I try to embrace white space and paint “neatly” but when I am done, I almost always don’t like what I have created. And then I scribble and “mess it up” to feel more like me.
I set out to paint a neat arrangement of roses with distress ink reinkers.
It’s almost like a visual representation of the life I am “expected” to lead and the one I’ve decided to make for myself.
It’s messy, it’s unappealing to most, it’s probably even sloppy…but it feels authentic to me. And isn’t that all that matters? How my art makes ME feel…I don’t do it to appease anyone. I definitely don’t do it to become like someone else.
It didn’t feel anything like me so I scribbled over it and spritzed copious amounts of water, letting the inks run through and blotting some parts…the eye wandered and my heart felt at peace.
My art is purely my way of being…it relieves me of my “living.” It’s a magical place where I can get lost and feel unencumbered.
When I make paintings like these in my watercolor journal, it’s never with the intent of sharing. But I share here to encourage you to make the art you WANT to make, not what you feel like you HAVE to make.
This is me. All me. And it makes me happy.
No one has to see what you’re creating…keep it a secret; try something out that you have always wanted to and “fail” at it. Do it because you want to. Because you need to. For you.
Not everything I touch is amazing but it doesn’t have to be. I make because I want to make. And that is enough.
Hi there, I am Mansi, a self-taught artist based in Silicon Valley.
I was a full-time communications professional for two decades, with a desk job and a six-figure salary until I decided to become a mom.
Motherhood, as many will attest, can be extremely exhausting, especially in those first years. Art became my quiet place. It restored my sense of self. It gave me renewed energy. It helped me become a better mom.
I was led down the path of creation by instinct and “discovered“ in early 2019 by a fellow kindred spirit at one of my art pop-ups who asked me to join her entrepreneurial venture. While I immersed myself full time in the role of CFO and co-founder of this women-led venture supporting local women makers, I missed experimenting with mixed-media. So, in 2021, I've decided to focus my energies full time in finessing my craft, producing more online tutorials and offering in-person art workshops for both adults and children.
Thank you for joining me on this adventure as I experiment, learn and continue creating custom pieces of joy.
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4 thoughts on “You Do You!”
Great blogpost and so true!
I love how you painted the flowers and to be honest I would have stopped there but it’s not my painting!! The finished “messy” and scribbled is lovely and so you.
And that’s all that counts. You Do You, I love that saying and I think Tim H. says it always in every YT Live he does!
Thank you so much for sharing your art and wise words, stay safe and have a wonderful day.
Thanks so much for visiting and sharing your honest feedback, Henriëtte. I have realized that I value the imperfect, the messy, the unconventional more than playing by the rules both in the way I lead my life and the way I practice my art. Just oke life, right? 🙂
Sorry Mansi, I clicked the wrong reply.
My reply to your answer is above your answer.
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It sure is an oke life!
If you don’t live the way you like it, you will be unhappy and even sick.
Not only in art but ook in live it is You do You.
With love, Henriëtte.
Great blogpost and so true!
I love how you painted the flowers and to be honest I would have stopped there but it’s not my painting!! The finished “messy” and scribbled is lovely and so you.
And that’s all that counts. You Do You, I love that saying and I think Tim H. says it always in every YT Live he does!
Thank you so much for sharing your art and wise words, stay safe and have a wonderful day.
Thanks so much for visiting and sharing your honest feedback, Henriëtte. I have realized that I value the imperfect, the messy, the unconventional more than playing by the rules both in the way I lead my life and the way I practice my art. Just oke life, right? 🙂
Sorry Mansi, I clicked the wrong reply.
My reply to your answer is above your answer.
It sure is an oke life!
If you don’t live the way you like it, you will be unhappy and even sick.
Not only in art but ook in live it is You do You.
With love, Henriëtte.