Watercolor Conversations with Cara Brown

Cara Brown
  • 4.9 (8)
  • VISUAL ARTS

The observations and thoughts of a watercolorist and mentor/teacher to others who are, as she is, devoted to this painting medium. Join Cara for her stories of life and art-making, the intersection inbetween and the wisdom she discovers along the way.

  1. 12/03/2025

    Mameen - A poem that calls us forth

    I take a bit of a departure in this episode.  I share my thoughts about a poem called "Mameen" by David Whyte.  When I first read it, this poem reflected for me the remarkable life of my friend Vicki - Dr. Victoria Bentley - and the courage and freedom she lived inside.   Vicki passed away recently, which brought this poem back to me again.  I'm sharing it with you, in memory and appreciation of my dear friend who accompanied me in the early stages of painting, showing my work and teaching.  I'm not sure how Life in Full Color would have come to be without her.  I will be forever grateful. Cara Brown - Watercolorist - Teacher - www.lifeinfullcolor.com ...is where you can find all my paintings, workshop offerings and the entire archive of my writing.

    16 min

  2. 12/02/2025

    What comes of a promise and putting myself in learning mode

    I share the outcome of this past summer's 92 Days of Watercolor and a project I embarked upon to paint more loosely.  I was inspired by a long-ago painting that came back to me.  The idea came to me that I could paint eleven more paintings in a similar style and make a mini calendar out of them.  When I recorded this I had only painted four of them and was uncertain about the outcome.   I finished the paintings and put together a small calendar I call "Momentos."  You can see - and purchase for yourself if you like - on my website:  https://www.lifeinfullcolor.com/2026-mini-calendar/. The painting that I found so hard ended up the October image.   Here are the other two paintings I mentioned: Blue Door:  https://www.lifeinfullcolor.com/gallery-other-flowers/blue-door-2/ Returning:  https://www.lifeinfullcolor.com/gallery-available-originals/returning/ Cara Brown - Watercolorist - Teacher - www.lifeinfullcolor.com ...is where you can find all my paintings, workshop offerings and the entire archive of my writing.

    10 min

  3. 07/31/2025

    Left and Right Brain - who's in charge?

    In this episode I share how I find continued value in the way Iain McGilchrist's book The Master and His Emissary reframed my understanding of our left and right brains - not only as it applies to our creative process and working with our craft, but how it can guide us in how we work with artificial intelligence.  No doubt it will be a major aspect of our future.     My original post that inspired this is here:  https://www.lifeinfullcolor.com/journal/art-life-stories/january-19-2016-left-and-right-brain-not-what-we-thought/ I tell of  a painting and its evolution, which you can see here:   https://www.lifeinfullcolor.com/journal/art-life-stories/january-5-2016-the-story-of-a-painting-and-a-video/ Cara Brown - Watercolorist - Teacher - www.lifeinfullcolor.com ...is where you can find all my paintings, workshop offerings and the entire archive of my writing.

    17 min

  4. 05/15/2025

    Blessings to bolster the courage to make YOUR art

    In this - a little bit longer episode - I share the story behind writing my interpretation of The Beatitudes - eight ancient teachings -  for those of us who dare to create.  My wish is to support us in creating with our singular vision and voice.  Then, I share each of the eight Beatitudes. It's a combination of three consecutive journal entries, the first of which I called Supremely Blessed.  https://www.lifeinfullcolor.com/journal/art-life-stories/april-26-2017-supreme-blessings/.  You can see the painting I called Beatitude here too. The teachings themselves start at minute 7:50, if you'd like to jump right there. Cara Brown - Watercolorist - Teacher - www.lifeinfullcolor.com ...is where you can find all my paintings, workshop offerings and the entire archive of my writing.

    24 min

  5. 04/23/2025

    Composition - putting it together

    Here's an art-making-oriented episode - a practical one. I'm sharing my thoughts on how it is that I decide the form of my paintings - my process of composing a painting.  I don't follow rules, I don't even think too much.  It's a felt thing.   In case reflecting on my process is helpful, here it is! There's no post on my (now new!) website about this. And, you can go there to see all the results of my composing paintings over the years! www.lifeinfullcolor.com The "round" painting I've done is here:  https://www.lifeinfullcolor.com/gallery-available-originals/eternal/

    15 min

  6. 04/23/2025

    Today is Easter Saturday - Republished

    Doing all this myself, this was bound to happen.  A big silent space ended up right in the middle.  It's now fixed.   I'm sharing this one again, with a short intro and update on an interaction I had with the mailman that I mentioned in the original episode.   I felt the need to hear this message today. Here it is on the top of the stack in case you want to hear it - or hear it again - too.   This is a calendar time-specific episode, though the ideas are applicable for any time in life.  I wrote a journal entry in the spring of 2016 when I was in a place of sorrow that coinsided with Holy Week - between Palm Sunday and Easter.  I drew upon something I'd learned about a day that isn't talked about - Easter Saturday - for solace and for the reminder, the permission to honor my time of grief.   Having a creative practice is a form of the light of love that can transform our suffering.   My original writing, and a the painting I had just finished that was meaningful for me - to this time - can be found here:  https://https://www.lifeinfullcolor.com/life-stories/march-22-2016-easter-saturday. Cara Brown - Watercolorist - Teacher - www.lifeinfullcolor.com ...is where you can find all my paintings, workshop offerings and the entire archive of my writing.

    14 min

  7. 04/09/2025

    What brings us alive

    We get crucial life-fuel from what lights us up.  I am here to say that doing what brings us alive is worth the effort to carve out time for.  This episode was inspired by a recent experience where I felt this kind of energy - and it reminded me of a journal post I wrote in April of 2016.   https://lifeinfullcolor.com/journal/art-life-stories/april-5-2016-brings-us-alive/ Here you'll find my words and the photos of Lenore, Sue and I - and the beauty in the gardens of Filoli that took our breath from us. Cara Brown - Watercolorist - Teacher - www.lifeinfullcolor.com ...is where you can find all my paintings, workshop offerings and the entire archive of my writing.  Very soon (after putting this episode out there) this will be a whole NEW site!!!!  When it does launch I will put the links here to the two paintings that I reference in this episode.  My current site won't let me link to one specific painting - part of why it's being replaced!

    14 min

  8. 01/08/2025

    Starting at the beginning - with paint!

    I get really practical in this episode.  I share with you the very best way to start out your watercolor experience - as well a great exercise if you've been painting forever and what is in all those tubes is still somewhat a mystery. Get Intimate with Color is a workshop I teach - and there is one coming up on January 25-26 - in person, in the studio in Novato, CA.  If you are local, or able to come to the Bay Area then, I invite you to join in and do the exercise with me in real life! Happy painting everyone! Cara Brown - Watercolorist - Teacher - www.lifeinfullcolor.com ...is where you can find all my paintings, workshop offerings and the entire archive of my writing.

    15 min
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4.9
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The observations and thoughts of a watercolorist and mentor/teacher to others who are, as she is, devoted to this painting medium. Join Cara for her stories of life and art-making, the intersection inbetween and the wisdom she discovers along the way.

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