“Aquatic”, 30×40 Inch Abstract Painting by Award Winning Artist, Misty Blue of Misty Blue Arts
Playful splashes of blue and green, Aquatic is one of the pieces now hanging in my third-ever solo art show, at the Flying Squirrel Coffee Shop in Crowley, Texas. The exhibition, presented through the Mansfield Tournique Art Collective, runs now through November 8th.
For me, each solo show is more than just an opportunity to share my art, it’s a celebration of how far I’ve come. Growing up, I never imagined I’d see my work displayed for others to enjoy. Art has been my lifeline, helping me heal and cope through some of life’s hardest moments, from the loss of my mother to having thyroid cancer, and growing up in an abusive home. My colorful, whimsical paintings, that often feature playful animals, are a reflection of my desire to brighten the world, both for myself and for others.
Aquatic holds a special place in this collection. Its serene yet vibrant feel reminds me of the beauty and peace that can still be found, even in turbulent waters. That theme flows throughout the show: hope, resilience, and finding light in unexpected places.
The Flying Squirrel Coffee Shop offers the perfect backdrop, a warm, inviting space where art and community meet. Whether you stop in for coffee, conversation, or simply to take in the art, I hope my paintings bring a little joy to your day.
This exhibition is a reminder that healing can be colorful, and that art has the power to connect us in ways words sometimes can’t. I’m grateful to the Tournique Art Collective for believing in my work and to everyone who takes the time to see it in person.
Artist, Misty Blue of Misty Blue Arts. Here Misty is holding a paintbrush and wearing her favorite jean jacket, her mother’s beaded turquoise necklace, and pins she created (that are also available in her shops).
Copyrights & Reproduction Rights Belong Solely To The Artist, Misty (Blue) Lemons of Misty Blue Arts Do Not Copy Or Reproduce
What if art, artists, and self-expression were to disappear tomorrow? What do you think the world would look like? Would it be drab, joyless, passionless, boring? Would the clothes you wear be bland and basic? Would packaging on products be unremarkable? Would movies, music, and art be created from AI that corruptly procured from the human artists that came before it? Would said “art” be wonky, weird, disjointed, and have multiple digits and appendages? Would art fairs disappear and be a thing of the past? Would art galleries shutter for good? How would it affect critical thinking and problem solving or empathy and emotional regulation? What if books no longer had pictures? Would concerts cease to exist? Would you miss art and artists then? Would you miss the human element and nuance?
Artist Misty Lemons poses with her watercolor painting “Hopeful Romantic”
This isn’t hyperbole. This is happening right before our eyes. Social media platforms are effectively misappropriating artist’s work and are essentially telling them it’s not good enough to pay them for, but it’s good enough to train their AI with and use for ads and marketing for the benefit of their company and its shareholders. They’re exploiting artists.
These platforms are not giving creators a means to opt out and are implementing these cruel, unfair policies into their terms of use. Artists are losing communities they worked incredibly hard to create, due to the artists having to flee these hostile platforms. They’re losing precious income that helps them and their families survive (especially if they’re disabled and this is their only means of work and income). The world is fundamentally telling them art isn’t essential and that they are unnecessary. Even though the art and content the artists have created entertain, educate, and inspire people and their work inherently helped these platforms grow. Not to mention, the taxes they pay helps the economy.
Art even has practical healing properties. Art is therapy. Art stirs the soul and creates connection. It kindles a fire in people’s minds, hearts, and spirits. It creates community. It helps patients with alzheimers and dementia. Studies show it prolongs and improves elderly lives. It helps people with anxietydisorders, PTSD, autism, and ADHD. There’s even been countless studies on how the arts improveexecutive function and motor skills in students that participate in artistic activities.
Artist Misty Lemons (Designs By Misty Blue Art) using art to cope with and heal through the grief of her mother’s passing and her childhood trauma (painting a pumpkin in watercolor outdoors)
I believe that art is a necessity. It is sustenance for the soul. It calms, relieves stress, creates connections in the brain and in communities, and is even a great historical record. Just look at cave paintings! Please, don’t take the power of art or artists for granted just because it’s seemingly everywhere. It doesn’t cheapen its worth. Art makes the world a better place by improving the lives of those who create it and those who appreciate it. Art is invaluable!
Supporting artists can be as simple as sharing their artwork and information with your friends and family, by attending your artist friends events, by purchasing their work, and by expressing to others the benefits and importance art has on society.
Thank You For Supporting Me (Misty Lemons/Designs By Misty Blue Art) Through Art Commissions, Tutorials, Shop Link: Link Tree
*For Educational Purposes Only! Statements made here within the blog are the opinion of the blog’s writer/owner, but we encourage you to do your own research into the benefits of art, the role society and social media platforms play in (allegedly) harming artists, and what you can do to help. No specific platform was named and any similarities are coincidental. Blog owner/writer not liable for any opinion stated therein.*
Copyrights & Reproduction Rights Belong Solely To Misty Lemons/Designs By Misty Blue Art Do Not Copy Or Reproduce
Misty Blue Arts 