by Mindy Lighthipe | Color Mixing, Experimentation Sparks Creativity, Gouache, Watercolor Tips
Understanding what’s really happening when you mix color You mix exactly the color you want…and then you need more of it. Somehow, the second mixture isn’t remotely the same! This is one of the most common frustrations I see artists have with color mixing. We often...
by Mindy Lighthipe | Drawing Tips, Experimentation Sparks Creativity, Graphite, Online Art Classes
Have you ever heard yourself or someone else say, “I can’t draw.” I have heard those three words more times than I can count. Maybe you’ve said them yourself. I can’t even draw a straight line. Everyone else in my family got the artistic talent. I wish I could...
by Mindy Lighthipe | Uncategorized
Tracing vellum may be one of the simplest—and most useful—tools in my studio. I’ve used it for years when creating botanical art and natural science illustrations, especially when I’m working through complicated compositions with overlapping leaves, flowers, insects,...
by Mindy Lighthipe | Costa Rica, Costa Rica Through an Artist's Eyes, Field Sketching, Scientific Illustration
What Happens After the Trip? Meet Nature Journal Artist Karen Johnson One of the greatest joys of leading art and nature expeditions is seeing what participants create long after they return home. The memories may fade with time, but the sketches, color notes,...
by Mindy Lighthipe | Art & Travel, Costa Rica, Costa Rica Through an Artist's Eyes
“My trip to Costa Rica truly changed my life and sent me down a completely new creative path.” — Pamela Mielke One of the greatest rewards of leading art adventures isn’t simply introducing people to incredible wildlife—it’s watching people...
by Mindy Lighthipe | Butterfly Art, Experimentation Sparks Creativity, Insect Art, Scientific Illustration, Workshops
Did you know it’s National Moth Week? Butterflies often steal the spotlight, but moths are every bit as fascinating—and in my opinion, some are even more spectacular. One of my favorite species is the Madagascan Sunset Moth (Urania ripheus). With its...
by Mindy Lighthipe | Color Mixing, Experimentation Sparks Creativity, Uncategorized
Experimentation Sparks Creativity If you’ve ever mixed two beautiful colors together only to end up with a muddy mess, you’re not alone. Like many artists, I grew up believing there were three primary colors—red, yellow, and blue—and that by mixing...
by Mindy Lighthipe | Art Destinations, Art Retreats, Costa Rica Through an Artist's Eyes, Uncategorized
Through an Artist’s Eyes: Painting the Rainforest When I returned from my first trip to Costa Rica more than 35 years ago, I knew my life had changed. I enrolled in the New York Botanical Garden’s Botanical and Natural Science Illustration Certificate...
by Mindy Lighthipe | Art For Conservation, Butterfly Art, Costa Rica, Experimentation Sparks Creativity, Inspiration
Through an Artist’s Eyes — When people learn that I spent more than a decade as a professional handweaver before becoming a botanical and natural science illustrator, they often ask what inspired such a dramatic career change. The truth is, it wasn’t as...
by Mindy Lighthipe | Art & Travel, Costa Rica Through an Artist's Eyes
Costa Rica Through an Artist’s Eyes — Part 1 Looking back, it’s hard to believe that one trip could change the course of an entire life. In 1989, I was about to turn 30 and had never traveled outside the United States. My adventures had been limited to...
