20 Daily Delights: Writing a Joy List as a Reminder to Focus on Gratitude

I sat in the dining room with my coffee, cereal and journal.

“I’m crabby. Crabby. Crabby. Crabby,” I wrote.

gratitude, joyAnne ButeraOctober 8, 2022joy, Joy Lists, Joy List, joy list, writing joy lists, gratitude practice, gratitude, joy is a choice, joy as a habit Comments

Inspired by Houseplants New Pattern Designs and a Tea Towel Calendar for 2023

Fall is here for real now. One of the things I like best about fall is the way my attention shifts to my houseplants when the weather gets too cold to be outside. You can see it in my art, too.

Falling in Love with Sketchbooks Again and Again (and a New Class)

In the middle of winter when frost decorates the windows of my studio and I pull on another sweater, I’ll think back to summer days in my garden, cicadas singing, sketchbook on my lap.

sketchbooks, art classes, artAnne ButeraAugust 27, 2022sketchbooks, sketchbook class, sketchbook practice, sketchbooks as self care, self care, self-care, how I use sketchbooks, why I love sketchbooks, skillshare, Skillshare teacher, creative self-care Comments

August 2022 in the Garden

In June when I wrote to my Joy Letter subscribers I said that June was my favorite month. Right now, though, I’m thinking August might be.

Reader Conversations: Which Print Magazines Do You Enjoy?

Flipping through magazines in a bookstore with a cup of coffee in one hand. Checking out a stack of magazines from the library. Opening the mailbox to find a magazine tucked inside.

inspiration, Reader ConversationsAnne ButeraAugust 13, 2022reader conversations, magazines, inspiration, print magazines Comments

My Favorite Self-Seeding Annuals For Effortless Beauty Each Year in the Garden

One of the things I love most about my garden and gardening is connecting with nature. I plant my garden and I tend it, but I’m not really in control.

garden, art, inspirationAnne ButeraAugust 6, 2022garden, self seeding plants, self seeding flowers, growing herbs, garden flowers Comments

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.

creativity, inspirationAnne ButeraJuly 30, 2022student 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

July 2022 in the Garden (with a Video Tour and Before and After Photos)

It’s truly amazing how much changes in the garden in just one month.

gardenAnne ButeraJuly 16, 2022garden, raised beds, raised bed gardening, cinder block raised beds, container gardens, growing tomatoes in containers, garden tour, garden tours, garden tour video, july garden tour, garden video Comments

12 Things Bringing Me Joy Right Now

I’ve been in a bit of a creative funk. I know it’s just a natural part of the ebb and flow of my creativity. It’s taken me years to be able to recognize this and let the funk happen.

creativity, joy, lifeAnne ButeraJuly 9, 2022Joy Lists, Joy List, creative ebbs, creative cycle, savor summer Comments

Sharing Joy: Join Me for a Tour of Reader Gardens

This week I’ve turned my blog over to my dear readers. Twelve of you are sharing your gardens with us today.

garden, Reader ConversationsAnne ButeraJuly 2, 2022reader conversations, gardens, reader gardens Comments

June 2022 in the Garden and an Invitation to My Readers

We’re more than half-way through June. The solstice is just a few days away. Summer is well and truly here.

garden, joyAnne ButeraJune 18, 2022garden, gardening, June garden, June garden tour, garden tour, garden tours, in the garden, violas, pansies and violas, sketching violas and pansies, colored pencil, garden experiments Comments

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.

joy, inspiration, Reader ConversationsAnne ButeraJune 11, 2022reader 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

June 4 and 5 is the Winding Roads Art Tour

After being canceled the past two years because of Covid, the Winding Roads Art Tour is finally going ahead.

art, inspirationAnne ButeraMay 28, 2022Winding Roads Art Tour, Kathleen Aaker, Deborah Conlon, Viroqua Wisconsin, Viva Gallery in Viroqua Wisconsin, 2022 Winding Roads Art Tour, Artist Studios, Wisconsin, Driftless Region, Driftless Wisconsin, art and artists, art community, local artists Comments

May 2022 in the Garden

Not much was happening in the garden in April, but now things are really starting to take off.

garden, joy, life, seasonsAnne ButeraMay 21, 2022garden, garden tour, garden tours, monthly garden tours, spring in the garden, spring, garden dog, gardening, gardening season, spring bulbs, May garden tour, May in the garden Comments

A Day in the Life of a Botanical Artist: Inside My Spring Studio and Garden

Before I dive in to talking about what a typical day looks like around here, I want to take a moment to thank you for sharing your experiences with online subscriptions and communities in last week’s post.

Reader Conversations: Do You Subscribe to Any Online Creative Memberships?

I regularly invite you, my dear readers, to engage in conversation here on my blog by asking questions in my posts. Nurturing an open, encouraging and inspiring environment is important to me.

inspiration, Reader ConversationsAnne ButeraMay 7, 2022reader conversations, online communities, let me know what you think, online memberships, membership subscriptions Comments

What if You Don't Feel Like Creating? How to Handle Creative Slumps

Your materials are gathered. You have time. You have a space to work. But when you sit down to create… nothing.

creativityAnne ButeraApril 30, 2022creative slumps, ebb and flow, creativity, creative ebbs, creative blocks, how to handle creative blocks, how to handle creative slumps, what if you don't feel like creating, rest, creative cycle, treating yourself with grace Comments

April 2022 in the Garden (And Indoors Dreaming, Planting, Painting, Reading)

I spent Monday in my garden. Mondays are technically the weekend for me and I was so glad my time off coincided with good weather.

books, garden, art, houseplantsAnne ButeraApril 16, 2022garden tour, garden tours, monthly garden tours, books, book review, garden books, painting, watercolor houseplants, indoor garden, seed starting Comments

What I Learned During My Four Week Blogging Break And What Happens Now I'm Back

I was going to jump back in to blogging today with a post addressing a question I’ve gotten from readers and students, but then I realized I want to talk about my blogging break.

business, bloggingAnne ButeraApril 9, 2022blogging break, blogging, blogging schedule, business, seasons Comments

Why It's So Important to Create Time and Space for Yourself During Difficult Times

At the end of 2021 when I was starting to plan for 2022, one of my goals was to take an art sabbatical at some point during the year.

notes from the studio

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