I was so sure I’d be accepted — I even offered to do live toddler portraits at the event. But when I got the waitlist email, I sat in that disappointment for a few hours. Then I thought, okay — I’ll go anyway. I’ll walk the fair. I’ll learn.

I used to think I needed long, uninterrupted days to make real progress. But what actually worked? Protecting small windows. Giving myself permission to paint in bursts — and honoring that time like it mattered. Because it does.

It hit me when I heard Christian Hook say he painted every day for eight years before even thinking about selling. I realized I’d been focusing on the wrong things — and it was time to come back to the craft itself.

For years, I struggled with composition. I read books, studied guides, and even used a fancy golden ratio tool. But every time I showed my paintings to my partner (a hobby photographer), he’d say, ‘The composition isn’t quite working.’ Nothing clicked—until I attended Kelogsloops’ watercolor workshop in Munich.

He explained composition so simply: ‘Guide the viewer’s eye through the painting the way you want them to.’ It was a lightbulb moment. Since then, I see composition everywhere—in my paintings, in children’s books while reading with my son, and even in the way colors flow across a page.

This episode shares my journey to finally understanding composition, plus a special announcement—I’ll be interviewing Kelogsloops in April 2025! Tune in for insights on composition, creativity, and the artistic process.

“Who wants my signature?" That was my first thought when a client asked if my paintings came signed. I had always admired the signatures of artists like Klimt and Van Gogh but never felt my work deserved that kind of mark. But then I stopped and asked myself—why? Why wasn’t I worthy of a signature? That question sparked a journey, one that had me filling entire sheets of watercolor paper, refining my letters, and finally, stepping into my identity as an artist.

What happens when you finally get to learn from one of your biggest artistic inspirations, and it doesn’t go as planned? In this episode, I reflect on my experience attending Kelogsloops workshop in Munich, how our contrasting styles challenged me, and the unexpected lessons I took away. From redefining composition to blending styles, this journey was more about finding my artistic voice than perfecting techniques.

In this episode, I share the story of attending Agnes Cecil’s workshop in Munich and how it became a turning point in my art journey. From conquering my fear of sketching portraits to embracing the beauty of loose brushstrokes, this experience reshaped how I approach watercolor and creativity. Join me as I reflect on the lessons learned, connections made, and the freedom of trusting the process.

And then, one morning, driving my son again to daycare, I saw a stag sculpture looking up, howling into the pink morning sky. That’s it. That’s it, I said out loud. My son asked, What, Mama? And I told him—that’s exactly what I should be painting. It all seemed to just connect at that moment. The deer. The presence. The fear of losing him. So I started choosing the reference, the colors. Mixing them, setting up my easel. And then the challenges began….

In this episode #22, I dive into the importance of experimenting with different painting surfaces, sharing my personal journey with various watercolor papers and other surfaces like Yupo, canvas, watercolor ground primed canvas and aquabord. I talk about how each surface affects technique and style, and encourage you to find the one that best suits your creative process. 

Imagine 5 days of JUST PAINTING—learning and rediscovering creativity with Aine Divine. Set in the inspiring Willow Room at Cockenzie House in Edingburgh, this summer school new ways of approaching watercolor, from embracing bold brushstrokes to painting live models. I’ll share the challenges, breakthroughs, and what I will be taking with me forward from this unforgettable experience. Don’t miss my explanation of Aine’s unique teaching style and what it means to truly let go and let intuitive creativity guide you!

In this episode, I explore the urgency of creating when inspiration strikes and reflect on whether great art must come from pain or if joy and beauty hold equal power. I share the story behind a painting inspired by a friend's heartbreaking experience and discuss creating from raw emotion.