Posts in inspiration
Delighting in Dahlias: Dreaming of My Garden in the Depths of February
Delighting in Dahlias: Dreaming of My Garden in the Depths of February

Over the last couple of weeks, our snow was slowly melting. Two weeks of predicted snowstorms never materialized. What was left was nearly gone and then this week we were hit with snow, sleet, freezing rain and more snow. Now everything is white again.

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garden, inspirationAnne Buteradahlias, dahlia tubers, growing dahlias, growing dahlias from seed, dahlias in the garden, watercolor dahlias, garden inspiration, painting inspiration, winter garden planning, winter garden dreaming Comments
Ease into the New Year: Welcoming 2023 with New Words, New Projects (Same Me)
Ease into the New Year: Welcoming 2023 with New Words, New Projects (Same Me)

Here we are, two weeks into the new year. How are you feeling?

Have you chosen a word for your year? Are you setting intentions?

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life, art classes, inspirationAnne Buteraword of the year, 2023 word of the year, easing into the new year, new year, welcoming the new year, skillshare classes, Skillshare teacher, skillshare, Skillshare Class, Skillshare, Skillshare classes, block printing, lino printing, lino cuts Comments
Why Skillshare is Great and How to Get the Most Out of Your Membership
Why Skillshare is Great and How to Get the Most Out of Your Membership

I’ve been teaching on Skillshare for over 6 years. My first class came out in July of 2016.

Today I have 27 classes on the platform.

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inspiration, creativity, art classesAnne Buteraskillshare, Skillshare teacher, skillshare classes, Skillshare, Skillshare classes, what is skillshare, how does skillshare work, what is skillshare and how does it work, why is skillshare great, why you need a Skillshare membership, how to get the most out of your skillshare membership, Skillshare membership Comments
Listen to Yourself: a Reminder of the Importance of Rest and Self-Care
Listen to Yourself: a Reminder of the Importance of Rest and Self-Care

My blogging calendar has a different post scheduled for today, but I came down with a bad head cold this week and that other post didn’t get written.

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inspiration, creativity, lifeAnne Buteracreativity, self-care, recommit to self-care, creative self-care, being present as self-care, prioritizing self-care, rest, rest increases creative energy, prioritizing rest, making time for rest, time off, taking time for yourself Comments
Making Creative Choices: How to Figure Out Your Style, Favorite Medium, Subject Matter and More
Making Creative Choices: How to Figure Out Your Style, Favorite Medium, Subject Matter and More

Earlier this year I invited you to share suggestions of what you’d like to see here on my blog. Since then I’ve been sprinkling in posts inspired by you.

One type of question a few of you had was around making decisions.

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creativity, inspirationAnne Buterastudent questions, reader questions, creative advice, making decisions, creative dreams, how do you decide, style evolution, artist style development, artist style, art mediums, art subject matter, art supplies, creative choices, making creative choices Comments
The Winding Roads Art Tour and Another Reader Conversation
The Winding Roads Art Tour and Another Reader Conversation

Last weekend was the Winding Roads Art Tour.

I keep trying to write about it, but nothing I write truly captures the experience.

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joy, inspiration, Reader ConversationsAnne Buterareader conversations, Winding Roads Art Tour, 2022 Winding Roads Art Tour, making connections through blogging, Kathleen Aaker, Deborah Conlon, making connections, bringing people together, bringing people together around beauty and joy Comments
Finding Inspiration in a Student's Review of One of My Classes
Finding Inspiration in a Student's Review of One of My Classes

In a recent review of one of my classes, a student wrote:

“She encouraged me to step out and paint for me instead of for approval.”

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creativity, inspirationAnne Buterado it for yourself, why we do what we do, creative freedom, journaling, writing in a journal, keeping a journal, keeping a sketchbook, creating in private, sharing what we do, why share what we do?, do it for yourself not for approval, doing things for approval, getting approval, skillshare, skillshare classes, students, learning from my students, Betsy Cordes, Art Brand Alliance, paint for me, be creative for yourself not just for approval, why create Comments
A Love Letter to Blogging, or Why Blogs are More Relevant than Ever
A Love Letter to Blogging, or Why Blogs are More Relevant than Ever

It’s almost Valentine’s Day and if you’ve been around a while you know I love it. Not for the commercial aspects (though I’m a fan of both chocolate and flowers) but because the idea of a day devoted to LOVE makes me happy.

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blogging, inspirationAnne Buterablogging, bloggers, is blogging dead, blogging renaissance, blogging is not dead, blogging community, artful blogging magazine, why i love blogging, why I'll keep blogging, making connections through blogging, skillshare, Skillshare teacher, Skillshare Class, Skillshare, Skillshare classes, why I love reading blogs, favorite blogs, my favorite blogs, some of my favorite blogs, dreams, big dreams, dreaming big dreams, creative dreams, why blogs are more relevant than ever, blogs, blogging as an alternative to social media, blogging vs. instagram Comments
How to Discover Joy in Subtle Colors: Lessons from the Winter Garden
How to Discover Joy in Subtle Colors: Lessons from the Winter Garden

The sun is shining, warm and bright. The garden is humming with bees and I catch the scent of roses, mint and spicy tulsi. I step among the blooms with my scissors at the ready,

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art, garden, inspiration, joyAnne Buteragarden, garden colors, watercolor, watercolor paintings, watercolor paint swatches, mixing colors, mixing watercolor paint, color mixing, Anne Butera, A Year in Color Online Summit, Creative U, winter garden colors, winter garden watercolor paintings, inspired by winter, inspired by subtle colors, subtle winter colors, subtle beauties, lessons from my garden, lessons from a winter garden, in my studio, in my garden, what's happening in the garden, what, what's happening in my studio, what's happening in my garden, garden inspiration, painting series, watercolor painting series, winter garden painting series Comments
10 Ways to Invite More Ease into Your Days and Why it Matters
10 Ways to Invite More Ease into Your Days and Why it Matters

When I think about the word EASE, I imagine serenity and calm. I picture being able to do hard things with confidence. I see myself flowing through my days with lightness, finesse, grace.

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inspiration, joy, lifeAnne Buterainviting more ease into your days, why it matters to invite ease into our days, what does it mean to live with ease?, how can we invite ease into our lives, 10 ways to invite more easy into your days, 10 Ways to Invite More Ease into Your Life, changing our perspectives, choosing a mindset, what does it mean to choose a word for the year?, setting intentions, letting go of anxiety, release yourself from busyness, free yourself from anxiety, how to free yourself from anxiety Comments
Granting Yourself Permission to be Quiet in a Noisy World
Granting Yourself Permission to be Quiet in a Noisy World

“Thanksgiving is not just a day, it’s a lifestyle.”

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joy, inspiration, lifeAnne Buteragratitude, gratitude practice, thanksgiving, Thanksgiving, thanksgiving as a lifestyle, giving ourselves permission, being quiet in a noisy world, following your own path, following your own rules, following your own guiding star, being true to yourself, lean in to your quirks, joy, alternatives to black friday, alternatives to cyber weekend Comments