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!
Learning and accepting this fact has give me a sense of freedom. Letting go of the “I’ll be happy when I...” or “I’ll be successful when I...” myth and learning to live in the moment is a beautiful thing.
I’m not an expert at this. I have to remind myself constantly, but it’s starting to stick. Love who you are now. Keep learning and growing, always, but you are enough today.
I’ve been thinking a lot about travel lately, as I have been doing none. I’m generally a person who want to go more to nature and the country to vacation, but there’s something about big cities at night that look very alluring. Zooming lights, bustling people, buzzing neon, taxi cabs, marquees, nightlife… I like the intense contrast between the bright lights and the dark shadows. There is beauty to be found in the big city, that is for sure.
Read MoreWhen it comes to creative living or creative entrepreneurship, it’s important to know the power of no. When you’re starting out it will be tempting to say yes to every opportunity that comes your way. The good, the bad, the “do it for the exposure.” I’m speaking from experience here. I worked with design clients who were not a good match for my style. I took on projects that I didn’t even offer as services. I said yes to outrageous timelines. This is an excellent recipe to get burned out pretty quickly. I do recommend trying new things, stretching yourself, and pushing your limits, but you don’t have to do it to your own detriment.
Read MoreI’m kind of obsessed with texture. I like to touch different fabrics, yarn, flowers, leaves, rocks, all of it. I’m one of those people at the store who wants to touch all the clothes, pillows, and blankets. I’ve been vert interested in the way color and texture work together in my paintings lately. I thought it might be fun to approach it backward, grabbing the colors from the finished image which is full of texture already.
Read MoreThere are lies we tell ourselves every day. Sometimes they’re excuses not to go for the thing we really want, to protect ourselves from the possibility of failure. Sometimes we get so caught up in what we’re “supposed to do” we forget to listen to our own instincts. Here is my top five list of things you do NOT need to go after your dreams, whatever those dreams may be.
Read MoreDon’t forget to look up! I’ve always been drawn to architecture. I love the way that design and beauty come together in the name of function. I love that people choose the ornate and push the limits of what’s possible. I love the geometry, the colors, the concepts, the sculptural elements. I love it all.
Read MoreI used to think I could do everything, all the time, as it came to me. I said yes to every creative opportunity that came my way. I wanted to do it all, and I wanted to do it now. I’m here to tell you, you can do it all, but you don’t have to do it all right this minute.
Read MoreWhat can I say, I just love flowers. I can’t wait for all the beautiful things getting ready to bloom. Here’s another color palette collection of beautiful flowers!
Read MoreI am anxious a lot. That information always seems to surprise people. People tell me I seem like I have it all together. I always seem like I have a plan. I’m always doing so many projects, or doing cool stuff with my kids. They’re not wrong, but the reason I always have a plan is anxiety. I reason I’m always doing a ton of projects is anxiety. This is how I deal.
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’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.
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