Watercolor Conversations with Cara Brown

In this - a little bit longer episode - I share the story behind writing my interpretation of The Beatitudes - eight ancient teachings -  for those of us who dare to create.  My wish is to support us in creating with our singular vision and voice.  Then, I share each of the eight Beatitudes.It's a combination of three consecutive journal entries, the first of which I called Supremely Blessed.  https://www.lifeinfullcolor.com/journal/art-life-stories/april-26-2017-supreme-blessings/.  You can see the painting I called Beatitude here too.The teachings themselves start at minute 7:50, if you'd like to jump right there.Cara Brown - Watercolorist - Teacher - www.lifeinfullcolor.com...is where you can find all my paintings, workshop offerings and the entire archive of my writing.

Here's an art-making-oriented episode - a practical one. I'm sharing my thoughts on how it is that I decide the form of my paintings - my process of composing a painting.  I don't follow rules, I don't even think too much.  It's a felt thing.  In case reflecting on my process is helpful, here it is!There's no post on my (now new!) website about this. And, you can go there to see all the results of my composing paintings over the years!www.lifeinfullcolor.comThe "round" painting I've done is here:  https://www.lifeinfullcolor.com/gallery-available-originals/eternal/

I'm sharing this one again, with a short intro and update on an interaction I had with the mailman that I mentioned in the original episode.  I felt the need to hear this message today. Here it is on the top of the stack in case you want to hear it - or hear it again - too.  This is a calendar time-specific episode, though the ideas are applicable for any time in life.  I wrote a journal entry in the spring of 2016 when I was in a place of sorrow that coinsided with Holy Week - between Palm Sunday and Easter.  I drew upon something I'd learned about a day that isn't talked about - Easter Saturday - for solace and for the reminder, the permission to honor my time of grief.   Having a creative practice is a form of the light of love that can transform our suffering.  My original writing, and a the painting I had just finished that was meaningful for me - to this time - can be found here:  https://https://www.lifeinfullcolor.com/life-stories/march-22-2016-easter-saturday.Cara Brown - Watercolorist - Teacher - www.lifeinfullcolor.com...is where you can find all my paintings, workshop offerings and the entire archive of my writing.

We get crucial life-fuel from what lights us up.  I am here to say that doing what brings us alive is worth the effort to carve out time for.  This episode was inspired by a recent experience where I felt this kind of energy - and it reminded me of a journal post I wrote in April of 2016.  https://lifeinfullcolor.com/journal/art-life-stories/april-5-2016-brings-us-alive/Here you'll find my words and the photos of Lenore, Sue and I - and the beauty in the gardens of Filoli that took our breath from us.Cara Brown - Watercolorist - Teacher - www.lifeinfullcolor.com...is where you can find all my paintings, workshop offerings and the entire archive of my writing.  Very soon (after putting this episode out there) this will be a whole NEW site!!!! When it does launch I will put the links here to the two paintings that I reference in this episode.  My current site won't let me link to one specific painting - part of why it's being replaced! 

I get really practical in this episode.  I share with you the very best way to start out your watercolor experience - as well a great exercise if you've been painting forever and what is in all those tubes is still somewhat a mystery.Get Intimate with Color is a workshop I teach - and there is one coming up on January 25-26 - in person, in the studio in Novato, CA.  If you are local, or able to come to the Bay Area then, I invite you to join in and do the exercise with me in real life!Happy painting everyone!Cara Brown - Watercolorist - Teacher - www.lifeinfullcolor.com...is where you can find all my paintings, workshop offerings and the entire archive of my writing.

A recording I made in the swirl of uncertainty that so many of us humans are feeling at this time.  Speaking for myself - I'm compelled to know - to understand, to be able to predict what will happen.  It's a comfort.  In this episode I take a look at the flip side - the wisdom in being in the place of "I don't know."I reference a journal post from September of 2016.  You can read what  wrote here:https://www.lifeinfullcolor.com/life-stories/july-26-2016-wisdom-not-knowing/ICara Brown - Watercolorist - Teacher - www.lifeinfullcolor.com...is where you can find all my paintings, workshop offerings and the entire archive of my writing.

I just discovered a recording I made - and then in the swirl of my life this past summer, I completely forgotten about.  It was late one night and I was in the car with the dog, while waiting at the emergency. I was prompted to share it here after reading a Facebook post from my dear friend Betsy Graziani Fasbinder about the lifecycle of butterflies. Just before recording I read about an aspect of this creature's makeup that I found fascinating - and applicable to human unfolding:  imaginal cells.  This episode stands on its own without a journal post on my website.  However, I came across one whose ideas are adjacent to those I talk about here.  It seems nature has similar processes that impact life and life cycles.  "Destruction Before Creation" can be read here:  https://www.lifeinfullcolor.com/life-stories/june-28-2016-destruction-creation.Cara Brown - Watercolorist - Teacher - www.lifeinfullcolor.com...is where you can find all my paintings, workshop offerings and the entire archive of my writing.

Recorded early one morning while on vacation at the end of a supercharged summer, sitting on the shores of Lake Tahoe.  A rare moment of solitude on vacation, shared with you, including reflections on my experience of committing to paint every day the summer of 2024. In this episode I refer to a post, written at the end of 2016, when I shared my thoughts at end of a year-long commitment to paint.  You can read it here: https://www.lifeinfullcolor.com/dev/life-stories/december-27-2016-futureless-moment/.You can see the sketchy, loose paintings that accompanied me the late evenings many nights this summer, online here:https://www.facebook.com/cara.brown.75033Orhttps://www.facebook.com/LifeinFullColorOrOn Instagram: fullcolorcara.Cara Brown - Watercolorist - Teacher - www.lifeinfullcolor.com...is where you can find all my paintings, workshop offerings and the entire archive of my writing.

A short-ish episode to update you on how my 92 Days of Watercolor are going, amidst a life that suddenly became very full of everything else besides art. While recording the previous episode I was inspired to spontaneously make a commitment to paint every day the summer of 2024 - and invite others to join me.  Check it out on my Facebook pages:  Cara Brown and Life in Full Color - join the Facebook Group:  92 Days of Watercolor if you like too.  I'm also on Instagram: fullcolorcara.Cara Brown - Watercolorist - Teacher - www.lifeinfullcolor.com...is where you can find all my paintings, workshop offerings and the entire archive of my writing.

In this episode I share some fresh thoughts about something that I was left wondering about at the time I was writing my online journal every week.  Something came to me early one morning that I jumped out of bed to share.  It's the interplay and intersection between two ideas - creative confidence and commitment.  While recording I was inspired to spontaneously make a commitment to paint every day the summer of 2024 - and invite others to join me.  Check it out on my Facebook pages:  Cara Brown and Life in Full Color - and on Instagram: fullcolorcaraCara Brown - Watercolorist - Teacher - www.lifeinfullcolor.com...is where you can find all my paintings, workshop offerings and the entire archive of my writing.

Another episode exploring the challenge of time and attention for our creative work in our lives.  I take the "both-and" point of view in debates.  We do need to corral ourselves to get to our studios, *and* there are natural rhythms that directs all of life on earth.  What if we learn to really pay attention to ourselves and follow our inner direction?This eposide was inspired by a post that I published under the title "Trusting your own rhythm"  on March 1, 2017, which is here: "https://www.lifeinfullcolor.com/life-stories/march-1-2017-trusting-rhythm/" if you'd like to read what I wrote, and see the chart I made of my productivity!Cara Brown - Watercolorist - Teacher - www.lifeinfullcolor.com...is where you can find all my paintings, workshop offerings and the entire archive of my writing.

This is a calendar time-specific episode, though the ideas are applicable for any time in life.  I wrote a journal entry in the spring of 2016 when I was in a place of sorrow that coinsided with Holy Week - between Palm Sunday and Easter.  I drew upon something I'd learned about a day that isn't talked about - Easter Saturday - for solace and for the reminder, the permission to honor my time of grief.   Having a creative practice is a form of the light of love that can transform our suffering.  My original writing, and a the painting I had just finished that was meaningful for me - to this time - can be found here:  https://https://www.lifeinfullcolor.com/life-stories/march-22-2016-easter-saturday.Cara Brown - Watercolorist - Teacher - www.lifeinfullcolor.com...is where you can find all my paintings, workshop offerings and the entire archive of my writing.

What is beauty - how is it part of life on earth?  And most importantly what is its impact on us - and does it matter?  These are the questions I ponder and muse upon in this episode.  The story of the restorative weekend that I told  in this epsode  came from this post: https://www.lifeinfullcolor.com/my-art-and-process/august-16-2016-just-make-beauty.  It's where you can see a little photo collage in bright summer color - and read the whole story.  Cara Brown - Watercolorist - Teacher - www.lifeinfullcolor.com...is where you can find all my paintings, workshop offerings and the entire archive of my writing.

I took inspiration from something that Martha Graham famously said.  Humans can be blessed by a certain unrest, by an inner disturbance, of sorts, that causes us to take action to make stuff happen in the world.  It had me clean up my studio, and it keeps me making one new piece of art after the next.  It also causes us to do all kinds of things, like tending to some aspect of brokenness in our beautiful world.   This eposide was inspired by a post that I published under the title "Blessed Unrest"  on September 27, 2017, which is here: https://www.lifeinfullcolor.com/life-stories/september-27-2017-blessed-unrest/,  if you'd like to read what I wrote and see a photo of my cleaned-up home studio.Cara Brown - Watercolorist - Teacher - www.lifeinfullcolor.com...is where you can find all my paintings, workshop offerings and the entire archive of my writing.

I'm here to support and encourage each of us to follow our own breadcrumbs towards our art.  There are strong opinions about whether or not making art based on photos ought to be done.  As with all aspects of art-making whether or not to use photos is up to each of us.  This eposide was inspired by a post that I published under the title "Photos or life - we get to decide"  on February 9, 2016, which is here: https://www.lifeinfullcolor.com/life-stories/february-9-2016-photos-life-get-decide,  if you'd like to read what I wrote and see some photos that give a peek into my Photoshop editing process.It was also inspired by a journal entry at the same time as I recorded this episode, where I show a few of my early paintings along with their reference images. https://www.lifeinfullcolor.com/my-art-and-process/paintings-and-the-images-they-came-out-of-november-14-2023Cara Brown - Watercolorist - Teacher - www.lifeinfullcolor.com...is where you can find all my paintings, workshop offerings and the entire archive of my writing.

I'm trying something different with this episode.  I thought I'd offer some "how it works" insights I have about the very basics of watercolor - the water!  There isn't a journal post from my website to point you to with the same general message.  Though some of the ideas that I share I first wrote about in a post on painting "fuzzy backgrounds" on June 14, 2017. https://www.lifeinfullcolor.com/life-stories/june-14-2017-learning-paint-fuzzy/I hope you enjoy!Cara Brown - Watercolorist - Teacher - www.lifeinfullcolor.com...is where you can find all my paintings, workshop offerings and the entire archive of my writing.

Focusing - in order to get stuff done - is more natural for some of us than others.  In this episode I take a look at how this is and offer a point of view for those of us who lack the natural abiltiy to easily shut out the world - and the gift in this way of being.This eposide was inspired by a post that I published under the title "When it's hard to focus"  on July 12, 2017, which is here: "https://www.lifeinfullcolor.com/life-stories/july-12-2017-hard-focus/" if you'd like to read what I wrote.Cara Brown - Watercolorist - Teacher - www.lifeinfullcolor.com...is where you can find all my paintings, workshop offerings and the entire archive of my writing.

The story behind the environment that has been created through gathering with watercolor artists and students  over these past dozen years - and how surrounding ourselves with this kind of support impacts the art we make.This eposide was inspired by a post that I published under the title "Like Potatoes on Mars"  on April 12, 2016, which is here: "https://www.lifeinfullcolor.com/life-stories/april-12-2016-like-potatoes-mars/" if you'd like to read what I wrote.Cara Brown - Watercolorist - Teacher - www.lifeinfullcolor.com...is where you can find all my paintings, workshop offerings and the entire archive of my writing.

Examining the "why" that has us do whatever we do is an interesting and potenitally powerful exercise.  I look at this idea with regard to what drives my/our painting efforts - with a little Henry Miller thrown in for fun and inspiration!This eposide was inspired by a post that I published under the title "Why make art?"  on March 29, 2017, which is here: "https://www.lifeinfullcolor.com/life-stories/march-29-2017-why-make-art" if you'd like to read what I wrote.Cara Brown - Watercolorist - Teacher - www.lifeinfullcolor.com...is where you can find all my paintings, workshop offerings and the entire archive of my writing.

In this episode I explore the relationship between our inner and outer rooms - that is the space inside that holds aspects of ourselves - especially our creative parts - and the places outside where we actually do our creating.  It's about creating and claiming space for what we are called to do.This eposide was inspired by a post that I published under the title "A room of one's own"  on September 20, 2017, which is here: "https://www.lifeinfullcolor.com/life-stories/september-20-2017-room-ones/" if you'd like to read what I wrote and see photos of Sue's studio.Cara Brown - Watercolorist - Teacher - www.lifeinfullcolor.com...is where you can find all my paintings, workshop offerings and the entire archive of my writing.

I am a let's-get-personal-kind-of-person.  I am oriented subjectively - in pretty much all aspects of my life - but this is especially so in my art-making life.  In this episode I make the case for giving ourselves the permission to get as personal as we are so inclined in the how and what of our art.  This is the only way we can really speak with our visual voice.This eposide was inspired by a post that I published under the title "Painting the truth"  on March 15, 2017, which is here: "https://www.lifeinfullcolor.com/life-stories/march-15-2017-getting-personal/" if you'd like to read what I wrote and see the images that I refer to.Cara Brown - Watercolorist - Teacher - www.lifeinfullcolor.com...is where you can find all my paintings, workshop offerings and the entire archive of my writing.

Two incidents, two days in a row had me go looking for something I'd written, and wisdom I'd shared from other sources, that reminded me of the full story behind the protestations that arose in me from each of these two interactions.  This one has to do with whether or not we intentionally imbue our creations with messages, emotions, etc - and ultimately simply appreciating the magic of how our art is received by others.All of this was in a post that I published under the title "Painting the truth"  on May 17, 2017, which is here: "https://www.lifeinfullcolor.com/life-stories/may-17-2017-painting-truth/" if you'd like to read what I wrote - and to see the paintings that I refer to in this episode.  Cara Brown - Watercolorist - Teacher - www.lifeinfullcolor.com...is where you can find all my paintings, workshop offerings and the entire archive of my writing.

It's been a busy, distracted and chaotic-feeling year so far. And I've not been painting much at all!  I went searching through my posts for inspiration and wisdom that *I* needed to hear in this moment to get re-connected with my painting-self.  I need a reminder of how it can be when painting is a heart-centered devotion, rather than something to check off the list.I found the reminder in a post that I published under the title "Fine tuning my promise to paint every day"  on March 8, 2016, which is here: "https://www.lifeinfullcolor.com/life-stories/march-8-2016-fine-tuning-my-promise-to-paint-every-day" if you'd like to read what I wrote.  Cara Brown - Watercolorist - Teacher - www.lifeinfullcolor.com...is where you can find all my paintings, workshop offerings and the entire archive of my writing.

The illusion of light in our paintings is a magical thing.  Using just contrast of and dark and the subtleties of relative lights and darks in between, we can create a world.  In this episode, hear how in response to a short question, I came up with the four aspects of how it is that I (at least) create worlds of light in my paintings. Includes ideas from a post orignally published under the same title "Painting the Light" on May 31, 2017 which can be found  here:  https://www.lifeinfullcolor.com/life-stories/may-31-2017-painting-light/ This page includes photos of example paintings  and it's where you can read what I originally wrote.Cara Brown - Watercolorist - Teacher - www.lifeinfullcolor.com...where you can find all my paintings, workshop offerings and the entire archive of my writing.

Color!  It's such a *deal* for those of us who make art.  It can variously be an obsession,  a challenge, a tool -  as well as a source of fear and/or curiosity.  I posit that each of us has some kind of relationship with it.   I myself am a self-professed color nerd and daily appreciator of it in my life.   In this episode I explore at least two aspects of color - our personal and unique relationship with it and the realities of working with it in the real world, in the process of making art.  Includes ideas from a post orignally published under the same title "The Two Faces of Color" on June 17, 2017 which can be found  here:  https://www.lifeinfullcolor.com/life-stories/june-7-2017-two-faces-color/  This page includes photos of example paintings  and it's where you can read what I originally wrote.Cara Brown - Watercolorist - Teacher - www.lifeinfullcolor.com...where you can find all my paintings, workshop offerings and the entire archive of my writing.

Yes! We are related to our creations - our paintings for those of us who paint.  I outline some of the stages in these relationships in an amusing - but true - way.  And, I explore the practice and the value of the standard art critique - and how much it honors these relationships.Includes ideas from a post orignally published under the title "Our love affairs with our paintings" on August 30, 2016 here:  http://www.lifeinfullcolor.com/life-stories/august-30-2016-love-affairs-paintings/ where you can see photos of example paintings  and read what I wrote.Cara Brown - Watercolorist - Teacher - www.lifeinfullcolor.com...where you can find all my paintings, workshop offerings and the entire archive of my writing.

How I came to understand just what kind of artist I am - and let go of any idea that I'm not a real artist - for all those who are journalist-artists too!Orignally published under the title "I am a journalist!" on September 15, 2015 here:  http://www.lifeinfullcolor.com/life-stories/september-15-2015-i-am-a-journalist/ where you can see photos and read what I wrote.Cara Brown - Watercolorist - Teacher - www.lifeinfullcolor.com...where you can find all my paintings, workshop offerings and the entire archive of my writing.

Hear about the role that work and the energy to do work plays out in our lives and art-making - and learn a word in Croatian!Orignally published under the title "Renewing my Appreciation for Work" on March 17, 2015 here:  http://www.lifeinfullcolor.com/life-stories/march-17-2015-renewing-my-appreciation-for-work/Cara Brown - Watercolorist - Teacher - www.lifeinfullcolor.com...where you can find all my paintings, workshop offerings and the entire archive of my writing

What I've come to believe about painting, learning, pursuing a creative endeavor - a little longer episode, with a couple of personal anecdotes.Originally published on my website under "About My Teaching"  here:  http://http://www.lifeinfullcolor.com/about/my-teaching/Cara Brown - Watercolorist - Teacher - www.lifeinfullcolor.com...where you can find all my paintings, workshop offerings and the entire archive of my writing

How inner and outer criticism plays in our creating - and in our relationships.  Orignally published under the title "On the way to Hallelujah" on October 28, 2014 here:  http://www.lifeinfullcolor.com/life-stories/october-28-2014-on-the-way-to-hallelujahwhich includes pictures!Cara Brown - Watercolorist - Teacher - www.lifeinfullcolor.com...where you can find all my paintings, workshop offerings and the entire archive of my writing

Are we selling ourselves short by limiting how we define the word talent?  What if it's not what we usually think?Originally published under the title "Firsts, beginnings, starting out" on October 21, 2014 here:  http://www.lifeinfullcolor.com/life-stories/october-21-2014-firsts-beginnings-starting-outwhich has pictures!Cara Brown - Watercolorist - Teacher - www.lifeinfullcolor.com...where you can find all my paintings, workshop offerings and the entire archive of my writing

A revisit of my very first public writing!  Hear the wise message of patience I discovered in a tree that could be centuries old.  Originally published under the title "The Old Oak Tree" on October 1, 2014 here:  http://www.lifeinfullcolor.com/life-stories/october-1-2014-the-old-oak-treewhich includes photos of the tree.Cara Brown - Watercolorist - Teacher - www.lifeinfullcolor.com...where you can find all my paintings, workshop offerings and the entire archive of my writing

I'm Cara Brown - devoted watercolorist and teacher/mentor and I'm following an inkling to share some of the ideas, connections and revelations that I explored in 4 years of dedicated weekly blogging.  Cara Brown - Watercolorist - Teacher - www.lifeinfullcolor.com...where you can find all my paintings, workshop offerings and the entire archive of my writing