With signs of spring greeting me through my studio window, I can't help but feel like it’s the start of a new chapter. There’s a renewed sense of energy and creativity in the air that comes with spring. In the spirit of this new season, I thought it would be a good time to invite you behind the scenes of my life as a fine artist.

When I’m not spending time with my family or soaking in the beauty of the natural world around me, I’m usually in my art studio, painting. Once an unfinished basement, we somehow managed to transform this space into what it is now: a place where I can step away from the busyness of life and have a quiet space to create.

In this post, I’m excited to take you behind the scenes on a little art studio tour — sharing how this space came to be, what a typical day in my life as an artist looks like, and the creative process behind my collections.

So pour yourself a warm cup of tea, get cozy, and join me for a glimpse behind the scenes.

Designing a Studio with a Blank Canvas

When we first moved into our current house, we didn’t have any intention of building an art studio. I was happy enough to pin canvas drop cloths over the exposed insulation and use the unfinished basement as my space to create.

The initial thoughts of transforming our unfinished basement into something more began in 2020 when my husband’s job shifted to a fully remote position.

It quickly became clear that sharing the dining room table with a busy household wasn’t a good long-term solution for him. He needed a home office. So we took another look at our basement and figured out a way to give Dave the space he needed, separate my shipping area from my painting space, and even add another bathroom downstairs.

Call it fate, providence, or simply the beauty of life’s unfolding story — but the path of twists and turns led us to where we are now. I’m truly thankful to be able to create art in a space that’s my own — a space that inspires wonder and welcomes the joy of creativity. It’s also pretty nice having my husband working in his office next door — stealing a kiss between Zoom meetings, while our golden retriever, Penny, keeps me company from her cozy bed only a few feet away.

To bring more natural light into the room, we dug out the window wells and created a terraced garden wall, which made the space feel brighter and more open. I love being able to paint, accompanied by the changing seasons that connect me to nature and inspire me.

With white shiplap walls and warm, glowing sconces to minimize glare, the space has a peaceful coastal cottage ambiance. I tend to keep my studio minimally decorated and uncluttered with only my wooden easels, a couple of chairs, a bookshelf, a dresser for my paints and paintbrushes, a few plants, and long wall shelves for drying my finished pieces.

Minimizing the number of things in my studio space helps me focus and have clarity to create. I prefer to have only what I’m currently working on around me — collection studies, thumbnail sketches, my palettes, and canvases. Currently, I have 8 paintings drying as part of an upcoming collection, and I’m already running out of space here in the studio!

Behind-the-Scenes Tidbit

Instead of leaving my palette out at the end of each painting day, I now store my mixed paints in my studio freezer downstairs. You may be wondering, “A freezer? Why?” Because home freezers are actually not cold enough to freeze oil paints — instead, the cold air dramatically slows the drying time, and helps the paints stay fresh much longer.

I’ll typically mix my paints in bulk, especially when working on a collection, and store them in an airtight container in the freezer. It’s a small but impactful hack that saves me a lot of time in the long run. And now that I have the freezer downstairs, gone are the days when my paints get shifted around the kitchen freezer just because someone has a craving for ice cream!

A Day in the Life of a Fine Artist

Being a professional artist means wearing multiple hats — something I’ve been surprised to find that I quite love. While every day may look a bit different, I’ve found that having structure and routine opens up space to be creative. For example, batching my work days helps me focus and frees my mind to be fully present while painting.

I typically set aside Mondays for all my admin-related tasks — sending emails, ordering prints and supplies, marketing, and tying up loose ends in preparation for the week. I reserve Tuesday - Thursday for painting, carving out five-hour blocks each day. I’ve had to practice setting boundaries, reserving these days for painting. While it is not always possible, it has become easier to say “no” to things that come up and keep these days as the gifts that they are.

Friday’s are for shipping out orders, end of week admin and walking with a friend. I use this day to complete whatever will help me step into the weekend fully present with my family.

On a typical weekday, mornings start by the fireplace with an americano, my journal and Bible. These moments of quiet reflection are crucial for me to have a healthy, positive mindset going into the day, whether I’m connecting with collectors, working on my website, or painting.

After gently easing into the day and getting our three teenage boys off to school, I get outside for a walk or attend a local strength training class. I’ve found that some form of physical activity in the morning makes such a difference for the rest of my day. I’m more energized, able to focus, and have more stamina for my work.

Then, with a fresh mug of tea and headphones in hand, I’ll make my way downstairs, with Penny not far behind. Even on the cloudiest of days, the light through the window is always a warm welcome when I first step into my studio — ready to get to work.

Inspiration Behind the Creative Process

When someone asks me where I get inspiration to paint the scenes captured in my art the quick answer is: life. Moments infused with emotion and connection. Memories that have imprinted themselves on my heart. Glimpses of nature that have evoked a sense of joy and awe.

Each piece of art I paint is a hybrid of thoughtful design and creative wonder. I’ll usually plan a collection ahead of time, gathering inspiration from my own life experiences: places I have visited, joyful moments outside with my family, or something in nature that captured my attention on a hike. My camera roll is filled with photos I’ve taken during all our adventures — from cross-country adventures to local days at the lake.

In the early stages of starting a new collection, I’ll go through my photos and set aside my favorites. Looking for common themes, I’ll take 20 or so that I feel especially connected to and create small sketches of each one to work out the compositions.

Then, using my pencil sketches as a reference, I begin the process of creating small studies. This is a chance to experiment with color. I’ll make as many as I feel are needed, sometimes painting multiple studies of the same scene in various ways.

If I’m being honest, this is one of my favorite parts of the entire process. There’s something so thrilling about exploring all the possibilities of a new collection — revisiting the memories, reveling in the joy of these moments in nature, and experimenting with different color strategies.

Then, I’ll take the studies I like the most and use them for inspiration for my larger paintings. I never assign the order ahead of time. Instead, I pick the one I feel the most connected to at the time, typically giving myself a week to complete a new painting.

Behind-the-Scenes Tidbit

I’ve discovered that I don’t like to work in silence. Instead, I’ll typically play music while I work or listen to an audiobook or podcast.

I often immerse myself in the dreamy worlds of my favorite classic books. There’s something about the playfulness and enchantment of classic stories like The Secret Garden or The Chronicles of Narnia that inspire a sense of wonder I earnestly hope to bring to my work.

Finishing a Painting and Letting Go

One thing’s for certain when painting a piece from start to finish: there aren’t any set rules or guidelines to dictate the moment a painting is complete. I’ve found the process often looks different for each piece, which is why I like to live with a painting for a while before considering it finished.

I may set a painting aside in the studio for up to a few months, making adjustments as compelled. Once it’s dry, I’ll often hang it upstairs in my home to observe it in different settings or turn it upside down for a fresh perspective. Only after an extended time living with the painting will I know when it’s truly finished and ready to move on to where it was always meant to be.

Before offering my paintings for sale, I take them to our local art reproduction studio to get professional image captures for future prints. Time and again, I’m amazed at how precisely the images capture each painting — beautifully preserving the colors, textures, and details.

Sometimes, I bring a completed collection to my friend’s beautiful home, where, as a talented interior designer, she thoughtfully stages each piece. Whether above a bed or over a sofa, she arranges each painting to help others envision how it might complement their own space.

*Photo by Ben Law, Interior + Styling by Tara Dennis*

Then, each painting is preserved with varnish and placed in a white oak frame before being carefully packaged for shipping. I always include a signed certificate of authenticity and tuck in a handwritten note of gratitude to the collector who has welcomed a piece of my art into their home.

I often get asked, “How do you feel when you send a painting to its new home?” The answer? Immense gratitude. I’m grateful someone connected with the piece — with the colors and composition, with the memories and emotions the painting stirred up within them. After all, I created each painting with a greater purpose to go off and do its good work. My greatest desire is for each painting to bring joy and a sense of peace to those who welcome it into their space and inspire others to revel in the wonder of the created world all around us.

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Just as the first green shoots of early spring make their way up through the earth, creativity has a way of emerging when we nurture the space for it to grow.

It may be a physical space of refuge and calm. Or it can be found in the rhythms, sights, and sounds of nature — moments of connection with the ones we love. There is wonder and joy all around us.

Where do you feel that sense of inspiration and renewal?

What spaces or practices help you reconnect with your creative self?

May you also find the space and breath to embrace creativity in your own way — to welcome the wonder waiting to unfold all around us!