A Little Curiosity, a Little Color: Welcome to My Creative World

Some of my earliest watercolor paintings became wallpaper for the dollhouses I made as a child. At the time, I was simply following my curiosity—finding colors I liked, making things, and enjoying the possibilities. That same curiosity continues to guide my artwork today.

Welcome! I’m Brandy Blackstone, a Southern Maryland mixed media artist and art instructor. This blog is a place where I’ll share what I’m working on, the inspiration behind my paintings, and ideas to help you make room for creativity in your own life.

Whether you enjoy collecting art, have been thinking about taking a painting class, or simply love seeing how something comes together, I’m happy you’re here.

Finding Inspiration in Nature

My mother’s garden was one of the first places that made me want to paint. I loved the colors and delicate shapes of the flowers, and I was fascinated by how they could remain standing after a storm.

Nature still gives me plenty to notice: light passing through a petal, the patterns of a butterfly’s wings, or the shifting colors of a landscape.

You’ll find those interests throughout my collections, from the botanicals and wildlife of Petals & Wings to the expressive watercolor patterns of Whimsical by Nature and the oil paintings of Nature’s Impressions. In Continued Elegance, I bring elements from separate original paintings together with gold accents, exploring how existing pieces can become something new.

Working across different mediums gives me opportunities to experiment—and keeps me learning.

Making Room to Create

In my newsletter, At Play with Color & Light, I share more about my journey back to painting and how teaching became another part of that journey.

One change that helped me was deciding to draw or paint regularly, even when I had only 15 minutes. A short session gave me time to try a color combination, work on a sketch, or return to something unfinished.

If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to start, try giving yourself a small, manageable opportunity this week. Choose a flower, a leaf, or an object you enjoy looking at. Spend a few minutes noticing its shapes and colors, then see what happens on the page.

Afterward, look for one thing you like and one thing you’d like to try differently next time. That approach helped me keep going through paintings that didn’t turn out as I’d hoped.

An Invitation to Join In

Teaching has given me the chance to share that process with others. I love watching people become more comfortable experimenting and finding something they enjoy in their own work.

You’re welcome to browse my painting collections, see what classes and events are coming up, or join my newsletter for future studio stories and creative encouragement.

There’s always something new to notice, learn, or try. I look forward to sharing what comes next.

Warmly, Brandy