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As an artist and a mom, I am always trying to come up with new ideas for how to upcycle just about everything. I was raised to believe that “new” doesn’t always mean “better” and that all we need is equal parts effort and creativity to have nice things in our...
There is one notorious piece of mine that gets a lot of attention whenever I share it… Velvet Honey! It is one of my favorite pieces of furniture I’ve ever painted. We featured it in the 6th volume of The Turquoise Iris Journal and it got rave reviews. The tutorial...
Everyone has some version of this story: you received an old piece of furniture as a hand-me-down or you found a really good deal at a thrift store or a garage sale. Either way, you end up with furniture that has maybe seen some better days. Is it possible to give...
As a creative, I live to experiment and go BIG! Getting out of my comfort zone and creating something new is what helps me grow as an artist, but there was a time when I felt sort of bad that my work couldn’t be condensed down to a handful of adjectives… As it...
Every so often I’ll get a group of new followers who have a lot of wonderful questions for me. They’ll ask them in emails and comments and direct messages and I always do my best to help them, but I always wish I could give them more, you know? So I decided to...
This year has been a busy one for the team here at The Turquoise Iris! In addition to hosting (and teaching at!) lots and lots of retreats, we also released the FIRST print issue of The Turquoise Iris Journal, I filmed a feature for the BloomTV Network and What...
I don’t know why but it used to be that every time I made a piece of art I would spend the last few hours scrambling to come up with a good name. As someone who paints several pieces a month, it wasn’t long before I learned some reliable strategies for titling a...
I have a confession to make: I have never (not once!) felt guilty for painting a piece of wood furniture and I think it’s about time we stop acting like it’s the worst crime an artist can commit! Here’s the thing: a lot of these pieces would sit around in a thrift...
I asked members of The Turquoise Iris’s Creative Connection what things they struggled with the most. While time management came in at number one, surprisingly close behind was “how to choose a color palette!” You’d think, as artists, we’d have an endless supply of...
It’s official: Very Peri is the color of the year for 2022, at least according to the folks over at Pantone. Around here we call that color “Water Lily,” because it’s a staple color in every DIY Paint stash! I’ve been using Water Lily in my pieces for a few years...
It’s almost the new year, and it’s my goal to give my followers all the inspiration they can handle before 2022 begins! This week it’s all about home decor ideas that I think you should try in 2022! In the past few weeks I’ve found myself inspired by the Winter...
I’m not sure what it is about palette knives but they tend to either strike excitement or fear into the heart of every artist who sees them. If you fall into the latter category then my tips for palette knife painting for beginners will give you a strong foundation...
Say hello to Memories from Martinique! This MASSIVE DIY wardrobe makeover was a huge undertaking but, boy, what a dream to paint! When I saw those lovely front panels and carved florals I knew I had to have her. Hand-Painted Wardrobe As with all my pieces, I knew...
Hey all you furniture painters, I promised that this blog was on its way and it’s finally here! This is my Furniture Painting Art Guide where I round up all the tutorials and tips your heart can handle! How to Paint on Furniture Painting on furniture has a lot of...
I want to share some of my FAVORITE color recipes (AKA color combinations) from my furniture makeovers. Most color recipes are exclusive to my email list but a few of them were too good not to share… So enjoy a few color recipes from the vault and be sure to sign...
One of my goals as an artist and creative coach is to empower all creatives to believe that they are capable of anything they put their minds to! My motto has always been this: If I can do it, you can do it. Once upon a time I didn’t believe that I was a “real”...
When I first started finger painting a few years ago, I had two simultaneous thoughts: This is the most fun I’ve had in a long time! I hope no one will think this is childish. For some reason, a lot of us tend to associate “fun” with being “childish,” which is...
As a creative coach I’m often approached by furniture and canvas artists who worry about a saturated market and want to stand out online. The answer is deceptively simple: Find what makes you unique. Yes, I know, that’s a lot easier said than done but it’s the best...
These days, it seems like the only way I can find time to paint is by making time to paint! Is there a single artist out there who feels like they actually get enough time to make all the art they want?! More often than not life gets in the way, so I thought I’d...
While green might not be the Pantone Color of the Year (that honor went to Ultimate Grey and Illuminating yellow), it’s definitely the color of spring around here! The color palette for Issue 03 of The Turquoise Iris Journal is entirely shades of green and St....
Well, I did it! I convinced Matt to let me paint the master bedroom pink! Let’s ignore the fact that he insisted on calling it “light red” (and also that it was originally going to be a bright salmon color) and just be amazed by how gorgeous this blush (ahem -...
Make more income from your art AND find more time to paint with my new Creative Business Success Planner! This workbook will help you build a business that’s aligned with your ideals, goals, and vision so you can get paid to do more of what you love.
Make more income from your art AND find more time to paint with my new Creative Business Success Planner! This workbook will help you build a business that’s aligned with your ideals, goals, and vision so you can get paid to do more of what you love.