Hello my Dabble family!

It’s Jen here, and today I have the absolute joy of introducing you to a professional artist whose story is both inspiring and deeply relatable: Trish Herasme from the beautiful Beech Mountain, North Carolina.

Like many of us, Trish discovered her love for art as a child. She was inspired by the mountains, rivers, and the beauty of nature all around her — the kind of beauty that begs to be captured in color. But then, as she put it, “life happened.” Trish stepped away from painting for about 20 years (can you imagine the patience of those paints just waiting for her to return?). In 2017, she picked up her brushes again, and not long after, she discovered Let’s Dabble. Since then, her creative journey has been nothing short of amazing.

What inspires Trish most?

“Definitely God’s wonderful creation,” she told me. And honestly, you can feel that reverence for creation in her work — every stroke carries that sense of awe.

Let’s look at her art!

Here’s two of Trish’s beautiful pieces that she chose to share with us:

When I first saw this, I could almost hear the breeze rushing through the scene. The colors and textures have such vibrancy that you feel like you’re standing right there, soaking it in. I half expected a bird to flutter across my screen while looking at it — that’s how alive it feels.

What she loves about DabblePaints™:

“They are super smooth and thick. I love the richness of the colors as well.”

Yes, yes, and yes! That buttery texture and richness is exactly why I created these paints — so every artist can feel joy in every swipe of color.

What she enjoys most about painting:

“I enjoy how people react to what I paint. The colors and the texture really stand out to them.”

Isn’t that the best? Art becomes a shared experience, and I love that Trish finds joy in those moments of connection.

Her advice for beginners:

“Don’t try to be perfect right out of the gate. The more you paint, the better you will get. It’s easy to compare yourself to others, but that will steal your joy.”

Oh, how true is that? Comparison is such a thief, but Trish reminds us that joy belongs to the process — to painting again and again until your voice shines through.

Trish, thank you for sharing your journey, your wisdom, and your heart with us. You are a gift to the DabblePaints™ community, and I know your story will encourage so many artists to keep going.

Keep creating, keep shining, and keep bringing more beauty into the world.

XO,

Jen

Hello my Dabble family!

It’s Jen here, and I cannot wait for you to meet today’s featured artist, the wonderful Kathy Davig from Belgrade, Montana. Kathy describes herself as an artist, but after hearing her story and seeing her art, I think we can all agree she’s an artist with a capital A.

The Artist's Journey?

Kathy’s art journey is such a beautiful example of how creativity can show up at just the right time. She had only done one watercolor painting (with her mom’s help) about 25 years ago, and after a short-lived experiment with plastic palette knives (her words: “bad!”), she thought maybe art wasn’t for her. But then—cue the fireworks—she saw my invitation in her Facebook feed in July of 2020. With a little trepidation, she joined the online painting course.

Now, she’ll be the first to tell you, her first three paintings weren’t exactly masterpieces… but by the fourth one, she could see her progress, and she was hooked. And when I say hooked, I mean she dove in headfirst: over 300 paintings, countless post-palette pieces, and even 100 jewelry sets made from dried paint skins. Talk about turning leftovers into treasures—move over, last night’s dinner, Kathy’s leftovers are gallery-worthy.

Retired as of 2022, Kathy now paints every single day. Her former home office has transformed into her Happy Place studio, and she falls asleep dreaming about her next painting. I just love that.

Inspiration

When I asked Kathy what inspires her creativity, she had the most thoughtful answer. Since joining Let’s Dabble, she says she sees the world differently—she notices the play of light and shadow, tree trunks, branches, and those Montana clouds that stretch forever. She finds inspiration in God’s creation, the beauty of the Rocky Mountains, our classes, and even the posts from fellow artists in the Club. That’s the magic of art—it makes us notice the extraordinary in what we used to take for granted.

Here’s the painting Kathy chose to share: “Amalfi’s Allure.”

The Amalfi Coast is one of her favorite places in the world, and this painting was both a huge challenge and one of her proudest achievements. And you can feel it when you look at it. I swear, I can almost hear the waves crashing against the cliffs and smell the lemon trees drifting in on the breeze. It’s such a breathtaking piece, and I love that Kathy poured her heart into it.

What She Loves About DabblePaints™

In Kathy’s words: “They’re creamy—oh so creamy. And such great coverage. The Lemon Yellow especially is such an upgrade from what we used previously… My leftover dried paint even makes beautiful skins.”

How fun is that? Turning dried paint into jewelry and church art projects. Kathy, you’re officially the queen of upcycling in the most creative way possible.

What She Enjoys Most About Painting

Kathy told me what she loves most is the sense of accomplishment—going from staring at that intimidating white canvas to stepping back and seeing a finished piece. Even when a painting doesn’t turn out as expected, she views it as a “learning piece.” She also loves trying new techniques, like painting palm trees, waves, and lavender fields, and weaving them into future creations. That’s exactly the adventurous spirit that keeps an artist growing.

Her Advice to Beginners

 Kathy gave us a whole treasure chest of wisdom here:

1. Baby steps—it won’t come overnight.

2. Don’t be hard on yourself.

3. Celebrate your successes (even the little ones).

4. Follow Jen’s instruction—it’s all fixable.

5. Watch, paint, rewind… as many times as you need.

6. Share your art and engage with fellow artists.

7. Keep your first paintings so you can see your progress.

8. Never give up.

9. Most importantly—enjoy the fabulous ride.

Honestly, can we just print this list and tape it above every easel? Such great advice!

Kathy, thank you for sharing your story, your art, and your heart with us. Your generosity, joy, and persistence are such an inspiration to our Dabble Family. You remind us all that it’s never too late to discover the artist inside—and once that spark is lit, there’s no turning back.

Hello my Dabble family! It’s Jen here, and I’m beyond thrilled to introduce you to one of the inspiring artists in our community, Joan Hitchcock.

Joan is a professional artist who, like many of us, began her journey with something as simple and magical as a box of crayons and a set of Prang watercolors in grade school. One of her early teachers recognized her talent and encouraged her parents to invest in better supplies — and thankfully, they did! That little spark grew into a lifelong exploration of creativity.

Over the years, Joan has experimented with many different mediums, teaching herself along the way. Thanks to the internet, she’s been able to connect with inspiring artists worldwide and take classes that once would have been out of reach.

What inspires Joan most?

Nature! The beauty of the seasons, the trees, and the outdoors guide her creativity.

Here’s one of Joan’s stunning pieces from her Birch Tree Series:

Birch Tree Series III

Now, I don’t know about you, but when I first saw this painting, I actually tilted my head back like I was really standing under those birch trees. You almost expect a crunchy leaf to float down and land on your shoulder. That’s how much life and perspective Joan brings to her work.

What she loves about DabblePaints™:

“Their creamy, glossy, highly pigmented nature. I love that they are in a limited palette, so I know that when I mix colors, my painting will be cohesive.”

What she enjoys most about painting:

“I enjoy the process of bringing my ideas to life and love the texture! I’m a sculptor at heart, and palette knife painting fulfills my need for dimension.”

(And can we just pause here? A sculptor’s heart plus a painter’s palette = hello, texture magic! It’s like peanut butter meeting jelly, but with paint.)

And when I asked Joan what advice she’d give someone just starting their painting journey, she shared a piece of wisdom that I absolutely love:

“We all started as beginners. The more you paint, the better you’ll get, and YOUR style will start showing through.”

Joan, thank you for sharing your story, your art, and your heart with us. You’re such an inspiration to the DabblePaints™ community, and I know so many of our artists will be encouraged by your words and your work.

Keep creating, keep shining, and keep bringing more beauty into the world. 

XO,

Jen