This blog is a place for encouragement, color + design inspiration, tips for creative entrepreneurs and small business owners, and general creative musings.
Creative people need to be around creative people to thrive. When life is busy, it can be hard to make those connections, so the Art is a Record Creatives Community was born. Join our private Facebook group, where you can ask questions, share what you're working on, and be inspired. It is a place where we can share with confidence and encourage each other to grow. I hope you’ll join us!
I’ve been thinking about fear a lot for creatives. I don’t mean that I’ve been feeling afraid, just trying to analyze that fear we all feel that sometimes keeps us from creating. The biggest obstacle keeping people from what they most want is fear. Fear of failure, rejection, judgment.
Read MoreI opened the spice cabinet the other day and saw cinnamon, turmeric, paprika, cardamom, basil… and I thought wow. Look at all those beautiful earthy tones, right out of nature and into our recipes! That was all I needed to see to inspire this fresh herbs and spice color palettes.
Read MoreI remember the first time I was introduced to alcohol based markers in high school they were messy and bled, like watercolors, on vellum and I wasn’t sure what to do with them.
Read MoreI’ve always been drawn to teal, aqua, turquoise. Any shade of blue-green feels calming and inviting, but also energizing to me! There’s something special about the mix of blue and green together. Teal reminds me of the water, oceans and lakes, and the sky. There are so many wonderful variations in nature of this beautiful hue.
Read MoreWhat a big year for color! Being stuck at home for a great deal of the year really gave me some time to think about color and create all kinds of color palettes. I’ve created color schemes for branding plans for clients, and I made them for remodeling our home. I even let my kids make color palettes over the summer when we decided to let them paint their bedrooms. I’ve started a new series of paintings that are focused on color and texture. Color kind of saved me this year!
Read MorePantone has spoken! The 2021 Colors of the Year are PANTONE 17-5104 Ultimate Gray + PANTONE 13-0647 Illuminating. I have to say when I first saw their choice I wasn’t super excited, but as I create these palettes to share with you it grew on me. I do love the yellow.
Read MoreWinter can be a hard time for people living in cold and often gloomy climates. There isn’t a lot of sunshine, it’s hard to get outside. Don’t get me wrong, I know winter in Michigan is beautiful, but sometimes Vitamin D and exercise isn’t enough when you’ve hit late January and haven’t seen the sun in weeks.
Read MorePink can be calming, kind, and is often associated with love. Pink can be soft and sweet, or it can be bold and impactful. It’s a stand out color. It’s a loaded color. Please use responsibly.
Read MoreI think of purple as a fun color. Deep like amethyst or light like lilacs… Regal or soft. It comes in so many beautiful tints and shades.
Read MoreIt’s time for another round of My Color Palette Magic! This is the second collection of color palettes inspired by submitted photos! If you would like your photo made into a color palette you can use #mycolorpalettemagic on Instagram or email me, for consideration.
Read MoreHave you ever had this happen to you? You’re alone at your desk late at night. The house is finally quiet and you can breathe. No one else needs you for anything. You have a light bulb moment. The stars align and the smoke clears from your brain.
Read MoreYou can look at some things and feel their age. They have a certain warmth. I love old things, rusty things, things that have stories. I love the faded colors, the bright colors, the retro colors. I love that certain colors can transport you to a different era.
Read MoreI came across an article yesterday where a survey in Singapore listed artists in the top five non-essential jobs. My favorite part of the article was the graphics and illustrations, which were of course created by an artist. That made me laugh a bit.
Read MoreBlue is my favorite color. It’s so hard to choose just one, but I always gravitate towards it. It comes in so many beautiful tints and shades. Romantic, dark, bright, stability, depth, intelligence… it can convey so many things, depending on how you use it.
Read MoreSince I started my all color palette Instagram account, Color Palette Magic, I have been getting a lot of requests to create palettes from YOU, my lovely readers! I am loving it. Here is the first collection of color palettes inspired by submitted photos!
Read MoreGreen is the color of nature. It comes in so many different hues… from deep emerald jewel tones, to blue-green teals, to leafy tones, to olive drab, to sage, mint, and on and on. It’s restful and retentive. Green is definitely one of my favorite colors.
Read MoreI came to a realization recently. Maybe never feeling content in ourselves is OK. Maybe it’s because there’s always more to do, learn, grow. We are in a constant state of becoming. We are supposed to be.
Read MoreYellow reminds me of sunshine, flowers, and joy. It’s wonderful warm color in all it’s tints and shades. Yellow is often associated with happiness, cheer, and energy. It’s definitely and attention-getter: see school buses and taxi cabs!
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