Can you believe it’s been more than a year now since we’ve been in pandemic mode?! My husband and I made this watercolor process video early on in the quarantine to express the collective Grieg and uncertainty the world was going through at the time. In many ways, we’re still there. But it feels like a steady climb back to “normal” too. How have you personally changed/grown through the struggle of this past year? Comment below ? #yearofgrowth #yearofchange #growingpains #backtonormallife #newnormal

How has it been a year now since the US “officially” entered the global pandemic?!! One unexpected benefit of everything closing was that husband and I got a ton of creative projects done. One top project was our original print-from-home board game, “People Vs Pandemic”. We had a ton of fun developing and testing it out with friends and family! Im honor of our "one year of survival,” I've got a 20% off sale (cuz, 2020...) going on the game from today until 3/22. Go to the link in my bio ☝️and enter the code "WHATAYEAR" at checkout. #maskedup #pandemic #boardgames #boardgamesofinstagram #homemadeboardgame #gamenight #gamenightfun #covidlife #covidlife2020 #quarantined #beatthevirus #rona #quarantinedatenight #wemadeit #alonetogether #thankyounurses #rememberwhen #rip2020

The faint start of a new commission. Reflecting on the facility and beauty of life. If I ascend to heaven, you are there. If I make my bed in Sheol you are there. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me! It is high, I cannot attain it. Where shall I go from your Spirit? Where shall I flee from your Presence? -from Psalm 139 #psalm139 #fearfullyandwonderfullymade #fragility #beauty #beautifullife #onebeautifullife #watercolor #springiscoming

Fun in the studio this week- working on self portraits for our upcoming show, “unity & diversity”. I wanted to get pics of the little cutie and his mom, and also the two men who stopped in! Art is for men, too, yall. And it’s for all ages ?. I know we technically know this, but it helps to see it in practice! ?? Thanks for “art-being” together this week! #vinearts #vineartsboise #mendoart #kidsdoart #artforkids #artformoms #communityart #communityartproject #communityartstudio

Q: "What all do I need to start painting again?" A: Not much, actually. Let's talk about paints first... Contrary to popular belief, you don't actually need a huge supply of colors. I'm a working artist, and I generally only stick to a few colors: red, blue, yellow, brown, white, black, and sometimes also a tube of green. Why just these? Because you can mix just about any other color or shade from these basic colors: Purple = blue + red Orange = red + yellow Grey = black + white ... and so on. I add in a tube of green if I'm doing a natural landscape that requires a lot of green shades, just so I don't have to keep mixing it. Otherwise, you can make your own with this equation: green = blue + yellow. As far as brands go, if you’re starting out a new hobby PLEASE don’t pick the special high priced ones! You need to feel free to experiment and “waste” a lot of paint. Getting several smaller and cheaper bottles of paint will help you feel better about the risks you’re taking. Just make sure the label says “acrylic paint” somewhere - don’t mistake it for tempera paint or oil paint. If you'd prefer a cheap paint set with more than enough colors, I've got a few brands I'd recommend. ? Click the article link in my bio to see which ones. I'm here to show you the few simple supplies you need. After all, the less you need to get started, the less excuses there are to start ;) ?What are your other questions when it comes to buying paints? #artsupplies #artset #artsetup #beginnerartist #beginnerart #arttips #youngartist #artstudent #acrylicpainting #artistsoninstagram #arthobby #micheals #hobbylobby #michealscraftstore #dollarstorefinds #artteachersofinstagram #artteacherlife

One passion I've re-discovered in recent years is teaching. When I was little, I wanted to be a teacher when I grew up. I imagined my job being like the adventures of the redheaded Mrs. Frizzle and her class of 8 kids (thanks #magicschoolbus ). Turns out teaching in regular school wasn't quite the creative job I imagined (a HUGE shoutout to all the incredible teachers who make it work anyway!!!!!). I thought I had to put my teaching dreams away, but last year an art teacher position opened up at a local charter school, and then a few private students approached me for art lessons. I further sharpened my skills with online teaching using Zoom and even teaching via an ESL distance learning platform for a while. And I had a blast!!!! ? It's the absolute best feeling when my student acheives something they're proud of. I especially LOVE teaching people who are just beginning a new skill. That place of newness and trust is a sacred space I don't take lightly. It's absolutely incredible to shepherd my students (young, middle aged, and the young-in-heart) through learning basic techniques, trying new things, and learning to enjoy the whole process. In short, I ❤ teaching. So, in the words of Mrs. Frizzle, "It's time to take chances, make mistakes, and get messy [with art]!!" You CAN learn to express your (artisitic) voice - if you're interested in learning art for the first time, or you're jumping back in after a looooong time, let's do this!! I like to start with a FREE consultation call to understand where you're at, what your goals/interests are, and set a schedule. ☝️You can learn more and/or schedule that call at the link in my bio ☝️ #artlessons #artlessonsforkids #artlessonsforadults #artlessonsforteens #artteachersofinstagram #artteacher #artteacherlife #iloveteaching #paintbrushes #paintbrushpolaroids #beginnerartist #beginnerart #learntopaint #learntodraw #creativeprocess #artlife

Big things happening in the Thurber studio!! I've finally finished my "business renovation" to combine all the different things I'm doing into one cohesive, beautiful home on the interwebs. One of the best updates is a fresh new approach to my online shop. We're actually sourcing our archival quality prints from a local printer here in downtown Boise, which makes me feel so good at supporting a local business. In addition to prints, I've added a collection of blank art notecards (also from the local print shop), AND a digital downloads store with creative content available at the click of a mouse! Check it out at the link in my bio ☝️. HINT: If you sign up for my email list first, you'll get a coupon for FREE SHIPPING off your first order ;) #artgallery #gallerywall #inspirationalart #wallart #colorfulwallart #artrepreneur #artbusiness #supportlocal #supportsmallbusiness #boiseartist #boiseart #boiseartists #womenartists #womenartistsofinstagram #artprints #inspiringart #iheartart #iloveart

Just made this digital concept for a community art installation this spring @vineyardboise. The new show, "Unity & Diversity," will feature a giant installation of lots and lots of faces. I want to see faces of every color, culture, age, men and women, and every level of artistic skill. Imagine a wall of the VineArts Gallery filled with self portraits - a visual display of unity & diversity in our church and community. It’ll look like kinda this, with each of the small rectangles being a self-portrait made by someone in our church or community. I'm SOOOOO excited!! If you're local to the Treasure Vallery, you're welcome to participate (you don't have to be a part of Vienyard Boise)! This Tuesday marks the first Create Space Studio Drop-In to begin creating artowrk for this show. Come on by anytime between 12:30pm-3:30pm. OR plan to attend our COVID-safe Create Space this Thursday 3/4 at 7-8:30pm (masks are required for this one!!). More info on our Facebook page - just search for "VineArts Boise." #community #communityart #communityarts #artinstallation #selfportrait #selfportraits #unity #diversity #celebratediversity #blackhistorymonth #vineartsboise

Welcome to a little slice of the #artreprenuer life....If all this looks chaotic, that’s exactly what my brain has been feeling like recently! Ever heard of urban sprawl? That’s essentially what my business has been going through these past few years: uncontrolled and unplanned expansion covering every available space (haha like #boiseidaho)... I tried idea after idea, rebranding after branding, product after product- all in an effort to find SOMEthing that works! I ended up with a full online school, a new book, several products, art print sales, commissions, live teaching and workshops, 4 IG accounts, 3 FB pages, and several side jobs. ? I say this not to brag, but to just be honest. I was doing too many things in too many places. It was high time for a change. But this change had to be towards simplification, not away from it. SOOOOO..... Im moving to ONE website that offers all the things I do, like a mashup of who I am- “Danica the Artist”. There, I have art lessons and art events, as well as Creative Life Coaching (the live version of Project Grief), and a store with all the things I love to create. MUCH better. Im SOOO excited to get it all under one roof- and hopefully regain a tiny bit of sanity - at least, before our first child arrives in July ?. The website looks pretty good too, if I do say so myself ?. ? I’ll “officially” announce the change on Monday, but for now, check it out and let me know what you think!! I’d love to hear your thoughts ? ??Www.danicatheartist.com #selfemployed #storybrand #toomanythings #brainoverload #simplifyyourlife #urbansprawl #ideasprawl #stickynotes #coaching #rebranding #artteacher #artforsale #artmarketing #entrepreneur #businessowner #businesswoman #businesstips #businessowners

I just love this beautiful mural and the great time that myself and a few artist friends got to have while making it! Swipe right to see the community creative response during the art opening. My friend Karen invited passerby to choose a hand that they felt represented their relationship with Jesus right now, and to write their explanation on the handprint next to it. @msdaenitz @tylershae_ @beverlychick @jessienilo #artministry #mural #artcollab #connectedtothevine #john15