The month of August is known as the golden crown of summer. It arrives with a mellow warmth, casting long shadows in the late afternoons and filling the air with the scent of ripe fruit and the whisper of a season's end. It's a month that invites a slower pace, a time to relish the simple pleasures before the crisp air of autumn returns. The days are still long, and the sun still warms our faces, but there's a gentle reminder in the evening breeze that change is near.

I invite you to savor the last few weeks of summer, slow down to savor every moment, and fully absorb August's beauty and tranquility. Take time throughout your day to notice the details: how the sunlight dances on leaves and the rich hues of late summer blooms.

You may find inspiration for your art through late-summer flowers like Sunflowers, Black-Eyed Susans, Dahlias, Zinnias, or Marigolds. You may capture these moments in a small journal through words, color, or simple sketches. Or, pause and do nothing but soak up their glorious beauty.

In this post, I'm thrilled to explore the imaginative wonders in the August edition of the Artist Collective. While the collective may not resonate with everyone, the spark of creativity certainly does. We all ache for that rush of inspiration, the pursuit of our artistic dreams, and the joy of crafting art that mirrors our unique view of the world.

This August, we're embarking on a vibrant journey through the world of color, from curating a "Color Collection" and painting mini-abstracts to diving into the genius of Master Artist Ellsworth Kelly. I then take everything I've learned, from experimenting with color to studying Kelly's amazing botanical drawings, and create an expressive field of sunflowers in ink.

So, if you need a little color therapy, pull out your color wheel and start collecting color. Challenge yourself and use colors you don't usually use for this creative exercise. You might be pleasantly surprised!

Did you know?

Working with a different color palette can offer several neurological benefits to artists. It uniquely challenges the brain, fostering cognitive flexibility, enhancing creativity, and promoting emotional well-being. 

Below: Yellow is my primary color, violet is its complement, and magenta is the discord color. This creative exercise resulted in an unexpected and fun summer color palette.

Below is a look inside the August Edition (Vol. 6) of the Artist Collective

I would love to know if you try the Color Collection exercise. Please leave a comment below and let me know how it goes.