Quitting Instagram (for Good) and Why I Adore Blogs and Blogging

In April I wrote about stepping away from Instagram. It felt right for me. Energizing. Freeing.

In June I wandered back.

blogging, business, inspirationAnne ButeraNovember 12, 2021quitting Instagram, social media, artists quitting social media, why I'm quitting Instagram, why I stepped away from Instagram, why I deleted my Instagram account, why I dislike Facebook, alternatives to social media, why i love blogging, why I love reading blogs, blogging, blogging vs. instagram, blogging is not dead, is blogging dead, my favorite blogs, some of my favorite blogs, inspiring blogs, creative dreams, what i love about blogs, creating community, creating community on social media, blogging as an alternative to social media, making connections through blogging, creating a community through blogs, blogging community, being authentic, being intentional, popular posts Comments

An Exciting Commission: Working With Kickapoo Meadery on Six Botanical Paintings

A few times over the summer I mentioned working on a big commission. I even shared a sneak peek of one of the paintings.

Today I want to share the full story.

art, paintings, gratitudeAnne ButeraOctober 22, 2021watercolor, watercolor paintings, wild bergamot watercolor painting, wild bergamot, Kickapoo Meadery, mead, mead labels, Kickapoo Meadery mead labels, Tim McDonald, Diane Roy, Wisconsin, Wisconsin small businesses, Viroqua Food Co-Op, pollinators, pollinator plantings, pollinator habitat, milkweed, watercolor milkweed painting, bees, beehives, mead and honey production, local food, Staghorn sumac, staghorn sumac mead, staghorn sumac painting, Ohio spiderwort, Ohio spiderwort painting, lance leaf coreopsis, lance leaf coreopsis painting, ginger painting, staghorn sumac watercolor, Ohio spiderwort watercolor, lance leaf coreopsis watercolor, botanical watercolor paintings, ginger watercolor painting, staghorn sumac watercolor painting, lance leaf coreopsis watercolor painting, common milkweed watercolor painting, botanical watercolors, botanical watercolor series, botanical watercolor commissioned paintings, the story behind a commission, creating paintings for Kickapoo Meadery, Kickapoo Meadery in Blue River Wisconsin, farm to table, farm-to-table, popular posts Comments

The Story Behind My Beautiful New Marigold Botanical Embroidery Designs

Today I’m pinching myself because my first embroidery kits and digital pattern are here!

Behind the Scenes This Week: What it's Really Like to Run an Art Business

Do you ever wonder what it’s like to be a full-time, self-employed artist? Although I frequently share what I’m working on here on my blog, I don’t think it gives a comprehensive picture of what it’s like to run an art business. Are you curious?

10 Lessons from 10 Years of Learning How to Paint

You’ve quieted your mind and listened to the whispers. Your heart longs to learn something new, to be creative, to craft a different life.

Now what?

art, creativity, inspirationAnne ButeraNovember 13, 2020advice for artists, creative advice, 10 years of learning to paint, 10 years of watercolor painting, 10 years of learning watercolor, creativity, creative doubts, creative inspiration, Creativebug, skillshare, developing a creative habit, Elizabeth Gilbert, Georgia O'Keeffe, Vincent van Gogh, joy, enjoy the process, being a beginner, give yourself time to be a beginner, advice for creatives, Let creativity take over your life, have fun, enjoy yourself, enjoy creativity, enjoy creating, creative challenges, creative classes, creative community, focus, Lilla Rogers, development as an artist, developing as an artist, creative dreams, creative development, 10 Year Painting Celebration, 10 Years of Learning How to Paint, How to take your art to the next level, 10 year painting celebration, popular posts Comments

Why Sharing Encouragement and Inspiration is So Important

Today marks the half-year point for Sips of Inspiration, but instead of going ahead with my next interview, I wanted to do two things.

First I want to revisit my WHY. And second I want to check in with you, my dear readers.

I am so grateful you are here!

I Deleted Instagram from My Phone for 6 Weeks -- My Thoughts Coming Back

Back in November I deleted Instagram from my phone.

It was a snap decision. To take a break from social media and blogging until the new year. I’d been getting more and more uncomfortable on Instagram. Frustrated with it. The idea of taking time and space for me sounded pretty good.

inspiration, blogging, creativityAnne ButeraFebruary 7, 2020Instagram, Social Media, Deleting Instagram, Social Media break, inspiration, community, creative community, expert advice, following your own path, blogging, blogging advice, is blogging dead, Dana Barbieri, Carolyn Zick, greyhounds, retired racing greyhounds, rescued greyhounds, photography, photos, roses, art, art business, Jaime Haney, Meda Halmaciu, Tamara Sharkey, Moongirl Art, Little Butterfly Studio, invitatiicouture, Alisa Burke, Hipstamatic, being authentic, being yourself, following your own rules, creating your own rules, i deleted instagram from my phone for 6 weeks, my thoughts coming back after a 6 week Instagram break, creative business, authenticity, using social media, rules for using social media, what to share on Instagram, growing your instagram following, negative effects of social media, negative effects of instagram, using instagram for creative communities, creating community on social media, creating community, sharing inspiration, social media break, social media rules, making your own social media rules, following your own social media rules, popular posts Comments

What is Skillshare and How Does it Work? (And Introducing a New Class)

I just released a new class on Skillshare. My 20th class on the platform. It’s a little mind-boggling to think I’ve created that many classes.

I first started teaching on Skillshare three and a half years ago. I was already a member and had taken some classes on the platform, but had never thought of teaching there. Then they contacted me and invited me to teach.

What does it mean to be creative?

My friend Ruby recently wrote a blog post about reclaiming the word creativity and it got me thinking. To be honest, it fired me up. I love discussions like this. I love thinking about and talking about creativity. I wrote a response to Ruby on her blog and then I thought I’d take my thoughts and craft them into a blog post of my own to extend the conversation.

The Lies We Tell Ourself and How to Break Free From Self-Imposed Limitations

Are there things you wish you could do, but “know” you can’t because you don’t have the talent?

Around ten or twelve years ago, before I got the rose tattoo on my ankle I studied images of roses and planned out a design. I even made a sketch and brought it and lots of photographs with me to my appointment. I clearly remember telling the tattoo artist “I want something like this sketch, but I can’t draw”.

creativity, inspiration, joyAnne ButeraFebruary 1, 2019creative restraints, creativity, creative journeys, overcoming lack of creativity, barriers to creativity, self-imposed limitations, lies we tell ourselves, overcoming fear, how to overcome your fear, how to move forward with your creative journey, how to break free from self-imposed limitations, false beliefs, living in the messy middle, popular posts Comments

notes from the studio