I was inspired by Rinske Douna’s work. Her paintings are so fluid and expressive, and watching her create feels incredibly calming. I bought the brushes I needed over six months ago, but they sat untouched as I worked up the courage to try. Instead, I kept watching videos, trying to learn the technique from a distance.
Yesterday, I finally decided the best way to learn is simply to begin.
Art has a way of doing this—letting the image in your mind become so vivid that it feels intimidating to bring it into reality. The more you focus on the outcome, the harder it can feel to take that first step. It’s a lesson I’m still learning.
I chose a limited color palette and focused on creating simple, expressive leaves. Rinske makes it look effortless, but of course, it isn’t—at least not at first.
Learning how to control the pressure and movement of the brush was the biggest challenge. Figuring out how much paint to load, and where along the long bristles to place it, took just as much trial and error. My first attempts were mostly smeared streaks, but slowly, I began to find a rhythm.
And once that rhythm appeared, something shifted. There’s a quiet harmony in this technique that feels almost meditative. I can easily see myself falling in love with it.
As I continued, the composition gradually came together. I struggled with the main stem and repainted it several times before it finally felt right.
Near the end, I wanted the top leaves to stand out more, so I experimented with glazing for the first time—softly lightening the background and adding a subtle gloss. I wasn’t sure if I would like the effect, but it brought a gentle luminosity that I really enjoy.
From there, I made a few final adjustments — restoring depth to a leaf that had faded into the background and smoothing the transitions in the glazed area.
Overall, I’m really happy with how this piece turned out. I learned new techniques, but more importantly, I was reminded of something simple:
Beauty is waiting. All I have to do is begin.
My son has a tradition of naming my paintings. For this one, he suggested Flower of Ideas. It feels fitting—like an idea just beginning to blossom into something new.