dots and dust watercolor painting bible journaling

I had a friend ask me a few weeks ago, “Angeline, why watercolors? You have dabbled in a lot of creative endeavors before, but what is it about watercolors that has made you stay.”

And I remember smiling and just simply replied, “I love a challenge. And it’s just so dang magical.”

But she was completely correct. I HAVE tried a lot of different creative hobbies in the past. Writing, photography, cake decorating, wheel thrown pottery, paper crafting, jewelry making, and so much more. And even when I started making watercolors for bible journaling four years ago, it still didn’t have the impact on me as it has now. It took a pandemic in 2020 and, honestly, sheer boredom to force myself to really learn more about what I could do with watercolors. It was in that research, the discovery of really great watercolor paper, and learning from some of the best watercolor artists I know, that I fell “head over heels” in love.

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Now, don’t get me wrong. I think there is definitely a polar relationship that you can have with watercolor. Its best quality of being unpredictable can also be what frustrates beginners most. Not knowing what will happen when you drop paint onto a wet section of your paper is exciting at times but can be nerve-wrecking. Believe me. I was a mess when I started playing around with this kind of paint. But it was also in this very characteristic of “controlled chaos” that I found watercolor so attractive and fun. It has taught me in a lot of ways to LET GO of control. Let the paint do what it wants. And then be ready to find creative ways to make it work in a piece.

When I really began to get serious with my watercolor practice, I realized it was really important for me to practice as much as I could. It was in that almost daily practice of painting flowers over and over and over again that I realized that true growth takes YEARS to develop. Even now I look at my work and can see how far I have come, but still how far I want to go.

Watercolor has taught me how to be patient, flexible, creative, and persistent. But my practice has given me more. It has given me…

…peace.

…freedom.

…joy for giving.

…a clearer mind.

…a positive outlet.

…a career of endless possibilities.

…a renewed love of teaching.

And it’s in that last gift that I am taking on something new for my life. I will no longer just be making watercolor paints, selling them online, and teaching from my home. Starting this May, I will be listening to the Lord as He guides me to host workshops where I can share how the same benefits that I have received from watercolor can be enjoyed by anyone regardless of their prior art education. That anyone can paint and that art is not made for just the privileged or selected few.

So as I take this next step in my creative journey, I cannot help but be extremely grateful for where I started. From just a girl who once had thought it would be a “cool idea” to make my own watercolors and give them some fun names to a watercolor educator who is so excited and passionate to inspire people to tap into their God-given creative gifts. All of it. It is truly an honor and a blessing that I will not take for granted.