Can you believe it’s March already?!  We’re creeping towards spring and to the end of another school year.  We’re approaching spring cleaning, gardening, and beach trips.  We’re hunkering down for the last breath of winter.  A few sunny, warm-ish days have lured me outside on long walks and given me energy for more projects.  Sometimes I think I run on solar power, which is why I tend to slow down in January and February.  I love the cold, but I enjoy the longer days, more sunlight, and more time outside.  My beloved hoodies and wool socks get folded up and put away for a while, but it’s a tradeoff.

I know winter isn’t over here in Minnesota, but there is a whisper of spring in the air.

I was planning on doing another no-spend February again, plus purging and organizing, but the month really got away from me and I didn’t follow through this year.  I have started working on the house over the past few days, doing some tidying and organizing and it’s so much easier and quicker this year after last year’s thorough work.   I could get a closet tidied up in just a few minutes.  I’ll keep working through the house and will share some of the process since I know many of you are working through similar projects.

For now, though, let me share a few things I loved in February…

landscape artist of the year

Shaunna suggested I watch and she was spot on with that one.  This show is a wonderful art competition show in the UK focusing specifically on landscape art.  They feature different art styles and mediums from oil to watercolor, impressionist to realist, collage to linocut, contemporary to abstract.    One season is available on and it was riveting!  I loved watching the art but also learning about the history of the places they were painting, which were all Historic Trust houses and parks.

portrait artist of the year

Landscape Artist of the Year led me to , which is made by the same production company and has the same hosts.  Seasons 1-3 are available on Amazon Prime and I enjoyed these even more than the landscape season I was able to watch.  Even Jeff, who really isn’t into art, kept checking in to see how paintings were turning out and to hear the judges critique.

I got so, so much from watching this series and it gave me even more confidence as an artist.  The judges didn’t always select paintings with the best likeness or technical skill.  In fact, they rarely chose artists who were classically trained and had years of extensive instruction.  They usually selected the paintings that were interesting, that made them feel something and made them curious to see more.  It gave me a whole new appreciation and perspective on what it is to be an artist.  It’s not about an accurate representation of something, someone, or a place, it’s about your interpretation of it; what comes authentically out of your hands.  Training and technical skills are great, but they can also be a hindrance to creativity and innovation.

Even if you’re not an artist, both of these are wonderful shows with the same vibe as The Great British Baking Show.  The judges offer honest critiques but do it kindly.  The contestants are gracious to each other and fun to watch.  It’s such a stark contrast from American competition reality TV that celebrates the salacious and even puts contestants in positions where they are at odds with one another.  You leave these shows cheering for people instead of wondering where we all went wrong.  It’s a good watch and I just wish I could see more seasons here in the US.  In the UK, you can watch all of the episodes through the Sky TV App.  You can watch episodes on YouTube, but the pictures is very jumpy and my eyeballs are screaming after just a few minutes.

painting light

Just when I think I have every good impressionist art book, I find another one that is amazing.  This book, is excellent if you’re interested in studying impressionist art.

It dives into technique, materials, supplies, sketches, and details of paintings.  I love all of that nerdy, behind-the-scenes stuff that can teach me to be a better artist.  Deconstructing fine art can make it seem more attainable and less mysterious.

And I can’t get enough of the detailed shots of juicy paint splotches.  I can’t wait to work through this book and do some studies.

You can find an updated list of all of the art books in my library HERE.

quieting my Instagram feed

Taking a break from social media and the online world in general in January was so good for me and, since then, I have changed the way I use social media, specifically Instagram.  I was opening that app practically anytime I had a spare second and the inflow of inspiration, information, and what everyone else was doing all the time was just too much. I have really quieted my Instagram feed by unfollowing or muting accounts that are a distraction or I just don’t enjoy.  I tend to follow accounts that just share pictures, so I can enjoy them and take them in without text, video, and a soundtrack.  I don’t have anything against video and Reels, but it has become a bit overwhelming to me.  Simplifying things and not visiting as often has helped keep it in its place and allowed me to enjoy it more.

old navy slouchy overalls

I used to love wearing overalls!  I wore them a lot in my teens and early 20s just because they were easy and comfortable.  But, they sort of fell out of fashion.  As things often do, overalls are making a comeback and I am here for it.  I definitely don’t look as good in overalls as I used to!  They are pretty dumpy even on the slimmest of people, but I put aside any thought about how I would look in them as a 40-something woman and I bought .  I will just wear them when I’m painting and such, but I think they are so fun and comfy.  I’m glad I just went ahead and bought them and didn’t worry about what other people might think!

playing with watercolor

I have wanted to improve my watercolor painting to grow in confidence when I’m painting in my sketchbook on the go.  When I look at past watercolors I’ve done on trips, they look tight and I’m not very happy with them.  So, I’ve been playing around with different palettes and on different papers, just doing very loose sketches and I have loved it.  It’s something I can do when I don’t have a lot of time to paint.  It’s been like a little treat to myself.

I’ve been painting in a sketchbook that has paper that is all wrong for watercolor.  It absorbs it and wrinkles and doesn’t allow the water to flow at all, but I’ve loved painting on that, too.  It gives me an entirely different look and forces me to be a bit more abstract.

annoying projects

Jeff and I walked around the house last week and made a list of “annoying projects” we needed to finish or take care of.  We did a flurry of work in 2020 and were a little slower last year.  It’s time to take care of some of the little things that should be fixed, fluffed, organized, or cleaned.  It’s the boring maintenance stuff that no one really cares about but you.  So, we’ve been working through the list and laughing at how quickly some of the projects went.  Scraping paint off of a window in the boys’ bathroom took about 2 minutes, including looking for the razor and walking up the stairs.

I also patched holes and touched up the wall paint or scrubbed off scuffs.  (You can see I patched and painted some holes that have been hanging out behind the curtain rod in the living room.)

We still have a bit more to do, but we’ll continue working on the list this week as we have time.  You can read about my approach to “annoying project days” HERE.  It’s a good way to knock out all of those little things that have been undone for too long!

1883

I love a good period drama.  They can’t crank them out fast enough for me to digest.  I love watching the costumes, the set, and the stories set in history.  So, of course, I had to check out 1883 when it came out.  (You can watch it .)  I haven’t seen Yellowstone, which 1883 is a prequel for, but have found that’s not really necessary.   I might be missing some nuanced references, but it feels like a stand-alone story to me.

Let’s start with the bad.  The show is gritty, but I haven’t found it to be gratuitous or over the top.  I think the makers are trying to give an accurate feel of how harsh life on a wagon train was.  It is rated TVMA, so just be aware of that.  Some of the bleached hair, gleaming white teeth, and makeup are a little distracting in the beginning, but the characters do seem to weather a bit as the show goes on.

The good…  The show is beautifully filmed, well written, and you really care about the characters and what happens to them.  You feel genuinely gutted when tragedy strikes and wrestle along with the families through impossible situations.  You’re also inspired by acts of kindness, courage, love, and bravery.  You see how the experience changes people for good and bad.  I haven’t finished the show, so maybe it ends on a low note (no spoilers in the comments, please), but it’s worth a watch if you like that time period and genre.

the music of adrián berenguer

I actually first heard Adrián Berenguer’s music on Instagram and then found more of his music on iTunes.  I added many of his songs to my Writing Playlist, which is mostly filled with classical, soundtracks, and instrumentals.  I especially like the songs Stream and Little Things.  It’s great relaxing music for stretching, falling asleep, painting, or writing.

I hope you find some new favorites in my favorites.

What were some of your favorites from February?

You can find more of my favorite things HERE.