WATERCOLOR MINDFULNESS

February 05, 2020

EP #132: WATERCOLOR MINDFULNESS with SARAH SIMON

I met Sarah Simon about five years ago through Instagram. It was a mutual love. I loved Florence, a character of hers I saw on Instagram -- that she drew and painted -- a girl that was often carrying houseplants, succulents or huge chunks of bright purple amethyst. We collaborated on a project, bringing more flower inspiration into the world of Florence and Sarah drew/painted six beautiful pieces of Florence with flowers that we use in elixirs. In one, Sarah actually put our Infinite Love into her paint water! Then she turned the pieces into wallpapers that you could put on your phone or laptop! More about that collaboration here.

In this episode I talk to Sarah Simon about her mindfulness practices of being a watercolor artist, a gardener and a mother. We chat about the Enneagram and how it teaches you how to love people the way they want to be loved. We chat about creativity tips, pro-mom tips for creative kids, how to dissolve your inner critic and make a space that inspires you to create. We talk about how she got a book deal from Instagram, how she chose a publisher and how she designed her book tour. We talked about painting and drawing with watercolor, gouache and ink, whether for joy, business or processing life’s challenges. 

LISTEN to this episode on:

iTunes Google Play Spotify

We talk about:

  • Mindfulness & Watercolor: the power of watching ink move
  • How she got her book deal from Instagram
  • How she chose between a small vs. large publisher + how she designed her book tour
  • An ultra brief overview of the nine types of the Enneagram
  • Using the Enneagram to understand how people want to be loved
  • How to weave your children into your creativity process
  • The life-giving power of painting, gardening and grounding
  • Pro-mom-tips re: children and creativity or painting projects
  • Tips for what to do about the inner critic or feeling like you don’t have time for creativity

FREE MINI WATERCOLOR INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEO:

Sarah's favorite blend of ours in Inner Peace -- so she got inspired by the flower on that bottle, which is the stunningly beautiful Arctic Lupine, and created a special watercolor course for us! 

If you want to follow along, here's what to do:

  1. Click here to download the Arctic Lupine line art drawing by Sarah. Print it out and trace it onto watercolor paper.
  2. Gather these materials:
    • Waterproof pen
    • Princeton brushes (Round 04 & Round 01 for details)
    • Watercolor paper (140 pound weight or higher)
    • Paper towel for blotting
    • Jar of clean water
  3. Follow these color recipes to MIX up your Lupine color palette (or go wild and do your own thing!):
    • Lavender: White, Yellow Ochre + Payne's Grey + Alizarin Crimson
    • Olive for leaves & stem: Oxide of Chromium & Yellow Ochre
    • Monstera: Oxide of Chromium & Payne's Grey
  4. Click here to water her IGTV instructional video, turn on your audio and listen as Sarah teaches you how to paint this lovely Lupine! 
More about SARAH:

Sarah Simon is the Designer, Artist Illustrator and Author at TheMintGardener

Finding inspiration in the ever-blooming variety of textures and colors in her urban garden, Sarah creates and teaches lush Watercolors inspired by the diverse variety of herbs, flowers, and trees grown in her yard. With a continually blooming following of botanical and art lovers alike, Sarah shares her teaching talents locally in Seattle, where she regularly instructs Watercolor Classes to students of all skill levels.

Her teaching has received international attention with her online painting courses in the Watercolor Summit and on Skillshare. Sarah's work has been featured in many publications and blogs worldwide, and has been celebrated in the form of commercial product design, stationery, textiles and wholesale and private commissions. Her books Modern Watercolor Botanicals and The Plant Lady Coloring Book were released November 2019, and a national book tour around the USA in 2020 is in the works.

Sarah loves to garden with her partner Colin and her two little girls on their urban farm, and enjoys seeking quiet moments for sketching and painting, making small bouquets of flowers and herbs, or reading. She loves to explore new places, and enjoys anything ocean, friend, food or eating related, and yes, she does enjoy the gloomy gray days a bit more than the sunny ones.

CONNECT WITH SARAH:

Follow her on Instagram: @themintgardener
Visit her Website!
Explore her books: Modern Watercolor Botanicals + The Plant Lady: A Floral Coloring Book with Succulents and Flowers

CONNECT WITH KATIE:

Follow her on Instagram: @iamkatiehess @lotuswei
LinkedIn: Katie Hess
Media Kit: Katie Hess, International

Happy listening,


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