It's trying so hard to look like spring in my neighborhood!!! What's your favorite spring is here sign???

Some quick updates for March.

One of our upcoming projects uses nature paintbrushes — simple tools made from leaves, grasses, twigs, and other natural textures. Before we begin, it can be helpful to gather a few materials from outdoors. Nature offers incredible shapes and textures that can create beautiful, unexpected brushstrokes in art. But when collecting materials, we want to do so gently and responsibly. 🍃 How to Gather Nature Materials Look for small, interesting textures like: • fallen leaves • grasses or seed heads • small twigs or branches • pine needles or pinecones • bark pieces that have already fallen • dried flowers or petals These can all become unique painting tools. 🌱 Gather Responsibly When collecting materials, try to follow a few simple guidelines: • Take only fallen pieces whenever possible • Avoid pulling or damaging living plants • Collect only a small amount so nature keeps its balance • Leave spaces as beautiful as you found them Nature is our creative partner, so we treat it with care and respect. 🎨 What to Do with Your Finds Once you gather a few materials, you can: • bundle them together with string or tape to make brushes • experiment with different textures and marks • combine several materials into one brush for interesting patterns Every natural object makes a different kind of mark — scratchy, soft, dotted, or leafy. 🌼 Optional If you'd like, share a photo of the nature materials you collected. It's always inspiring to see the variety of textures people discover around them. Sometimes the most beautiful art tools are the ones growing quietly all around us.

This week is about courage in small doses. Confidence isn’t loud. Sometimes it’s just quiet bravery. Growth doesn’t always look like skill. Sometimes it looks like letting yourself be seen. 🌿 This Week’s Activities 1. Write a Short Artist Statement (1–3 sentences) Not for a gallery. For you. Try: - “I create because…” - “My work explores…” - “Right now, I am learning to…” Keep it honest. Not impressive. 2. Create a “Permission Slip” Page Design a page that gives yourself permission: - To make imperfect work - To take up space - To grow slowly - To experiment Write it. Decorate it. Sign it. 3. Optional: Share One Piece Publicly or privately. In the community or with one trusted person. Sharing is not about validation. It’s about allowing visibility. 💛 Community Touchpoint This week we celebrate courage. Prompt thread: What felt brave for you this week? We celebrate effort. Not polish.

🌿 Eco-Art Community Share Space ♻️ This post is our course sharing corner for Eco-Art Week. Throughout the course, you’re invited to share your creations, discoveries, and ideas about creative reuse. Seeing how others transform everyday materials is one of the most inspiring parts of eco-art. If you try a project from the course — or discover your own creative reuse idea — feel free to post it here ♻️ What You Might Share • Photos of your finished eco-art projects • Materials you reused or repurposed • Creative tricks you discovered along the way • Upcycling ideas that could inspire someone else Sometimes the simplest idea can spark a whole new project for another artist. 🌱 Example Ideas 🪶 Magazine scraps → collage clouds 🫙 Glass jars → brush rinse cups 📦 Cereal boxes → mini canvases 🎨 Bottle caps → paint palettes Every small reuse idea helps keep creativity flowing and waste shrinking. 🍃Let’s keep building a collection of creative ways to make art accessible, mindful, and a little greener.