After more than 2 years, I finally finished this painting… and it wasn’t easy. In this week’s Artist Diary, I’m taking you inside my studio as I complete *Vibrant Flight*, a piece from my Needle and Brush series—a collection of mixed media paintings created with both wool and paint. What surprised me most about this process was feeling completely stuck at the end. I usually know exactly what the next step is in a painting, but this time, I didn’t. For weeks, I avoided finishing it… until I finally worked through the resistance. If you’ve ever struggled to finish a creative project, this video is for you. I’m also sharing a little behind-the-scenes of my evolving art practice, what’s next for the Needle and Brush series, and why I’m feeling pulled back to my Backwards Beauty paintings (and possibly a new landscape series). And stay until the end—I’m reviewing two new studio products I recently tried and sharing my honest thoughts.
oil painting
Cozy Snow Day In The Studio | Calming and Inspiring
We had a snow and ice storm here on the East Coast of the USA and I am sharing with you what I got up to in the studio. I made this a silent video with some calming music so you can join me and enjoy the peace or have me in the background as you create. I mixed in some backyard beauty of the snow and ice and the birdies. The birds are so fun to watch. I also start working on a painting that I started a few years ago and is part of a series called Needle and Brush Collection and the collection is of Birds and Botanicals, paintings of wool and pigment. I take the same composition and create it in paint and wool. Today I am working on Vibrant Flight and I am painting it in oils. I hope you tune in and stay a while and leave me a comment. I would love to hear your thoughts.
The Cold Case Project Files: Reviving an Old Artwork on a Snow Day ❄️
in felting, tips and tricks, video
When the first snowfall arrived, it turned the whole world quiet… and magically cozy. The studio felt like a winter hideaway, and I decided it was the perfect day to revisit an old project that had been tucked away and forgotten — something I now call “The Cold Case Project Files.” 🗂️
A few years ago, I challenged myself to create one artwork two different ways:• first as an oil painting, and• then again using needle + wet felting (painting with wool!) One version was completed long ago… but the second was left unfinished — waiting for the right moment to be revived. In this video, I bring the felted version back to life — warming up old skills, transferring the original image onto wool, and slowly shaping leaves, feathers, and color until it starts looking like something again. 🎨🪡
This is part 1 of a cozy winter mini-series — a project filled with texture, trial-and-error, and that satisfying feeling of returning to something you once loved. I hope it inspires you to dig out your own forgotten art and play again. 🥰
Videos mentioned• Oil Painting Pink Bird - https://youtu.be/_sBDAyzgbKw
Felting video Pink Bird- https://youtu.be/yoUV7Py8l68
Tell me in the comments:Do YOU have a creative “cold case file” hiding somewhere? What would you bring back to life first?
Tiny Landscape Painting in Oil - Sharing my tips and tricks
This week, I’m taking you behind the scenes as I paint a tiny fall landscape in oils — and share my favorite tips and tricks for working small.
Last week, we prepped the tiny frames by removing the glass and giving them a makeover with a touch of antique charm. Today, I’m choosing the perfect painting surface (low texture for fine detail), setting up my cozy autumn painting space(yes, including new squirrel candle holders 🐿️), and walking you through my palette and brush choices.
Then it’s time to paint: a woman in a golden field, with flowers in the foreground and distant trees under a soft autumn sky. Along the way, I share insights on brushwork, color mixing, and the little details that make tiny landscapes feel big in atmosphere.
I finish the session by peeling off the tape for that oh-so-satisfying reveal, and placing the frame over the still-wet painting — a glimpse of what these miniature masterpieces will become.
✨ If you’re interested in oil painting, fall inspiration, or simply the calming rhythm of painting along, I hope this video sparks your creativity.
Artist Diaries | Preparing Tiny Autumn Paintings — Frame Surgery + Reference Creation
in tips and tricks, video
Artist Diaries: Preparing Tiny Autumn Paintings
In this week’s episode, I’m starting a brand new collection inspired by the charm of tiny frames I’ve gathered from thrift shops, antique stores, and even a few unexpected places like Amazon and TJ Maxx.
You’ll see the whole behind-the-scenes process:
Removing the glued-in glass from each frame (“frame surgery”)
Antiquing them with wax to add stately charm and old-world elegance
Creating moody Dutch Master-style reference images with a shared palette
The video opens with a glimpse of my morning ritual — making celery juice by candlelight, something I’ve done for over seven years to stay grounded as the seasons shift into autumn.
This is just the beginning. Next week, I’ll attempt to paint these tiny references in rich, expressive detail. Will it work — or be an epic fail? Come back and see how this fall experiment unfolds.