What have I got to lose? No one need know of my failed attempt.

I put Painting Steps in the title because I thought I’d have a better chance of getting you to click. Don’t worry, I’m going to follow through, with this caveat: copying yet another artist’s technique is not the sole key to tapping into your own unique visual voice.

Imagine how surreal it felt when two weeks after my mother’s funeral a cheerful orange envelope appeared in our mailbox addressed to me from her.

How is it that a simple watercolor can bring me such great joy?