I’m thrilled to introduce a new series where I’ll be revisiting and recreating some of my old watercolor paintings. This idea came from a desire to reflect on my artistic growth and to show how practice and patience can truly transform our skills.

My Artistic Journey: From Calligraphy to Watercolor

For those of you who are new here, I’m a teaching artist and educator with an online shop where I sell stationery and lifestyle goods. My journey with watercolor began in August 2016, though I initially started with calligraphy. I wanted to add watercolor embellishments to my calligraphy pieces, but little did I know that watercolor would completely take over my creative life!

In 2017, I embarked on my first 100-day project, where I painted a watercolor wreath every day for 100 days. If you scroll far enough on my Instagram, you can still find those original paintings! This project was a huge challenge, especially since I had been painting for less than a year at that point, but it pushed me to grow tremendously as an artist.

Why I’m Revisiting My Old Watercolor Paintings

Over the years, I’ve done multiple 100-day projects, including one entirely through live streams. Each time, I’ve learned so much about myself and my art. However, the idea of doing another 100-day project this year felt a bit overwhelming, so instead, I decided to try something new: recreating my old paintings.

This idea was inspired in part by my past work on watercolor fruit and vegetable wreaths. I had painted similar subjects during my original 100-day project, and even back then, I noticed a huge difference in my skills from the start to the end of the challenge. That got me thinking—what if I went back even further and reinterpreted some of my earliest works?

The Approach: Inspiration Over Replication

When I say “recreate,” I don’t necessarily mean making an exact copy of my original paintings. Instead, I want to use them as a launching point. Some pieces might be more direct recreations, reflecting my current style and refined techniques. Others might take inspiration from the subject matter and evolve into something entirely new.

This series is not just about revisiting past work; it’s also about celebrating progress. Looking back at my beginner paintings, I can appreciate how much effort and passion I put into them, even if they weren’t perfect. By recreating them, I get to honor my artistic journey while exploring new creative directions.

Encouragement for Beginners

I also started this series because I know how frustrating it can be to feel like you’re not improving fast enough. If you’re just starting out with watercolor (or any creative pursuit), I want to remind you that growth takes time. I hope that by sharing my early paintings alongside my recreations, I can encourage you to keep going. Improvement isn’t always immediate, but with practice, your skills will evolve in ways you never imagined.

I’m so excited to dive into this project and share it with you all. I hope you enjoy this series as much as I will. Stay tuned for the first painting, and let’s celebrate artistic growth together!