Tag Archives: Maria Greene

art, intuitive art

How to paint intuitively, inspiring books

How to paint intuitively is something worth pursuing. In this post, I’m talking about a couple of wonderful artist / writers who forged the path of using intuition in art.

The below post is for my email subscribers I sent out today.

I hope you had a great May, and happy belated Memorial Day. 🙂 Summer is here!

I was racking my brain for a YouTube video this month and came up empty, which is okay. I was thinking back on my evolution as an artist, remembering the books that got me started on intuitive painting back in the 90s. I will talk about them in a minute.

I was pondering how we conform even in art. I often jump on Pinterest to check out various styles, and they are pretty much all the same.
Have you noticed how all the cars on the road kind of look the same? A BMW looks like a Honda. The cars in the 1950s had great style, and if you could afford an expensive vehicle, there was no mistaking the status of the car.  Where did this conformity start? We’re told what is “in” by advertising, of course. Brainwashing…

Selling on etsy, I think about what might sell, rather than just “going for it” and see what happens. I love my quirky clay characters that evolved from painting and polymer clay mosaics. It’s easy to see what sells the most; the items that conform to the accepted styles (as per Pinterest). It’s hard to explain. I have many items that don’t conform, and they don’t sell well. I loved (still do) making polymer clay mosaic boxes and plaques, and they sold, but then one day, they stopped selling. Abruptly.

I tell myself the Universe is saying, “stretch your wings; try something new and different. I do, and sometimes I’m surprised.
This fun character is my latest effort.

Every day I ask myself, “What will make me feel inspired?” If it’s a character, I will make one, but it could be painting or art journaling. Sometimes I crochet or write (fiction).  I don’t force anything, and intuition is about doing what makes me feel good.

If it’s hyper-realistic oil portraits or childlike paintings you love, go for it!!
Art is a lifelong pursuit, and there’s no way of knowing where the muse will take you. Just create something.

Children never wonder if their art will sell, they live in the moment and enjoy slapping paint on paper without thought to outcome.

Back in the 90s, I came across this book:
(I took the pictures from Amazon, so they’re not very good.) Click on the pictures for the link.)

Painting from the Source, by Aviva Gold. This is how the description starts: Imagine yourself painting with no hesitations, no conflicts. Your brush dips into pots of vibrantly colored paint; inner inspiration guides your hand into lines and shapes that find their perfect places on the paper.

I was sooo inspired by this book that I began painting like that. I made huge paintings that don’t look like anything I paint today. Here’s an old picture of a painting on paper. It hangs in my bedroom now, and I feel happy when I look at it.

The women appeared in all the layers, and I was stunned as everything took form. No plans, only one brush stroke after another. Sooo freeing! That kind of art has depth.

Another writer / artist I admire is Michele Cassou. I think she’s the founder of all contemporary intuitive painting. She passed away last year, but left a great legacy.

With eloquence and simplicity, the authors encourage the reader to journey inward toward his or her authentic self and discover the unique intuition awaiting there. It is this intuition that provides all the tools the reader needs to crumble the barrier between the innermost self and its uncensored manifestation.

Follow the extraordinary life journey of passionate painter Michele Cassou, who discovered a revolutionary approach to intuitive painting that opens doorways into the mystery of existence and its spiritual dimensions.From her childhood in the midst of World War ll France to her profound experiences there, in Canada, and in the United States, Michele exposes the ins and outs of an intense life of creativity- the hidden, the forgotten, and the sacred- in this moving, poetic collection of stories.

You won’t think about art the same way if you read these books. There are used copies on Amazon to buy, and I recommend the paperbacks.

It’s easy but not easy to paint that way.  You start on a painting and get stuck in the middle. The mind says this is bad, but when you persevere and stick with it, the art will reveal itself.  Judgment is always going to lurk, but ask yourself, “What is my next brush stroke,” and go from there (even if you don’t want to.)

Lots of love and inspiration!


P.S. Check out my new items in my shop  EarthandFaery.

art, mixed media, original art, painting, PDF patterns, writing

Welcome to new art offers in January 2025

Welcome to a new year! It feels good to start fresh while intending to have some great new ideas art-wise. I have had a busy month so far, and I like the pace and excitement of creativity. Not only did I make a lot of art, I finished a project that began in the 90s with another writer, and we spent the last six months finishing it. It’s a police mystery / thriller story. See the description below:

Buffalo, 1980s

Detectives Mike McNally and Bill “Turk” Matursky are resolving a tense jumper scenario at a highrise in one of the seedier parts of Buffalo, New York when they hear about the gruesome murder of a Catholic priest.  As an esteemed older priest is murdered three days later, the detectives are assigned to the special task force to help solve the vicious crimes.

There’s only a single clue to go on, and Mike turns to his long-time friend, Father Mark, to help with their investigation. He offers what he can, but the Church is stone-walling the law at every turn. The detectives have to appeal to the city’s underbelly for leads. Through many twists and turns, they discover that the suicide of a fellow cop and a tied-up hooker hold surprising clues.

Meanwhile, Turk is going through a personal crisis.  He won’t explain why to Mike who gets more frustrated every time Turk’s rash actions might endanger their lives.

Mike struggles to get past his divorce, but every overture toward a new relationship backfires.

Despite the seriousness of their criminal investigation, they find time to share comical cop stories, and their penny-pinching superior, Captain Burke, has an endless supply. 

Can you blend murder with humor? Maybe it’s the only way cops can cope with the horrors of their work.

It’s available on Amazon Kindle or paperback.

What I made in January

I had a good month creating art, and here’s a gallery view of my latest projects:

These items are all available in my etsy shop EarthandFaery.

The paper birds were a lot of fun to make and I love painting mandalas on wooden boxes.

I have more writing projects coming up soon so I travel between my computer and my studio to get everything done. Focus and intention help to keep my schedule straight and sheer doggedness gets me through the rough spots.

And there’s more…

I also created two PDF patterns:

They are easy to make! Click on the picture for the link.

Almost done… here’s the latest video I made for my YouTube channel: A fairy door diorama. Check it out HERE.

And here’s a praying angel for you. I wish you all the best and lots of creativity! xo

art, art tutorial, mixed media

How to make a simple clay bird

How to make this ornament:

I started with a “banana” shaped core of aluminum foil, and then I covered that with polymer clay. I rolled out a sheet of clay approx. 1/8″ thick and applied in sections to the bird shape. Then I added wings and some feather texture. I had clay beads from a previous project and used a couple of those and a jute string for hanging. I used an awl to push a hole through the bird before I baked it. Easy peasy!! If you don’t want to make one but want to buy one, you can do so HERE.

I had a pretty productive month of July, and here are some things I made, mostly clay figures: As you can see there were a lot of different figures involved! 🙂

I used polymer clay, plaster, paints, resin, and a few ready-made embellishments. I was particularly pleased with the figure with a dangling heart in the middle, made of plaster and a foam core. I love to experiment, and plaster is such a fun material, if messy.

The crochet blanket is my latest project that I finished last night. I think I’m obsessed with crocheting! If you missed the other blanket I made this spring, here’s a link to that blog post. Click HERE. The design is by Janie Crow. Everything she designs is breathtakingly beautiful.

How to be courageous

The only way to learn new things is to DO them. Book learning or art classes are good, but I don’t want to paint like the instructor or read books about art when I can sit down and experiment. I’m not saying it’s easy.

I constantly look for what inspires me, but then make something similar in my style. To develop a style, you have to try many things, make ugly art, and never give up! The challenge is always there, but you learn how to live it and “carry on” no matter what. Follow what makes you excited and make that in whatever medium you’re drawn to. Keep following that excitement and see where it leads! 🙂

You can always buy small batches of material and try them. That way you don’t spend $$$$$ on materials that then sit unused on a shelf. That makes you feel guilty every time you look at them.

All the above items are available in my etsy shop EarthandFaery.

I also have a YouTube channel with many mixed media art tutorials. Check out my latest video where I unbox a Grabie watercolor kit, and a Himi gouache kit. Click HERE.

Have a wonderful and creative August!

Lots of love,

art tutorial, clay, craft, crochet, etsy shop

How to make a rustic clay plaque

How to are two words that I live by. I love to learn new art techniques, and I love to share my knowledge. I published a new YouTube video this morning on how to make a rustic clay plaque with cute embellishments. See picture below. You can check out the video HERE.

May was a very productive month for me, and I spent most days in the studio. It has gotten midsummer hot already in Florida so I like to stay in the air-conditioned house.

Here are a few examples of my art in May:

There are many more, but I don’t want to upload all of them since some look mostly the same.

Do you struggle with creator’s block? I find that picking up a new type of art expression or taking art classes helps to kickstart your inspiration. Sometimes I get too many ideas and it’s hard to choose what to pursue next. I had difficulties with motivation earlier this spring, but after spending hours on Pinterest and re-taking some old online classes, I was ready to go again. Sometimes you have to regenerate by not making art, and that’s ok. We think it’s the ultimate virtue (by society’s standards) to always be super productive.

Trust in your ability to rest and renew your creative well. All goes in cycles! I say: enjoy every facet of your life!! 🙂

Many of the items above are available in my etsy shop: EarthandFaery

I also took up a challenging crocheting project, a blanket, the Fruit Garden design by Janie Crow. You can find the book on Amazon. Here’s a picture from the book.

So far I’m enjoying the challenge, but it’s not easy. I know I will finish it, but it’s going to take a long time. Taking up a new hobby helps with art inspiration as well.

Have a wonderful June! I wish you lots of creative energy. 🙂

Lots of love,

Apoxie Sculpt, clay, Polymer clay

The pros and cons of various art clays

The pros and cons become quite apparent as you work with the various clay brands. I’ll put down some insights here since I work a lot with the medium.

I started out with polymer clay, Sculpey III, which I still use a lot. There’s also Super Sculpey, which is a lot stronger than the Sculpey III. It usually comes in 1 lb blocks; I use it for figures and more complicated work.

The plus side of Sculpey is that it stays soft until you bake it, and you can work on it all day or even leave it for another day without worrying that it will dry out. The downside is the need for baking. Not that it’s a big con, but if you’re making sculptures (like I do,) you have to think of the inner armature. You can’t use anything that will melt at 275 degrees. If you do, the clay is likely to crack big time. (Been there, done that.) Also, if you live in a hot climate, the clay gets so soft as you work that you have to keep it in the fridge. When I need a chunk I have to run to the refrigerator– back and forth.

I have also made things out of air-dry clay, but the con is that it breaks pretty easily. I’ve made some spirit doll faces and bowls with it, but no sculptures. I tried the Plus brand from Joann’s, and it’s ok to work with but dries and cracks easily. I cover the item as it dries with a damp paper towel and that seems to help. I’ve also tried DAS, which is similar to Plus, but a step up in quality.

Recently, I took a clay sculpture class with Kathy Lewis, and she uses Jovi clay. I hadn’t even heard of it, but I ordered a block from Amazon. It smells like wet plastic, and it’s smooth to work with, but it tends to crack too, but not as bad as the other air dry clays. I guess practice makes perfect, but I don’t like repairing the figures. It makes me doubt that they are sturdy enough for sale.

I mostly work with Apoxie Sculpt, a super strong epoxy clay. Pros: it’s pretty easy to work with, but it takes practice. I have gone through several 2lb containers, and I’m ordering more! It smoothes easily to make a hard surface. It gives you confidence that the item won’t break easily. You can drill and sand it, and it takes paint well.

Cons: It’s expensive. You have to mix the two-part epoxy clay really well, and it takes a toll on your hands. You only have a couple of hours of work time before it hardens, and you can’t save leftover clay. I make small items with leftovers to add to other projects. I have used Apoxie Sculpt to fix items made with other clays.

Here’s an example of a bunny I rescued. I started out with Jovi clay, and as it dried, the arms fell off and some of the other details. I added epoxy clay arms, fixed the cracks, and enforced the delicate area between the head and ears. Jovi dries white, and the epoxy clay is gray as you can see in the picture below.

I also had a bunch of dry eyeballs made with epoxy clay to use (to prevent any flattening if working with air dry clay.)

Below you can see the finished bunny, all painted and varnished. 🙂 It’s available for purchase in my etsy shop, Earth and Faery.

Here’s a link to Apoxie Sculpt on Amazon. (No affiliate.) You can also order it from the manufacturer: Aves Studio. It’s also available on Dick Blick. It also comes in smaller containers than the 2 lb tubs.

Conclusion: Sculpey is great for smaller items and is great for working details. I always use it for my mosaic tiles. I prefer epoxy clay to air-dry clay due to the cracking and easy breakage, but the preference is of course personal. I’d love to hear what your clay experience is like. 🙂

I have two classes using polymer clay: a whimsy girl and a mosaic tile box. Check them out.

Lots of love,

art, art making, collage, craft

April was a good and busy month

April was good though I went through a lot of changes with my art. I resisted painting my fantasy flowers even though they were fun and oh-so-colorful!

I always feel I should paint something else after painting five or six of the same motif. Do you feel that way too, or do you love to explore the same motif until you’ve excavated all that it can give you?

After these two paintings, I went in a slightly different direction:

Still flowers though, inspired by spring no doubt. Then I went in a different direction:

The still life was great fun, so I’ll explore more of that style in the future. It’s funny how art goes in various directions if you let it lead you. I feel that I’m always learning more, and that will never end.

I also had time to make some clay sculptures, which is always an effort in trial and error. This “cage” doll started out as a thrifted candleholder. It took me a while to finish, but I was happy with the result.

The one below is built around a blue agate geode. I used Apoxie Sculpt for both sculptures.

All of these items are available in my etsy shop Earth and Faery.

I also made some narrow flower paintings / collages, which was fun. I usually don’t paint tall and narrow, so it was a challenge.

We’re coming into the hot months here in Florida now, so I’ll be spending more time indoors to escape the heat. I’m pondering more art classes to add to my class site. I have two available now: How to Make a polymer clay whimsy girl, and How to Make a mosaic box with clay tiles.

You can check out those offerings HERE. I’m gathering supplies to make spirit dolls using my sculpted faces, and I’m thinking about designs. I will make several dolls in the course.

I made a simple, mostly no-sew, one a while back on YouTube that you can check out HERE.

What have you been working on lately? A day without making art is partially a wasted day in my opinion, but we do the best we can.

Lots of love and inspiration to you!