Hello again blog! You may be wondering what creativity I’ve had, since there hasn’t been a post in awhile, but I promise that is for good reason. I decided to finally pick up part of a project I’ve had to do for a long time, and the creativity has prevailed!

One of my friends, Hara, asked me to paint her Hydro Flask water bottles a long time ago, and of course I agreed since I love to paint and had done a handful this past summer. She had given me two, a plain blue Hydro Flask and a plain yellow one. On the blue one, she told me a general idea of butterflies and sunflowers, so I did exactly that! I decided to spread them out so it looked more cohesive, and it took a couple days to paint once it was all drawn out and I could paint it all.

I think I liked drawing the sunflowers more than I did the butterflies, but it was vice versa for painting. I love painting butterflies, especially in giving them their color and adding on the spots to make each one unique like real butterflies. I have also just been very connected with them in the past few years and will always be happy to put them on a water bottle for someone.

So, the blue one is now finished with its sunflowers and butterflies, but the yellow one still needs revamped. I have it here on my dorm desk, and it is a little taller than the blue one. Hara requested that the yellow one be Michigan themed, which is her favorite football team. As an Ohio State fan, anything Michigan related is not my first choice for things to paint, but because this is for a friend, I will do it. We’ve discussed some ideas and I think the big “M”, “go blue”, a wolverine, and her name will be on it (so far). It will take everything in me to not put a red X over the M, as we do here at Ohio State.

Below, I will include some pictures/videos of the water bottles I have painted before Hara’s.

Painting Hara’s water bottle has put me more into a creative mood lately. I am wanting to do more artistic things, like draw in my sketch-pad, paint on a canvas, or even write some more poetry. I will be excited to draw on the icons she would like on her yellow bottle and then carry out the painting from there. I will also spray both bottles, as I have with the others, a protective, clear sealant coat that makes chipping of paint less likely.

Tap into your more creative side. Spend a day in nature and capture how you see its beauty with a picture, a quick sketch, an oil pastel drawing, some gouache- whatever art medium you prefer. Take a walk to the city, or draw some inspiration from something you admire most. Let the creative juices flow and the imagination and possibilities run wild. I will see you again soon, friends.

With peace and love, T