do this without any excuse. Gradually increase the time, always remember to compare yourself with yourself only. See how far you have come and acknowledge the small wins like how you are good with wet on wet technique now as compared to a month ago.
7.Always remember there is fine line between inspiration & copying
It is much better to understand this when you are at a beginner level. I myself paint paintings that others have done, but only to see how I do it, sometimes it does come up nearly same and mostly entirely different! But what ever the case those are only for my eyes and remain in my practice sketchbook. Remember NEVER share someone else’s copied work anywhere on social platforms or online. It may be good practice to improve your own skills and practice but it is NEVER ethical to share some else’s work as your own.
Admiring doesn’t make you exactly like what you admire, admire yourself and you will be original and exactly how you wish and feel to be.”
– Auliq Ice
If you want to imitate other Artists do so only to challenge yourself in a healthy way.
Remember when you copy others you copy their mistakes too! While when you do your own thing, you will always be careful!
This is something which is very important not just as an Artist but as a person as well. Social media is full of this practice of copying in the name of inspiration, don’t be a part of that crowd.
Ending it with this quote I love,
A true artist is not one who is inspired but one who inspires others.
–Salvador Dalí
Until next time
