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Writing

Illustrations

The Aurora Collection

Inspired by architecture, gateways, and the aurora borealis, these ethereal periwinkle and lavender paintings are an absolute joy.

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The Celestial Collection

This collection is about destiny, fate, and following divine guidance to find your path. I love to create art inspired by nature, the celestial, and the divine.

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Visit the Collection

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Here's the backstory:

Sometimes paintings don't turn out the way you want them to.

I had one of these unusable paintings sitting against the wall in my studio for a few weeks, but I just couldn’t bring myself to let it go.

I cut small rectangles out of the canvas and created my first mini tapestries. They are like sisters - cut from the same canvas and scattered to the winds like stars. I think they're a beautiful mini representation of my larger works, and I hope you'll agree.

A lot of love and work went into each one. I released one set with my Celestial Collection last Fall, and another set will release with the Aurora Collection on October 1st!

Mini Tapestries

Past Collections

The Ocean Ink Collection

A series of large illustrations for love of the ocean and everything in it. A celebration of the the lush undersea world.

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The Goddess Collection

A series of goddess illustrations

from around the world, exploring the power and beauty of women.

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The Starlight Collection

This collection is inspired by starlight and the stunning vastness of the sea and sky.

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Natural Inks

The Winter Blue Collection

A dreamy collection of blues and indigos to calm the soul. Sink into the rich colors and settle into the present.

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The Afternoon Rains
Collection

Each piece is a celebration of the beautiful, cyclical power of nature and our place in it.

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I decided this year I need to get better at color. I understood the concepts (warm/cool, analogous, etc.) but putting it into practice was daunting. And I didn’t trust myself.

Doing these studies has taught me I actually can trust myself to use color beautifully✨ #tinyart

I love painting. I’d love to be good at it one day. -Michael Scott
I knew this one would be a challenge, I didn’t know it would make me want to scream. It ended up a little more psychedelic than I intended, but I’m just happy I finished it at all 🙃

This one was a fun time! I was less interested in accuracy on the mountain and more interested in getting the general shapes right. I had a good time with the textures in this one ✨ #gouacheart #tinygouache #tinyartwork

I was so overwhelmed when I started this painting. So many shades of green, some cold, some warm. But I took my time, and, although less accurate than some of the others, I think this might be my favorite 💜 #tinygouache

Cotton blue snow and midnight blue trees 🌲 I just know the snow must have sparkled so prettily. I struggled with the sky gradient, but the color matching went really well❄️🌨️ I call this one a success!

This one was an absolute nightmare. I chose the wrong color for the under painting, and mixing peachy pinks with bright blues was hard on my soul and my eyes (is that right? Is it muddy? Should it be muddy?🙃🫠😵‍💫) But whatever, I learned some really great lessons from this one ✨

It was fun exploring the warm, muggy, humid colors in this one, but looking at this painting makes me immediately start sweating. I guess that’s a win? #tinygouache #gouachestudy #tinylandscape #tinydesert

My first time doing an underpainting! I chose a rich magenta, and covering it with gold and rich blues was so satisfying. I wish I could take my own mountain pictures and paint those, but you know… toddlers :> One day. #tinygouache #tinyart #tinyartwork #tinylandscape

🖼️ I did way too much overthinking on this one. In the end I was upset at how much I struggled and was pretty down about it.

Then I realized how far I’ve come and that I do, in fact, know what I’m doing sometimes. I need to be nicer to myself, I think. #gouache

This one kicked. my. butt. The texture of the canyon and the smoothness of the clouds(sand?) was tough to replicate.

My goal with these paintings isn’t to recreate perfectly; it’s to learn the medium and gain confidence in my colors. #gouachepractice

This one was a lot of fun - dreamy periwinkles and peachy pinks plus the tree texture made this a pleasure 🖼️ It was nice to paint something so soft and light ✨#gouachelandscape #tinygouache

Really happy with how this one turned out! I mixed my colors with more confidence and took my time working from back to front. Loving the texture of the mountains 🏔️ *puts gold star on forehead* #gouachepainting #tinygouache #gouschemountains

Oh hey look who hasn’t been around for two and a half years. Hey hi. Um, I’ve been busyyyy, had two kids and now I’m starting to feel human again so hi :)

These days, due to lack of general free time, I’m doing little teeny paintings based off ref pics. I finally tried gouache and am in love 🥰

This was my first in my new little sketchbook. I was actually delightfully surprised with how well I color-matched, although it ended up too saturated and I didn’t separate the cool and warm colors well enough. The lesson was I need to trust myself and mix more paints next time ✨
#gouachepainting #tinygouache #gouachelandscape

❄️Winter Aurora Jiang❄️ Born October 25th at 3:10pm 7lbs 20.1in. It’s crazy to think how last October I was starting the IVF process. There was no guarantee that any of it would work much less give us a happy healthy baby, but we got so lucky and Winter came into our lives 💙 She has been a huge blessing for us, and I’ve loved every minute of it. Can’t wait to watch her grow up - my little Scorpio / Water Tiger ✨🪞🦢

The story behind the collection goes like this:

I started IVF a year ago today. It was a decision that Jack and I made as a team that was not made overnight. We spent a long time talking about what we wanted our lives to look like and what we would have to give up if we had kids - or didn’t. It wasn’t an easy decision, but I’m so glad we decided to take a risk and invest in our future and our family.

I am so thankful that this journey has taken me here. I know it doesn’t always work out this way for everyone, and I’m not under any sort of delusion that I deserved this outcome more than anyone else. Every step of the way, no matter how exhausted or nauseous or sick of sticking needles in my legs I was, I remained so grateful to be on this path.

This collection is about my intentions for my daughter. I want both of us to be safe and for her to enter this world with joy knowing she is so loved already.

Hopefully everything will go smoothly and I’ll get to meet my little girl in a few weeks. The due date is November 3rd, so stay tuned!

#ivfjourney #ivfsuccess #ivfpregnancy #witchtok #artwitch #protectionspell #safedelivery🙏 #duenovember2022 #blueandsilver #spellcrafting

The Aurora Collection will release October 13th! ✨🪞🦢 Which is incidentally the day I get to 37 weeks. I’m nervous, but oh well! 😭😅😭
#hurricaneian #hurricaneian2022 #floridaartist #sfliving #veniceflorida

I’m 35 weeks 4 days! It feels strange to know that we’ll be bringing home a whole new human to live with us pretty soon 😳 How wild is that?

Last night she kicked and wiggled and rolled for at least an hour and, although sleep would have been nice, I’m so thankful that she’s alive and well and apparently either a dancer or a drummer 😂

The Aurora Collection releases October 13th! 🪞✨🦢

So… we had a hurricane. I work for the county, so I went to the Emergency Operations building to help out for a few days. It was literally the safest building in the whole county. It’s designed to survive a cat 5 storm and was full of paramedics, military, and police.

We lost power and internet so I’m waiting for that to come back, but all is well here! I’m pushing back the release of the Aurora Collection to October 13th 💙 I’ll send an email out once I have internet haha.

Little Miss is doing well and kicking away! I’m 35 weeks and still have some time before the big day 😅 Wish me luck!

Hopefully I can finish this before the autumn equinox 🍂🍁🍂 #autumnequinox #autumnequinox2022 #autumn2022 #braveryspell #couragespell #artwitch #artwitchery #artnouveausketch

30 weeks now! 🪞🦢💎 I still haven’t named this collection - any ideas?

#cathedralart #periwinkle #lavender #auroraborealis #calmingart #softblue #witchyart #protectionspell #spellwork

Some people are kitchen witches, some are garden witches, but I am an art witch ✨💎🦢
#artspellwork #spellwork #protectionspells #artspell #artwitch #sarasotafl #sarasotartist #venicefl

My little studio buddy 💙 She follows me around the house and sits by me while I paint and write. I wish I could tell her how lucky I am to be her mum 💎✨ Here’s a less-often seen corner of the studio

May peace and hope guide you always💎 #littlecharms #witchycharms #charms #witchcharms #peacespell #littlespell #charmnecklace #tinyart #tinycanvas

I realized, especially with this second piece, that I’m creating gateways. I’m creating a path for the life in me to enter my world. I’ve waited so long for her to come, and I believe she’s been waiting for me too. Painting these is my way of welcoming her little life and spirit into this realm✨💎☔️ She is safe, she is loved, and she is welcome 💙

My life has changed dramatically in the last six months. In January we were alone in our big house (I know, tragic) wondering if we’d ever get pregnant and if we’d always be alone here in Florida. Fast forward and we have my in-laws helping us out, the sweetest little dog, and Little Miss just kicking away! If you’re going through it right now, just know things can change so so SO quickly. Just because things may be hard right now doesn’t mean they will be in six months.

Push through💎 Take care of yourself and keep going🦢

I have so many projects in my head I want to do, but so little time and energy 😭
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At work I’m going to have to cancel some of my programs for a few months and it’s so hard for me to say: I’m sorry, I won’t be here. Or: No, I just can’t. I’m having a hard time letting things go.
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This is a transitional period and I need to have patience with myself and trust that others will be patient with me too 💎✨ It’s not easy.

Hopefully this collection will be finished before her due date🫧🦢💎

We took a break today and went to the Ringling Museum to see some amazing history and modern artwork. I have to say there’s a lot of modern art I don’t get. I wonder if it’s because I’m not exposed regularly to that same artist. When you see the same art and hear the stories and feelings behind it again and again (on this app, for example), aren’t you building a relationship with an artist? Aren’t you slowly exploring these new ideas, building familiarity, fondness, and even falling in love with them and their work?
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Sometimes I think my close followers know me better than the people in my real life. My intricacies and fears are here, on this app. My worries and sorrows are here. My hopes and prayers are here. Can I say the same for my daily life? No. The person I live my life as on a daily basis is just a cheap mirage of myself.
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Here lie my depths.

It’s amazing how you can end up with everything you’ve asked for and not even notice. This morning I was thinking about Under the Tuscan Sun - how she wanted a house full of laughter, love, weddings, etc and when it happened she didn’t even notice, because it didn’t happen the way she wanted it to.
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At the beginning of this year we were going through a rough time. We had finished IVF but were waiting for our first transfer, and it was really stressful. We were alone in our big empty house in a state where we don’t know anyone or have any family support. Then the good started to come.
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We got Spring Roll, our darling little dog. The transfer was successful and Little Miss entered our lives. And about a month ago my in-laws moved in to help us prepare for the baby and help them get acclimated to the US (and see if they want to retire here).
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Our house went from silent and empty to full in a matter of months. It’s been an amazing transformation. It didn’t happen the way I wanted or expected it to, but who am I to decide how these things should go? The Universe put everyone right here for a reason, and I’m happy to go along for the ride 💙

I’m thinking about painting the nursery. I’m trying to decide how exactly I want to do it. I’m definitely thinking something dark/light/neutral and starlight themed (shocker! 💫) Maybe we’ll go look at paint colors today 😊

This is my puppy Spring Roll, and she was a naughty girl yesterday. She heard something outside, freaked out, and ran across one of my wet paintings. Suddenly I looked up and there were blue paw prints all over the floor 🤣 🐾 I fixed the painting and cleaned it up, no problem. I just wanted you to see the guilty girl! Just kidding, she’s an absolute angel 😇

Help! I’m drowning in a sea of blue! 💎💙🤩💙💎

Despite the dark news today, happy Summer Solstice✨☀️✨

I feel like I�’m really settling into these colors and exploring the lightness and purity they bring💎✨ It’s occurred to me that this is becoming a bit of a collection. If I keep this up, I’ll have to make it a little more official 😬😳

It’s been 8+ months since I had my hair done - it was time! @lenkahairsalon did an amazing job 💙 19 weeks and feeling great! I think Spring Roll’s due for a haircut next✨🐕✨

On the best days, it feels like I am creating pathways and gateways to another world✨💎☔️

My last collection was deep blues and indigos bordering on black and now I’m shifting towards lighter shades. Periwinkle aurora lavender sparked with silver is all I can think about. A new collection is taking shape, and I’m so excited ✨

I still can’t believe I’m here. Two years of waiting and wondering, a diagnosis, then six months of shots and fun stuff before I finally got pregnant left me feeling strangely calm. After all that, it just… worked out? I’m just in complete shock and awe that I’m here right now 💙 14 weeks 5 days!
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Every day I get a little more terrified - wondering if I can do this if I’m strong enough. But at the same time I know I survived IVF, I have an amazing partner who would do anything for his girls, and a sweet sweet dog who is good beyond all reason 🐕
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It’ll all be good ✨
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Meanwhile! I painted this - a new concept I’m playing with. I’m not sure if it’s done or if I want to make it more elaborate. What do you think?

Artists beware 💥 I used toxic materials for a long time without knowing it. If it gives off a smell, it’s worth looking up the Material Safety Data Sheet

Last year I found out I couldn’t have kids naturally, and... it broke my heart. Jack and I found ourselves at a crossroads. We could accept it and live our lives however we want. We could close that door forever and just let it go. Or we could find a way forward.

The way forward was really difficult. We did IVF last fall, and physically it was easier than I thought it would be, but mentally and emotionally it took a lot out of me. So if I haven’t been responding, if I haven’t been present, if I’ve been silent it’s not because of you. It’s because I retreated into myself, because that was the only thing I could do to survive. Last year was about survival.

And for a long time I really thought it wouldn’t work. A part of me felt like I wasn’t deserving. Like there is this thing that everyone could do that I couldn’t. And that I shouldn’t be able to. Because I wasn’t good enough. I’ve been left out of a lot of things in my life. I am always on the outside, I never understand and I never feel understood. And I’m okay with that, but finding out I couldn’t have kids naturally felt like a massive rejection from the Universe.

After we did IVF, it came time for the embryo transfer. And I just remember coming to this point where I knew I had no choice but to believe. I had no choice but to be positive. I had no choice but to believe that I was worthy and deserving of good in my life. Sometimes making the choice to love yourself is the hardest thing you can do. But I chose to be positive, I chose to believe, and I have been blessed. If you are struggling with infertility, I see you. If this post hurts your heart, I love you and I deeply understand how you feel. Everyone is deserving of good things. I truly believe that. I hope you do too.

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@artbyisla

Current soundtrack: lightning and thunder

Illustrations

The Aurora Collection

Inspired by architecture, gateways, and the aurora borealis, these ethereal periwinkle and lavender paintings are an absolute joy.

The Celestial Collection

This collection is about destiny, fate, and following divine guidance to find your path. I love to create art inspired by nature, the celestial, and the divine.

Click the link below to see more