Sips of Inspiration: an Interview with Misty Olsen

After a bit of a break, Sips of Inspiration is back!

I’m so excited to introduce you to Misty Olsen. Misty is an artist who’s working toward her dream of creating children’s books.

Why Sharing Encouragement and Inspiration is So Important

Today marks the half-year point for Sips of Inspiration, but instead of going ahead with my next interview, I wanted to do two things.

First I want to revisit my WHY. And second I want to check in with you, my dear readers.

I am so grateful you are here!

My Favorite Books for Watercolor Inspiration and Instruction

In our interview last week, Laura Ashton mentioned being inspired by the books of Edith Holden. Today I wanted to share some of the books that have inspired me on my creative journey.

books, inspirationAnne ButeraJuly 24, 2020Flower Fairies, Cicely M Barker, Cicely Barker's Flower Fairies Books, Books, book review, books, botanical art, In and Out of the Garden, In and Out of the Garden by Sara Midda, A Growing Gardener by Abbie Zabar, Abbie Zabar, A Growing Gardener, Sara Midda, Mary Woodin, The Painted Garden, The Painted Garden by Mary Woodin, The Painted Garden Cookbook, The Painted Garden Cookbook by Mary Woodin, Books by Mary Woodin, Drawn to the Country, Drawn to the Country by Mary Woodin, Vivian Swift, When Wanderers Cease to Roam, When Wanderers Cease to Roam by Vivian Swift, Susan Branch, Books by Susan Branch, Susan Branch's Illustrated memoirs, The Fairy Tale Girl, The Fairy Tale Girl by Susan Branch, Billy Showell, Books by Billy Showell, Billy Showell's Botanical Painting in Watercolour, Anna Mason, Books by Anna Mason, Anna Mason's Watercolour World, Botanical Sketchbook a Guide for Any Botanical Artist, Mary Ann Scott, Society of Botanical Artists, Distance Learning Diploma Course, watercolor instruction, watercolor books, watercolor instruction books, art instruction, art instruction books, instructional art books, Geninne Zlatkis, Birds in Watercolor, Birds in Watercolor Collage and Ink by Geninne Zlatkis, Birds in Watercolor Collage and Ink, Local Colora, Mimi Robinson, Mimi Robinson's Local Color, Lorene Edwards Forkner, artists, inspiration Comments

Sips of Inspiration: an Interview with Laura Ashton

This month’s Sips of Inspiration interview was really fun for me. Today I’m chatting with Laura Ashton who is also a gardener and botanical illustrator.

inspiration, Sips of InspirationAnne ButeraJuly 17, 2020Laura Ashton, watercolor artist, botanical watercolor, botanical illustration, inspiration, inspiring people, inspiring women, interviews, artist interviews, Sips of Inspiration Comments

Sips of Inspiration: an Interview with Ishrat Khawja

I’m delighted to be sharing another Sips of Inspiration interview with you today. This month’s conversation is with Ishrat Khawja. Ishrat hand-dyes beautiful yarns in her home in the UK.

Sips of Inspiration, joy, inspirationAnne ButeraJune 19, 2020inspiring women, inspiring people, yarn, yarn dyeing, interviews, Sips of Inspiration, joy, handmade joy exchange, inspiration, creating connections, creative community, blogging Comments

Sips of Inspiration: an Interview with Ruby Josephine Smith

It’s been a month since I shared my chat with Melanie April. What a month it’s been. In some ways it feels like that time has flown by and in others it feels like much more than a month has passed since then.

Regardless of the strangeness of time, I’m delighted to be sharing another Sips of Inspiration interview today. This month’s conversation is with Ruby Josephine Smith, a dancer, choreographer, podcast host…

creativity, inspiration, Sips of InspirationAnne ButeraMay 15, 2020Sips of Inspiration, podcasts, dancing, dancers, inspiration, inspiring women, Ruby Josephine Smith Comments

Sips of Inspiration: an Interview with Melanie April

I’m back with another interview, the second in my monthly Sips of Inspiration series.

Today I’m chatting with Melanie April Houten.

Sips of Inspiration, creativity, inspirationAnne ButeraApril 17, 2020Sips of Inspiration, inspiring people, inspiring women, interviews, what you can do to support artists, Melanie April, inspiration Comments

Books Bring Inspiration and Joy (and Support Artists)

How are you holding up? What a week it’s been over here. You, too?

My feelings are up and down. My energy is up and down. I’m giving myself leeway and taking things one day (sometimes one moment) at a time. It’s all we can do, I think.

Escaping into the world of a book always seems to help.

Sips of Inspiration: An Interview with Jenny Blair

A couple weeks ago I announced I would be interviewing artists in a new monthly series. And today I’ve released the first installment!

Sips of Inspiration, creativity, inspirationAnne ButeraMarch 20, 2020Sips of Inspiration, Jenny Blair, inspiring women, inspiring people, inspiration, Inspiration, embroidery, embroidery patterns, embroidery kits, Jenny Blair Kits, artist interviews, interviews, creative business, creativity Comments

On Blogs and Blogging (again)

Last month I wrote about taking a social media break. I looked back over my time on Instagram and also touched on the way blogging has changed over the years. I want to spend a bit more time considering blogs and blogging, giving the topic its own post (I’ve written about blogging before and will most likely write about it again).

Sips of Inspiration

I am so excited to finally be sharing a project I’ve been working on for a while. First in the dreaming stage, more recently in the DOing stage.

And today with an official announcement.

creativity, inspiration, gratitude, Sips of InspirationAnne ButeraMarch 6, 2020interviews, Sips of Inspiration, A new interview series, Youtube, artist interviews, inspiring women, inspiring people, inspiration, creativity Comments

I Deleted Instagram from My Phone for 6 Weeks -- My Thoughts Coming Back

Back in November I deleted Instagram from my phone.

It was a snap decision. To take a break from social media and blogging until the new year. I’d been getting more and more uncomfortable on Instagram. Frustrated with it. The idea of taking time and space for me sounded pretty good.

inspiration, blogging, creativityAnne ButeraFebruary 7, 2020Instagram, Social Media, Deleting Instagram, Social Media break, inspiration, community, creative community, expert advice, following your own path, blogging, blogging advice, is blogging dead, Dana Barbieri, Carolyn Zick, greyhounds, retired racing greyhounds, rescued greyhounds, photography, photos, roses, art, art business, Jaime Haney, Meda Halmaciu, Tamara Sharkey, Moongirl Art, Little Butterfly Studio, invitatiicouture, Alisa Burke, Hipstamatic, being authentic, being yourself, following your own rules, creating your own rules, i deleted instagram from my phone for 6 weeks, my thoughts coming back after a 6 week Instagram break, creative business, authenticity, using social media, rules for using social media, what to share on Instagram, growing your instagram following, negative effects of social media, negative effects of instagram, using instagram for creative communities, creating community on social media, creating community, sharing inspiration, social media break, social media rules, making your own social media rules, following your own social media rules, popular posts Comments

Loving Healing Creating -- An Invitation

A couple weeks ago I mentioned that I’m one of the presenters at the Loving Healing Creating Summit. And now the summit is about to begin!

The “live” summit runs for 13 days, from February 2 through February 14.

creativity, inspirationAnne ButeraJanuary 31, 2020Loving Healing Creating Summit, Free online event, Free online summit, free gifts, healing through creativity, getting started with watercolor a free guide, Color Meditation, presenter at the Loving Healing Creating Summit, free online sessions Comments

What is Skillshare and How Does it Work? (And Introducing a New Class)

I just released a new class on Skillshare. My 20th class on the platform. It’s a little mind-boggling to think I’ve created that many classes.

I first started teaching on Skillshare three and a half years ago. I was already a member and had taken some classes on the platform, but had never thought of teaching there. Then they contacted me and invited me to teach.

Planning Your Year, a Resource Round-Up (and Some Honest Thoughts)

We’re already more than half-way into January. How have things been going for you so far?

Growing Inspiration: Dahlias

Dahlias! Oh, dahlias. They’re one of those swoon-inducing flowers you’re sure to see when scrolling around on Instagram or Pinterest. Other than sunflowers, they have the biggest flowers I know.

This and That

It’s been a while since I’ve shared a hodgepodge sort of post. Most of the time I only share inspiring links in my monthly Joy Letters*, but there’s no reason not to share some here once in a while, too (like Dana does with her Lovely Things posts).

An Opening Reception

Last night was the opening reception for my show at Viva Gallery in my town of Viroqua, Wisconsin. The gallery is an artist cooperative with 23 (I think) members and each month it hosts a guest artist. I’m the guest for the month of October.

growing inspiration: tomatoes

So far my Growing Inspiration posts have been about flowers. Of course I love flowers. I love growing them and painting them. I love cutting them for the house and watching the butterflies and bees and hummingbirds visit them in the garden.

But one of my very favorite things about the garden is eating from it.

growing inspiration: violas

In my first Growing Inspiration post I wrote about nasturtiums. If there’s a flower I’ve drawn and painted more than the nasturtium, it might be the viola.

They always have a place in my garden.

notes from the studio

Shared the 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month.