It's really great to see the days getting longer, feel the warm sun breaks, and smell the early blooming flowers. Time to start planning for road trips and figuring out ways to get in some art when you're on the road. A fun challenge is to see how pared-down you can get with supplies and still create art. My goal is to always have supplies with me, and yet, I don't like to carry a huge bag everywhere. It's time for a secret-Ninja art kit. And this one has been kitty-approved.

The idea to use empty containers for paints came from Pinterest. Can you believe how cute this thing is, a mini Altoid tin filled with gouache (opaque watercolor)? What could be better? And a great discovery is the travel-size Koi water brush. I got mine at Dots N Doodles in Astoria, OR last year. They're great because you can bring a bit of water with you and can refill it later. For the airlines, I make sure to empty the brush before flying. Watercolor and gouache are safe to bring on the plane because there are no solvents. The tiny walls are made of scraps of plastic, anchored with hot glue. Just fill the wells and let dry, then it's ready to take on the road. Can't wait to try it out!

Winter happens to be a really busy time for me, and that busy time has continued through early spring the last couple of years. I'm so thankful to have deadlines to prepare for, and I'm learning how to work better, and produce better results while the deadlines are looming and my own expectations, hopes and dreams are adding pressure on the results of the work. I'm learning how to focus and buckle down, but also accept the gift of grace to make mistakes during the process. 

With the next series coming up the deadlines are in very quick succession. I'm finding it easier to focus on a more specific task, get that one handled, and then I'll be free to work on the larger scope series, which has a theme of "Iconic." I'll be working around the theme within the subject matter of still life/interiors. Watch the artwork pages for updates once work is complete! What are your favorite paintings in a series from artists you admire, or work you have done yourself? I'd love to hear from you in the comments below. And I just listened to "Artists Helping Artists," on BlogTalk Radio about creating in a series. I highly recommend this show for inspiration and great art business ideas.