From the Studio | Art Blog, Process & Inspiration
Welcome to From the Studio, my art blog where I share reflections on painting, creative process, and the quiet practice of showing up to create. As a small-town artist working in watercolor and acrylic, this is where I explore ideas, inspiration, and the stories behind my work—both in the studio and in everyday life.
Many of the paintings I share here are available in my Shop, along with prints, greeting cards, and beginner-friendly art kits. You can also explore my Calm Art Studio for quiet art history and storytelling through original paintings.
If you’re curious about my journey as an artist, you can learn more on my About page.
Reflections on painting, process, and the quiet practice of showing up to create.
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How Art Puzzles Improve Your Painting Skills (A Simple Way to Learn)
Discover how art puzzles improve painting skills by strengthening observation, color awareness, and creative focus. A simple, relaxing way to learn.
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Why Art Puzzles Change How You See Paintings
art puzzles displayed on a tablet featuring Night with Quiet Stars painting for a relaxing creative experience
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Online Art Puzzles: A Surprising New Way to See Your Art
Working through my own online art puzzles revealed something unexpected. What started as simple problem-solving became a quiet, reflective way to see my paintings—and the creative process—completely differently.
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What Does It Mean to Be a Self-Taught Artist?
Being a self-taught artist means learning through curiosity, experimentation, and years of practice rather than formal art school training. Many people believe that artists must attend art school to learn how to paint.But many painters discover their voice through years of experimentation, curiosity, and practice.I’m one of those artists. One of the questions I’m asked…
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Painting for Yourself: How to Stop comparing Yourself as an Artist
After visiting a building filled with working artists, I realized something surprising — I wasn’t comparing myself. This reflection explores creative courage, trusting your own eye, and what Claude Monet’s artistic independence can teach us about painting for ourselves first.
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Becoming an Artist by Showing Up
After more than 20 years of painting, I never thought of myself as an artist — it was simply something I did. In this reflective post, I explore how persistence, practice, and the desire to keep painting matter more than talent alone. Inspired by the life of Vincent van Gogh and his relentless dedication to…
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Vincent van Gogh’s Early Life & Faith — A Calm Art History Experience
Vincent van Gogh’s early life was shaped by quiet landscapes, deep faith, and a lifelong search for purpose. Long before his paintings became world-famous, Vincent struggled to find where he belonged — moving through roles as an art dealer, teacher, and minister before art slowly entered his life. In this first episode of Calm Art…
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Welcome to Small Town Artist: My Creative Journey
Hello and welcome to Small Town Artist! I’m Lisa Olson, a Minnesota-based artist who has been painting with watercolors and acrylics for over two decades. Living in rural East Central Minnesota, I’ve always been inspired by the beauty of small-town life—flowers blooming in the garden, landscapes that shift with the seasons, and the everyday details…
