Let’s celebrate today (plus, new owl art)

“The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate” – Oprah 

I want to celebrate today. 

Celebrate the Journey, available here. 

I want to celebrate, but not because I’ve achieved a big new goal. Instead, I want to touch on what often gets covered up by those bigger milestones. Today, this includes:

Working near my window so I can see the first spring flowers bloom (nature is such a powerful healer)
The extended daylight and warmer air (we’re getting there!)
My hands that simply know what to do when they pick up a paintbrush (thank you intuition, thank you practice)
The people that have embraced me through all stages of life (I embrace you, too)
The deep breaths that keep us alive (aren’t our bodies amazing?)
Quiet (so very needed sometimes)
Two feisty little cats (thank you for making me laugh when I need it most)
And more than anything: being here, now (no matter what we’ve done already today and no matter what we’ll do later, we’re here in a moment worth loving with all our hearts)

What can you celebrate today? 

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

I began my newest painting over the past two weeks and have made some real progress lately. Owls! I love them.

Here was the initial sketch, based loosely on the barn owl:

I decided to use warmer background colors again, and it’s been such an interesting challenge to step outside of my comfort zone. I began by filling in the background with bright, warm color:

Finishing up the first background layer always makes me pause, as the next layer of color helps to decide the whole feel of the painting. The orange was already so bright that I decided to cool it down a bit, and layered on a wash of blue. I also began playing around with the little details from the initial sketch, drawn here in gold:

I’ve always loved blue and orange together (they help each other pop), but I felt at this stage that something was definitely missing. I let the painting sit for a day or so, and in that time a little voice in my head kept saying add magenta, add magenta. And so I did:

I love how color works. The blue / orange combo hadn’t been working, but adding a wash of magenta smoothed out the roughness and created a beautiful, deep sunset look. Sometimes it only takes one color to completely change the look and feel of a painting.

The next step was to outline the owls and create some background layers so they could pop against the darker sky. I also worked on the bottom section of the painting, choosing a bright color with gold detailing:

And last but not least: giving the owls some detail and personality. I experimented with making them a normal owl color but ultimately decided I like a little more color:

I’m not sure if the painting is done or not, so I’ll step away from it for a few days first before making any decisions. A little distance gives so much perspective (this is true in most situations, and especially in painting). I’m always happier when I don’t rush to be done.

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I’ve also had a few other reasons to celebrate this week.

Eric and I had the anniversary of our first date on Monday and while we save any official celebration for our wedding anniversary, I love remembering back to our first date and how young and hopeful we were. Here’s one of my favorite pictures from our first year of dating:

The past six years have seen so much growth and change. Life has been wonderful and also hard. Between job demands, Eric still being in school full time, and my business starting, between planning a wedding and now for a baby, we’ve had a lot to navigate. At the end of each day though I look at him and can’t imagine anyone else I’d want to muddle through life with. That smile on his face in this picture is such a representation of his positive, warm, and giving nature.

I also don’t think I’d have started a business without his encouragement and support, so today let’s celebrate the people in our lives who help us become who we’re meant to be. Super thankful.

♥

Last but not least, UncommonGoods has picked up another one of my designs, Wherever We Go (for their Kids Decor category). I’m so excited to grow my partnership with such a great company, and they chose one of my favorites. To see more, head over to the listing on their website here.

Here’s to celebrating our lives today in whatever ways feel best. 

Here’s to warm sun, health, and flowers.

Here’s to new opportunities, challenges, and the lessons we learn from both.

Here’s to the people who make us who we are.

Here’s to us!

With love,