I've been sitting with a framework I first encountered through Quang Ho’s teaching, and it quietly changed the way I look at paintings — especially my own.

I used to notice everything that was present: the color, the lines, the atmosphere, the light. But I started realizing that presence is not the same as dominance.

Every painting has something doing the heavy lifting — one visual idea quietly holding everything together.

These are the 8 approaches I’ve been exploring, mapped through artists I keep returning to and the questions they’ve opened up in my own work.

I got in on a scholarship. I want to say that upfront because it still feels a little surreal. The Portrait Society of America's 28th Annual Conference isn't the kind of thing I would have just signed myself up for without a push. And that scholarship was the push.

2023 was an exciting year as I attended workshops by renowned watercolor artists Agnes Cecile and Aine Divine at Benjamin Eck Gallery in Munich. These experiences deepened my artistic skills and fueled my creative journey.

Attending Kelogsloops' watercolor workshop was a transformative experience. Through three days of focused learning on composition, skin tones, and abstract techniques, I found new ways to integrate subtlety and balance into my art. Read on to discover the valuable insights and tips I gained from this inspiring workshop.

On the final day at Aine Divine's summer school, I finally was able to let go of the struggle I felt until then. I set the intention to allow each brushstroke to dry and ensuring each stroke was deliberate. What I think really helped my work was imagining myself in Aine's mindset and guess what—I think it led to a stunning outcome.