Ava's Birthday

I do kid’s parties all the time… but this one just felt special. First of all, I was so excited to paint outside! Then these three sweet birds were just a stinking adorable painting picked by Ava. As her friends finished up they went off to some sort of crazy scavenger hunt that kept the fun going and I got to listen to all their laughter while I cleaned up.

Creativity in kids is fun to watch. They embrace that their birds might not look like mine. They say, “Ooh!” when the paint drips, instead of worrying that it isn’t supposed to do that. Their faces light up when you tell them you want a picture of their painting for your website.

Let’s be childlike when we paint! Put aside whatever timid feelings might try to set the tone for your session. Confident, joyful painters like these eight year old birthday party guests sure make me smile!

Sister Time at The Commons

Sometimes when a sold out party has so much going on and everyone is seated on those tall bar stools with their tall canvases and trying to not dip their brush in their beer… I don’t even notice the quality time that friends and family are making as they paint and chat and sip. It’s always my intention to create that space, but since it’s their conversation and their chance to do something playful together, I’m pretty sure I only see a fraction of it.

Yet each time there’s a big event there seems to be one crew of friends, one set of coworkers, or one pair of sisters, who not only enjoy their time together, but make special mention of it to me. It means so much to get that feedback. I can kind of take it all in from a visual scan of the room and how relaxed the guests are, but when they stop me to tell me how refreshing it was to spend that time with each other… makes my day. Yes, I hope you like your painting and all, but that together time is my heartbeat and passion in what I do!

Butte Strong Love Continues

After a fantastic event in February, I wondered how this March one would go… just as heartwarming? More friends from Paradise? Even more of the Butte Strong mindset and desire to support our neighbors? Yes, yes, and yes. Also ART bringing us all together… absolutely. I couldn’t make this happen without the decision each of these participants made to let a simple painting experience be a chance to invite healing and love into a regular old Wednesday night!

Thank you so much for contributing, attending, and savoring this time with a sensitivity for the various reasons painters might be here. When watching your faces as I introduce and get things rolling or walking around to help guide the session, one of the overwhelmingly evident pieces of this time is the compassion you all have for each other. No matter what impact the fire had on you or what you lost, your heart is towards the people around you, embracing them in their story, hoping to grieve with them or laugh with them or just give a hug that says, “You’re amazing. I’m glad you’re here.”

To all the lovely people I got to meet tonight, you are brave, resilient and creative! Hoping you felt this message from the people you came with and from my heart too, “You’re amazing. I’m glad you’re here.”

Birthday Friends Love Sailing

Since Jeff is all about taking his sailboat out, and his friends are those wonderful kind who think painting alongside him will be the perfect Saturday afternoon, this event was far beyond the classic birthday party. Garden Villa hosted us and Jeff’s wife brought in all the appetizers and wine to complete the experience.

As our painting session unfolded, it was fun to capture that sort of gray sky and add a glow to those golden sails. For me, walking through the techniques for this one with such a pleasant group of guests really made the time together amazing. For our guest of honor, it seemed like it is just his style to be this immersed in quality time with the people he loves. Combining family and long time friends who all want to learn and participate to their fullest… the best kind of private party. Thanks to this sailboat crew!

Painting with Camp Fire Neighbors

Our community has been through a lot, and for some, this chance to paint was a break from all the pain and decision making following the Camp Fire. For others, this was a time to wholeheartedly come alongside the friends and family who have been walking this difficult road.

The opportunity to treat my neighbors to a healing and relaxing time really surpassed my expectations. Now that two follow up parties are scheduled and I get to find teachers who lost their classrooms to be recipients of all the proceeds from this event… my heart is full of wonder at the connected and loving nature of Butte County.

A month ago, I was just happy to be a Chico girl, chatting with a Chico cafe owner and coming together to donate all of this love and support to our Paradise neighbors. Now I want to figure out the next way that art can be a blessing in the lives of these amazingly resilient people! They’re certainly brave: showing up to paint, laugh, and be together while walking through trying times. I commend you and pray for you as your recovery continues. May it be sprinkled with love, support, and art time!

Caring Communities

Each month, I make time in my painting schedule for at least one party that is a gift to the participants. It’s pretty fun to see who I meet when people aren’t paying to attend, and this one felt particularly special. It was a ridiculously rainy February evening and we were quite scrunched in the yoga studio at this apartment complex, but these artists with their cheerful attitudes didn’t let that get to them.

I think part of it is that they know that an event hosted by Ari, with her sweet and hospitable nature, is going to be pleasant. It is clear that she is truly cultivating a Caring Community, which is her role at Sterling Oaks Apartments. I think the fact that the complex even has someone with this job is really quite amazing. Glad she found me and wanted to make a painting session part of what these seniors, kids, teens, and adults do to come together and be neighbors!

Mascot Painting Teacher Fun

The Rosedale Elementary teachers sure know how to have a good time! They all brought snacks, they squeezed into their principal’s dining room, and they laughed A LOT while painting these adorable raccoon faces. They teach at the local Spanish immersion school and they have a fantastic reputation with the Chico families who have students in their program. I can see why they are so loved!

It was a treat to guide these positive teachers through the steps to paint these mapaches… that’s the Spanish word for raccoon, their school mascot. After finishing our painting time and capturing this group photo, they decided to put them all up in the library and have the kids vote for their favorite before finding spots for them in their classrooms. Such a fun way to sprinkle their campus with art and school spirit!

That Cute Chickadee

It seems fitting that my first post on the new website would be a bird painting, because a couple of the favorites that got me going two years ago were birds! Now that I get to teach sold out events at The Commons on the regular and pick out artworks that will challenge and excite my crew of artists for the day, I feel pretty proud of how far this venture has come in such a short time.

For this session, the feathery chickadee, next to a couple poky pine cones on a mashed up turquoise background… all meant the texture component was calling for us to try new kinds of brushstrokes and get that palette messy. The self serve taproom was buzzing with conversation and creative time; making me so thankful that I committed to making this dream business my main thing. Here’s to more art time together and a little blog space to highlight some of the moments along the way!