How an Orange Changed Everything
You know that feeling when something you're trying just isn't working out? Watercolor was like that for me. Class after class, and each painting brought frustration. I'd clutch the brush, desperately trying to control the colors that kept running wild, like swimming against the tide.
Then my art mentor made a simple suggestion. "Try Mixed media instead," she said. "It's super fun—a chance to play around and try new things without overthinking it."
My resistance immediately kicked in. I'd invested so much in watercolor. Could I really start over? But eventually, I gave myself permission to try something new, and that's when everything changed.
My first mixed media painting was of an orange. Instead of careful planning, I let loose. I sprayed the canvas with water, flipped it upside down, and played with color. For the first time in years, I felt completely free. The energy was exhilarating—like finding a new way to breathe.
When I finished, I looked at this bright, happy orange and thought, "This is the best thing I've ever made."
Later that year I booked my first show at one of Flagstaff's iconic restaurants, Brandy's. Within the first week my Orange had found a new home. It felt bittersweet to let it go, but knowing it would become part of someone else's story made it special in a whole new way.
Now, several years later, I'm still discovering new ways to create. Each piece teaches me something about letting go of perfect and embracing the unexpected. That simple orange opened up a world of possibilities I never knew existed. Every time I think of it, I'm reminded of that moment when I finally gave myself permission to create with joy instead of judgment.
Sometimes the best things happen when we least expect them. I never imagined that letting go of my watercolor expectations would lead to such joy. I'm still learning to loosen my grip, still discovering what happens when I simply stay curious and open to possibilities.
The vibrant orange that started it all is now available as a print—a bright reminder that sometimes the sweetest possibilities are waiting just beyond our comfort zone.
