Tag Archives: Watercolor

Painting: Is it a Noun or a Verb?

Posted on May 18, 2026 by Bobbie Herron

What have you painted lately? If you are feeling stuck in your daily mark-making habit, I have an idea that just might help. What if you fall in love with “painting,” the verb (the action), and forget about “painting” the … Continue reading →

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Art History: Is it about the Artist or about the Art?

Posted on April 9, 2026 by Bobbie Herron

(From the “Don’t Get Me Started!” series.) I need to make peace with how “Art History” is taught. In America, college “survey courses” are offered to the general student body to ensure that all students are exposed to topics they … Continue reading →

Posted in Watercolor, Musings on Life, Pencil sketching, sketching, Design Basics | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

You Won’t Know Until You Try

Posted on February 8, 2026 by Bobbie Herron

I pulled this book off the shelf a couple days ago, thinking it was time to revisit its wisdom. Instead, I found some of my own. At the end of the chapter about Suzanne Strempek Shea’s work, I found this … Continue reading →

Posted in Beauty, Watercolor | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

When you Know Better, but don’t DO Better

Posted on January 28, 2026 by Bobbie Herron

(No trigger warning, but this post is about twice as long as usual. So maybe it needs a “two-cuppa” warning.) Watercolor has taught me everything about life. Then again, I’m a sucker for a metaphor.  When you look back through … Continue reading →

Posted in "In The Meantime" Stories, Beauty, Musings on Life, Watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Secret is to Make Practice Effortless

Posted on November 8, 2025 by Bobbie Herron

To increase your skill level with any job or hobby, you need two things: LOTS of book-learning hours LOTS of real-world practice Surgeon or master carpenter or architect or watercolorist. They all require lots of study and practice. The challenge … Continue reading →

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Give Yourself Permission to have Gentle Habits

Posted on May 25, 2025 by Bobbie Herron

Here’s a mostly true story: Aaron (or “Double-A-Ron” as his friends called him) was a gentle soul lovingly referred to as the town drunk. His regular haunt was the Village Tap Tavern. Every day he would wander in about 4pm, … Continue reading →

Posted in Beauty, Books I Love, Musings on Life, Trips to the UK, Watercolor | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Planting future seeds of creative momentum

Posted on April 28, 2025 by Bobbie Herron

“Not every day is meant for painting.”What?? Blasphemy! The garden metaphor is helpful. If we were watering, fertilizing, weeding, and bothering our plants every day, they would ask us to leave. They might stop thriving, or wilt, or even die … Continue reading →

Posted in Beauty, Design Basics, Seeing and looking, Watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

What could you learn in just two hours a week?

Posted on April 20, 2025 by Bobbie Herron

Three questions for this next week of April 2025 Spring Fever: 1- Would you like to have room for even more learning? 2- If so, what subject would you explore? 3- Would two hours a week, for only a month, … Continue reading →

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Mentors are the Key to Momentum

Posted on April 13, 2025 by Bobbie Herron

“Next, how do you refill your energetic / creative fuel tank? How often are you doing it, and might more time be helpful?” -question from last week’s essay April’s theme is all about harnessing restlessness, claiming your focus, and developing … Continue reading →

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What if you could turn restlessness into productive joy?

Posted on April 6, 2025 by Bobbie Herron

The essay theme for April is Transforming Spring Fever into Joyful Focus. Week One, what habits might give you the most immediate and reliable satisfaction? Next, how do you refill your energetic/ creative fuel tank? How often are you doing … Continue reading →

Posted in Beauty, Musings on Life, Sketchbooks, Watercolor | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment