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Little Things, Big Feelings — Finding Art in the Everyday

When I sit down to paint, I’m not always chasing a grand concept. Sometimes, I just want to pay attention — to notice the things we usually walk past, eat quickly, or forget to admire. This piece is called “Little Things, Big Feelings” because it captures three small, seemingly ordinary moments. But when you really look at them, they each hold a quiet kind of beauty.

Urban Essence

5/8/20242 min read

The Red Shoes: A Step Toward Self-Awareness

The first square came from a spontaneous idea — what if I painted my own feet? Not out of vanity, but as a grounding exercise. These shoes aren’t just accessories. They’ve carried me through long days, creative blocks, joyful strolls, and moments of hesitation. Painting them helped me reconnect with my present — and remember that every creative journey starts with one step.

The Cherries: Saturated Simplicity

Next, I moved on to the cherries. I wanted to practice realism with a pop of drama, so I leaned into the rich reds and reflected highlights. Cherries are a joy to paint — round, glossy, and full of color theory lessons. That deep crimson against the bold blue background? It’s not just pretty. It’s a reminder of how contrast creates impact. I’ll be teaching this technique soon — layering, light reflection, and making fruits look almost edible with watercolors.

The Flower & Letter: Love in Layers

Finally, the largest panel — a red flower entwined with cursive writing. This one is for the romantics. The texture and muted tones of the background mimic old parchment or a handwritten letter. I imagined someone preserving a flower between the pages of a journal, as a way of remembering a feeling. It’s loose, expressive, and slightly abstract — and that’s the beauty of mixed media. I’ll also share how I achieved this antique feel using watercolor washes and line work.

Let Me Teach You This

If you’re drawn to watercolor but don’t know where to begin, start here — with little things. The simplest subjects can teach you:

How to observe light and shadow
How to mix bold, believable colors
How to infuse emotion into everyday objects

My tutorials are designed to help you slow down, enjoy the process, and build confidence with your brush — even if you’ve never painted before.

Why This Matters

Art doesn’t have to be epic to be meaningful. It can be small, sincere, and still speak loudly. Through this blog and my upcoming classes, I want to help you find your voice through watercolors — not by copying what I do, but by helping you see beauty in your world.

So pick up your brush. Paint your shoes. Your fruit. Your memories.

Let’s make the little things matter.

— Urban Essence