From Petals to Possibility: A Fresh Start in My Studio

Some paintings feel like markers in time—symbolic of change, of possibility, of fresh starts. This new floral design is one of those moments for me. 🌸

After a summer of slowing down—listening to birdsong, tending my garden, and giving myself space to reflect—I’ve returned to my studio with renewed energy and curiosity. What direction is my art calling me to? As I leaned into the question, the answer unfolded on paper: a design intended for more than a single painting. This piece feels like the beginning of a new chapter.

“A flower does not think of competing with the flower next to it. It just blooms.”  — Zen Shin

🌿 Inspiration & Process

The spark for this design came from a long-held desire to explore print-on-demand products—tea towels, fine art prints, napkins, puzzles, even stationery. I wanted to create something layered, playful, and full of potential, a piece that could grow into a collection.

Working on Saunders Waterford 200lb watercolor paper has been a joyful return to my roots. At 22" by 17", it’s a generous size—large enough for a tea towel design—yet manageable on my studio table. Its sturdy weight and textured surface welcomed the layered washes of watercolor and acrylic paint, as well as the stamped motifs and delicate line work that give this piece its depth.

I began by building a soft blue ground, overlaid with subtle peach, pink, and blue floral patterns stenciled into the surface. Metallic touches of copper and gold shimmer beneath the top layers, lending a gentle, collaged effect that peeks through the blossoms and leaves. From there, I sketched in clusters of late-summer florals—yellows, peaches, pinks, and sienna tones—letting them dance across the page in varied shapes and sizes.

🐦 The Songbirds

No design of mine feels complete without the presence of birds. In this piece, five small songbirds take their places among the blooms. Two slightly larger sparrow-like birds perch atop warm pink coneflowers, while three smaller ones flutter in flight. Their hints of brown, yellow, and blush pink tie them seamlessly into the floral palette, and together their movement creates a playful circular rhythm across the composition.

This flock of five adds both whimsy and balance, reminding me of the joy and lightheartedness that birds always bring to my work.

“Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures.” — Henry Ward Beecher

✨ A Fresh Direction

What excites me most about this design is the possibility it holds. For years I’ve created original mixed media paintings on wood panels—layered, textured, and full of garden joy. Now, using many of those same techniques, I’ve found a way to translate that style onto watercolor paper in a form that can live beyond the canvas.

This piece will be the starting point for a line of designs intended for print-on-demand products. I can already imagine it as a tea towel hanging in a sunny kitchen, as a print framed on a wall, or as elements repurposed into greeting cards and fabric designs. It feels like the beginning of something new and exciting—one that I look forward to sharing more about with you.

“Five songbirds, a handful of petals, and a canvas full of possibility—that’s how summer blooms in my studio.” — Laura Leeder

🌸 Closing Thoughts

As I look at this completed design—five sparrows circling among blossoms in warm summer hues—I’m reminded that fresh starts often come in the gentlest of ways. What began as playful layers on watercolor paper has grown into a symbolic new beginning: a design that holds both joy in the present and possibility for the future. 🌿

Stay tuned as I explore how this piece may bloom into prints, tea towels, and more.

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"I create whimsical, carefree art that uplifts your spirits and beautifies your walls with colour and joy all year long."

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