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.”

Focus on Gratitude in December: Thankful for Teachers and Students

I vividly remember the first time I tied my shoe.

gratitude, inspiration, lifeAnne ButeraDecember 3, 2022gratitude, gratitude for teachers, thankful for teachers, thank you teachers, why I teach, gratitude in december Comments

My Intentions for the Rest of 2022 and an Invitation to Join Me in Gratitude

Last week I asked you to share your intentions for the rest of 2022 and to choose a word to guide you through the holiday season.

gratitude, lifeAnne ButeraNovember 26, 2022gratitude, gratitude practice, embracing gratitude, gratitude challenge, committing to gratitude, a month of gratitude practice, transformative power of gratitude, A month of gratitude, gratitude in december Comments

Reader Conversations: How Do You Want to Feel? Setting Intentions for the Rest of the Year

We usually think about setting intentions at the beginning of the year. Maybe we come up with goals, choose a word, make a plan. If we’re really organized and on top of things, we revisit this and check in with ourselves quarterly or even monthly.

Reader ConversationsAnne ButeraNovember 19, 2022reader conversations, community, holidays, holiday, how do you want to feel during the holiday season, setting intentions, choosing a word for the season, inspiration from other bloggers, winter, intentions for winter Comments

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

My Art Studio is Still Evolving but I'm Savoring Its Imperfection

Last year I blogged about planning my dream studio. I was hoping to move my work space from one room in our house to another. For various reasons this never happened.

life, studio, inspirationAnne ButeraNovember 5, 2022In Her Studio Magazine, art studio, bloom where you're planted, dreams, creative dreams, rearranging my studio, studio, dream studio, making do Comments

Sharing Inspiration: Join Me for a Tour of Reader Sketchbooks

This week I’ve turned my blog over to my readers (again — this summer 12 of you shared your gardens here). Today, though, instead of gardens, I have 6 brave, creative women sharing glimpses into their sketchbooks.

Reader Conversations, sketchbooksAnne ButeraOctober 29, 2022sketchbooks, sketchbook tour, reader sketchbooks, reader conversations, creative community 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

October 2022 In the Garden and the End of the Growing Season

In October you never know what you’re going to get and the hooks by my back door reflect just how changeable it’s been this month.

gardenAnne ButeraOctober 15, 2022garden, October Garden, Autumn garden, autumn, gardening, dahlias, tomatoes, sungold tomatoes, late blooming flowers, end of the growing season, end of summer Comments

20 Daily Delights: Writing a Joy List as a Reminder to Focus on Gratitude

I sat in the dining room with my coffee, cereal and journal.

“I’m crabby. Crabby. Crabby. Crabby,” I wrote.

gratitude, joyAnne ButeraOctober 8, 2022joy, Joy Lists, Joy List, joy list, writing joy lists, gratitude practice, gratitude, joy is a choice, joy as a habit Comments

Inspired by Houseplants New Pattern Designs and a Tea Towel Calendar for 2023

Fall is here for real now. One of the things I like best about fall is the way my attention shifts to my houseplants when the weather gets too cold to be outside. You can see it in my art, too.

Falling in Love with Sketchbooks Again and Again (and a New Class)

In the middle of winter when frost decorates the windows of my studio and I pull on another sweater, I’ll think back to summer days in my garden, cicadas singing, sketchbook on my lap.

sketchbooks, art classes, artAnne ButeraAugust 27, 2022sketchbooks, sketchbook class, sketchbook practice, sketchbooks as self care, self care, self-care, how I use sketchbooks, why I love sketchbooks, skillshare, Skillshare teacher, creative self-care Comments

August 2022 in the Garden

In June when I wrote to my Joy Letter subscribers I said that June was my favorite month. Right now, though, I’m thinking August might be.

Reader Conversations: Which Print Magazines Do You Enjoy?

Flipping through magazines in a bookstore with a cup of coffee in one hand. Checking out a stack of magazines from the library. Opening the mailbox to find a magazine tucked inside.

inspiration, Reader ConversationsAnne ButeraAugust 13, 2022reader conversations, magazines, inspiration, print magazines Comments

My Favorite Self-Seeding Annuals For Effortless Beauty Each Year in the Garden

One of the things I love most about my garden and gardening is connecting with nature. I plant my garden and I tend it, but I’m not really in control.

garden, art, inspirationAnne ButeraAugust 6, 2022garden, self seeding plants, self seeding flowers, growing herbs, garden flowers 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

July 2022 in the Garden (with a Video Tour and Before and After Photos)

It’s truly amazing how much changes in the garden in just one month.

gardenAnne ButeraJuly 16, 2022garden, raised beds, raised bed gardening, cinder block raised beds, container gardens, growing tomatoes in containers, garden tour, garden tours, garden tour video, july garden tour, garden video 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.