Taking a class or workshop in person or an online tutorial is great for learning new skills in whatever type of creative endeavor you pursue. Do you only go as far as continuing to take classes without venturing out on your own to try out those skills in other ways? What holds you back? Perhaps it is fear that you cannot do “it” without the teacher there to help you along. What if you try using that skill on a project of your own? Yes, you might flop. But then again, you might grow in your artistic journey and be inspired to try something more. Each project you do will take you closer to your goal. Even if the project goes into a drawer and no one else sees it, someday you will look back on those early attempts and be amazed how much you have grown in your abilities!

I recently took a watercolor workshop in person taught by my friend, Mary Evelyn. The class project was to paint a tulip with a distinct shadow. It was a lot of fun! This is my painting:

Inspired by the workshop, I found a photo I had taken last summer of some zenias from my garden. They were in a vase and I was playing with catching shadows from the sun coming in my French doors, using a whiteboard behind the vase. The vase was sitting on the carpet.

Instead of just sticking with a flower or two with stems and leaves, I decided to tackle the whole thing and include the vase. It was a challenge, but after painting this, I know I want to learn more about painting glass images and glass with water! Here is my painting: