Hope, Patience, Joy: Lessons from the Garden for Art and Life

My peach and cherry trees are filled with flowers. Daffodils are blooming and everywhere I look outside, spring is progressing.

Dreaming Big, a New Project and 5 Ideas for Moving Forward with Your Dreams

Over the past couple of months, I’ve been dreaming about projects and setting goals for this year. As I mentioned here on my blog and in my Joy Letter, I’ve been taking my time with this. And it feels good.

art, creativityAnne ButeraFebruary 10, 2024dreams, creative dreams, dreaming big, dreaming big dreams, moving from dreaming to doing, stickers, art journey, creative journey, creative journeys, how to move forward with your creative journey Comments

Beginning the New Year with Stillness and Returning to My Creative Self

All week I’ve been thinking about what I want to share in my first post of 2024.

life, seasons, creativityAnne ButeraJanuary 13, 2024New Year, easing into the new year, beginning the new year with stillness, returning to creativity, returning to myself, studio, nature, inspiration from the garden, inspiration from the winter garden, observing nature, creativity, reclaiming creativity, reclaiming inspiration Comments

Let's Talk Creativity: What's Your Story? Join in 2023's First Reader Conversation

If I were to ask you, “Are you an artist?” What would your answer be?

Would the question make you feel uncomfortable?

creativity, Reader ConversationsAnne ButeraMarch 11, 2023reader conversations, creativity, creative journeys, sharing our stories, sharing inspiration Comments

Focus on Gratitude in December: Thankful for Art and Creativity (and a Giveaway!)

“In the pocket of her jacket, Aunt Edna found a small sable brush, and throughout dinner she repeatedly dipped it in her water glass and drew…. upon her absorbent napkin.”

Why Skillshare is Great and How to Get the Most Out of Your Membership

I’ve been teaching on Skillshare for over 6 years. My first class came out in July of 2016.

Today I have 27 classes on the platform.

inspiration, creativity, art classesAnne ButeraNovember 12, 2022skillshare, Skillshare teacher, skillshare classes, Skillshare, Skillshare classes, what is skillshare, how does skillshare work, what is skillshare and how does it work, why is skillshare great, why you need a Skillshare membership, how to get the most out of your skillshare membership, Skillshare membership Comments

Listen to Yourself: a Reminder of the Importance of Rest and Self-Care

My blogging calendar has a different post scheduled for today, but I came down with a bad head cold this week and that other post didn’t get written.

inspiration, creativity, lifeAnne ButeraOctober 22, 2022creativity, self-care, recommit to self-care, creative self-care, being present as self-care, prioritizing self-care, rest, rest increases creative energy, prioritizing rest, making time for rest, time off, taking time for yourself Comments

Making Creative Choices: How to Figure Out Your Style, Favorite Medium, Subject Matter and More

Earlier this year I invited you to share suggestions of what you’d like to see here on my blog. Since then I’ve been sprinkling in posts inspired by you.

One type of question a few of you had was around making decisions.

creativity, inspirationAnne ButeraJuly 30, 2022student questions, reader questions, creative advice, making decisions, creative dreams, how do you decide, style evolution, artist style development, artist style, art mediums, art subject matter, art supplies, creative choices, making creative choices Comments

12 Things Bringing Me Joy Right Now

I’ve been in a bit of a creative funk. I know it’s just a natural part of the ebb and flow of my creativity. It’s taken me years to be able to recognize this and let the funk happen.

creativity, joy, lifeAnne ButeraJuly 9, 2022Joy Lists, Joy List, creative ebbs, creative cycle, savor summer Comments

What if You Don't Feel Like Creating? How to Handle Creative Slumps

Your materials are gathered. You have time. You have a space to work. But when you sit down to create… nothing.

creativityAnne ButeraApril 30, 2022creative slumps, ebb and flow, creativity, creative ebbs, creative blocks, how to handle creative blocks, how to handle creative slumps, what if you don't feel like creating, rest, creative cycle, treating yourself with grace Comments

Finding Inspiration in a Student's Review of One of My Classes

In a recent review of one of my classes, a student wrote:

“She encouraged me to step out and paint for me instead of for approval.”

How a Sunflower Painting Brought Back My Creative Joy: Behind the Scenes in the Studio

Right now zinnias, dahlias, cosmos and marigolds color my garden and feed the bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.

New Beginnings: 10 Ideas for Welcoming a Changing Season and Embracing Your Dreams

September is here and I’m relishing the seasonal shifts.

Celebrate Summer Joys: Sketchbooks! Week 4 of a Month of Gratitude Practice

It’s hard to believe this is the last week of my month of gratitude. August has flown by.

I think back to childhood Augusts with school looming and days of freedom dwindling. Back-to-school was both exciting and welcome but also tinged with sadness for the ending of summer.

You Can't Do Everything (and Why That's Not a Bad Thing)

Piles of fabric line a shelf in my studio closet. Sewing patterns fill a drawer. I love wearing handmade clothing. I love to sew. Most of my fabric has been matched up with sewing patterns — some bought especially for specific projects — but it’s been a year or more since I’ve done any sewing.

Why Joy and Play Will Continue as Part of My Creative Practice

The Get Re-Inspired Creative Retreat is now over. I’m not sure if it ended up being what I planned, but it was nurturing, fun and I learned a lot.

Why Protecting Creative Time and Space is So Important for Your Creativity

Today I was supposed to be wrapping up the Get Re-Inspired Creative Retreat. I planned to share my finished papier-mache pieces and sum up the lessons I learned over the course of the month.

But as this week approached, I realized I wasn’t finished with the retreat. So I’m giving it one more week.

art, creativity, inspirationAnne ButeraMarch 26, 2021carving out time for creativity, creativity, protecting creative time and space, reclaiming creativity, reclaiming inspiration, March Creative Retreat, patience, practicing patience, going slow, skillshare Comments

Five Beautiful Books That Are Inspiring Me During The Creative Retreat

Sun streams in through the window and I curl up on a comfy chair in my studio, a book balanced on my lap.

Sounds nice, doesn’t it?

In reality…

Five Things You Can Do Right Now to Boost Your Inspiration

When you hear the words “Creative Retreat” what do they bring to mind? Perhaps you envision a cabin in the woods, light streaming through the windows and a fire crackling in the hearth.

creativity, inspirationAnne ButeraMarch 12, 2021Creative Retreat, March Creative Retreat, creativity, inspiration, doing something different, flipping your schedule, being in nature, get organized, studio, messiness of life, discovering inspiration, where does inspiration come from Comments

An Invitation to Join Me in the Get Re-Inspired Creative Retreat

On February 16 before I did anything else in my studio, I sat down and worked on a page in my sketchbook. Since then I’ve started every workday with sketchbook play and have only missed one non-work day because of a migraine.

art, creativity, inspirationAnne ButeraMarch 5, 2021Creative Retreat, March Creative Retreat, get inspired, get re-inspired, join me in creativity, how to be more creative, how to be more inspired, how to be creative, how to make room in your days for creativity, sketchbook, daily art making, daily creativity, be creative every day Comments

notes from the studio