Hello friends and collectors,

Spring has been working its way into the studio—longer light, brighter color, and a pull toward subjects that feel a little more immediate. I’ve been following that energy into a handful of new paintings, along with a few updates and upcoming events to share.

New works I'm in love with

Apples

My favorite new work at the moment is this new watercolor painting, Apples:

I love how the morning light flows through the apples, reflecting all the varying colors between them.

The original is 15x11.25 inches and available to collect. Reply if interested.

Sunflowers in vase

I also really enjoyed painting this happy vase of sunflowers:

It was such a warm welcome to spring for me to paint them. This painting is also 11.25x15 inches and available to collect.

New prints available in the online store

I've set up 4 more paintings for fine art prints (with free shipping!) in my shop:

You can find them all plus additional prints, linocut art, and more at shop.sia.studio →

If you would like to collect an original piece or fine art print not currently in the store, let me know by replying to this email or through my contact form.

Watercolor Society of North Carolina Central Region Exhibition

You're invited to the opening and awards ceremony for the WSNC Central Region Exhibition where I'll be showing two works - Santorini Passages and Chania Lighthouse.

May 15 6:30 PM

Griffith Fine Arts Museum
The Red Oak Brewery
6905 Konica Drive, Whitsett, NC

New Classes Available at Durham Arts Council

I'm excited to be accepted as faculty at Durham Arts Council. This summer, I'll be teaching watercolor as well as 3 Friday Night Makes workshops...

👉 Sign up opens May 8 at 10am

🗓️ Add a reminder to your calendar

1. Loose Watercolor: Techniques & Practice
   Deepen your watercolor skills while exploring a loose, expressive approach in this multi-week course for beginner to intermediate artists. You’ll build a strong foundation in color mixing, brushwork, and water control, while learning how to create depth, texture, and atmosphere with confidence. Through guided exercises, we’ll explore essential techniques alongside more intuitive practices like letting water and pigment interact, embracing unexpected effects, and working with (rather than against) the medium. We’ll also look at what “loose” painting really means, study inspiring artists, and practice identifying what draws you to a scene—and how to carry that energy through to your final piece. Expect a balance of skill-building and creative exploration, with time for both studies and more finished paintings in a supportive, engaging environment.
   📅 Thursdays, June 18 – July 23 (6 weeks), 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
   

2. Friday Night Makes: Perspective Fundamentals for Urban & Landscape Art
   Perspective doesn’t have to be intimidating. In this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn practical tools for creating depth and space in your drawings and paintings of buildings, streets, and landscapes. We’ll explore the basics of 1-, 2-, and 3-point linear perspective along with simple visual strategies artists use to suggest distance and atmosphere. Through a series of guided exercises, you’ll practice applying these ideas so scenes feel more convincing and dynamic. Expect a relaxed, creative atmosphere with plenty of drawing and experimentation—perfect for a Friday evening of learning and making.
   📅 Fri, July 10, 6:00–9:00 PM
   

3. Friday Night Makes: Expressive Figures in Mixed Media
   Loosen up and explore the expressive possibilities of the human figure in this playful, hands-on workshop. Working from reference images (no live model), we’ll create bold, large-scale figure studies using a mix of materials including ink, watercolor, soft pastel, charcoal, and collage. The focus is on gesture, movement, and experimentation— layering materials, embracing happy accidents, and letting the process stay loose and energetic. Expect to get a little messy, try new combinations of media, and leave with several expressive works. All levels welcome though some experience drawing figures is helpful.
   📅 Fri, August 7, 6:00–9:00 PM
   
4. Friday Night Makes: Stamp Carving for Handmade Cards
   Learn how to design and carve your own custom rubber stamps to create handmade greeting and note cards in this fun, beginner-friendly workshop. Using simple linocut techniques with soft carving stamps, you’ll learn how to transfer a design, carve safely, and make clean, expressive prints. You’ll leave with a set of hand-stamped cards you create during the class, plus your custom stamps to keep using at home for decorating gift tags, wrapping paper, journals, seed packets, or homemade business or calling cards. No prior experience is necessary—just curiosity and a willingness to experiment.
   📅 Fri, August 21, 6:00–9:00 PM
   

I’m grateful, as always, that you’re here and part of this—whether you’re collecting, reading, or simply paying attention.

Warmly, Sia