It’s not Wrong

In July, I had the opportunity to attend a watercolor workshop at The Landgrove Inn in Vermont, led by the well-known watercolorist Margie Samuels. I was a bit intimidated at first — and immediately realized I had forgotten my pencils (so basic). But Margie’s warmth and easy teaching style quickly put me at ease. For a full week, I balanced immersive days in the studio with evenings spent with my family, all while surrounded by the serene, clean beauty of Vermont — so invigorating. Yet as stunning as the setting was, what influenced me most was the people.

The group that gathered for the workshop was one of the most welcoming, encouraging communities I’ve encountered in a very long time. Artists ranged from beginners to seasoned professionals to architects. I was immensely impressed by the experience and skill of the advanced artists, and deeply inspired by the courage and curiosity of those just starting out. Seeing people push through challenging compositions reminded me to be patient and optimistic. I watched the person in front of me work through a mess of a painting that looked impossible — only to transform it into something truly beautiful. Others created incredibly diffuse, atmospheric pieces that I could look at for hours. Conversations sparked spontaneously, and I learned something new with each exchange.

Throughout the week, I asked questions, exchanged pain points, and listened. And in return, I was asked deeper questions—about my compositions, my choices, and my style. Why did I decide to do something a certain way? What was I trying to communicate? Where do I find inspiration?

For the first time, I heard overheard someone describe my pieces as “graphic” and “subject-driven”, which I never considered before. At one point, I admitted that I felt like I don’t do things the right way, and one of the highly experienced artists who had reviewed my Instagram feed said “there is nothing wrong with honoring a biological thing”. So simple - I thought “there isn’t”, and immediately understood more about what I was doing personally. In the end, all of those conversations helped me better verbalize my own tendencies, and that was eye-opening. Ultimately, what I took away from the workshop was more than tips and techniques—though I did pick up plenty of those. I left with a clearer sense of how I approach art, and more importantly, a growing confidence in my own voice and style as an artist.

I’m so grateful for the experience—and for the generous, friendly people who helped me see my art, and myself, a little more clearly.