A Certificate of Authenticity isn’t about formality. It’s about care. Here’s how I approach COAs in my own practice, and why they became part of how I send work into the world.

Defining your art style isn’t about labels or limits. It’s about giving others a way to recognize what’s already consistent in your work, and giving yourself language for how you see.

I joined the #222magnetic challenge to refine how I talk about my work. What I didn’t expect was how clearly it reflected patterns I was already building, but hadn’t fully named yet.

Artist statements aren’t just for galleries. In this reflective guide, I share what an artist statement really is, why it matters, and how writing one helped me understand my own work more deeply.

Artist friends don’t just offer critique — they help you stay in the work. From shared painting sessions to long-term dreams, this essay reflects on how creative connection shaped my growth as a painter.

In the fine art world, painters aren’t just making random standalone pieces—they’re building bodies of work. This article breaks down what “body of work,” “series,” and “one-offs” really mean, how artists like Christian Hook and Nick Alm use them, and how you can shape a cohesive, evolving practice of your own.

Artist labels like “emerging,” “mid-career,” and “established” show up everywhere—open calls, residencies, grant applications. But what do they actually mean? In this post, I break down how the art world uses these terms (and how flexible they really are), with examples from artists like Kelogsloops, Agnes Cecile, and Christian Hook. Whether you're new to painting or deep into your practice, this guide will help you understand where you are on your journey—and why the labels matter less than you think.

When watercolor isn’t on paper, everything about the process shifts — control, patience, even emotion. Here’s what I discovered while painting like Picasso on Aquabord, copper, and hot press paper.

What makes Gustav Klimt’s gold shimmer so unforgettable? In this Masters Reimagined study, I spent 40+ hours testing real gold leaf, imitation leaf, and metallic paints on watercolor paper. From adhesive timing to archival concerns, here’s what I learned about adapting Klimt’s techniques into watercolor — and why texture, patience, and even failure matter as much as the gold itself.

Some of watercolor’s most beloved colors — like Opera Pink and Moonglow — are also the least permanent. I tested these fugitive pigments and created lightfast dupe mixes so you can keep the look without the fade.

I’ve been experimenting with synthetic ox gall in both watercolor and gouache, from Holbein’s stiff granulating colors to smoky Lunar Black washes. What could have been technical “problems” — pigments resisting, spreading, or granulating too much — turned into expressive choices. In this post I share what synthetic ox gall does, which brands include it, and how it shaped my recent Dalí-inspired studies.

In January 2024, I taped 250 watercolor swatches from over ten brands to a sunny window in Munich. Seven months later, I took them down — and the results were shocking.

Some paints stayed strong, but others — even ones labeled “excellent lightfast” — faded badly. This real-world test revealed which pigments can truly stand the test of time, and which ones might let you down.

Watercolor can be magical—but also frustrating. In this post, I share 10 common mistakes that might be holding your paintings back (plus easy ways to fix them). From paper choice to pigment control, these tips are based on real lessons I’ve learned in the studio.

After 50 episodes, I’m pressing pause — not out of burnout, but to follow what’s calling louder: painting. This podcast began with a spark, and it taught me five creative truths I’ll carry forward — from protecting studio time to trusting pivots. I’m not saying goodbye, just making space for what matters most.

I just released a new watercolor class on Skillshare, and it’s all about relaxing with color — no drawing needed.

Beginner Watercolor: Create Abstract Art with Flower-Inspired Color is a gentle, beginner-friendly class where you’ll explore how flower colors make you feel — and turn those feelings into soft, expressive brushstrokes.

Whether you’re new to watercolor or just want to unwind creatively, this class invites you to slow down, play with color, and enjoy painting without pressure.

I tested R&F Drawing Oils on watercolor paper, sketchbooks, and more—layering them with pencils, acrylic, and pastels. Here’s what worked, what didn’t, and how they dried over 2 days.

Painting Frida Kahlo made me ask questions I didn’t expect—about color, pain, identity, and what it really means to stay true to your voice. This post walks through two watercolor studies and a final portrait I created as part of my Masters Reimagined series, and why Frida still speaks so powerfully to so many of us—especially women.

I had never used oil sticks before Phoenix reached out to sponsor a video—and let’s just say, my first attempt was a total mess. But after some frustrating trial and error (and way too much pigment clumping), I started figuring things out: from which surfaces actually work to how warming the sticks completely changes the experience. This post walks through my honest learning curve, what surprised me, and how I ended up painting a Basquiat-inspired piece that finally made it all click.

Egon Schiele’s art is defined by its raw intensity and emotional depth. His ability to capture the vulnerability of the human body—through angular, distorted figures—pushed the boundaries of traditional portraiture. Inspired by his own tragic loss and psychological struggles, Schiele’s work conveys the complexities of life, death, and sexuality in a way that is both unsettling and beautiful.

In this blog, I explore how Schiele’s early influences, like Gustav Klimt, shaped his journey as an artist, and how he eventually broke free from those conventions to develop his own unique voice. I also discuss the lasting impact Schiele has had on contemporary artists like Agnes Cecil, whose work continues to embrace the rawness and honesty that Schiele so brilliantly mastered. Join me as I reflect on how his art has influenced my own and the lessons I’ve learned from Schiele’s emotional approach to creation.

Even when two watercolor tubes share the same name or pigment number, they can behave in surprisingly different ways across brands. In this blog, I reflect on my hands-on comparisons of over 200 watercolors from M. Graham, Daniel Smith, Schmincke, Winsor & Newton, Holbein, QoR, and more. I break down which pigments shine, which ones surprise, and how subtle differences in granulation, opacity, and flow shape my artistic choices. Whether you’re a painter or a pigment lover, you’ll find insights here to guide your own color decisions.