“Lone Wolf”, tells a deeply heartfelt story of grief and loss. When my mother (who was Native American) had passed, in my grief, I decided to go on a healing journey through watercolor painting. I painted multiple times a day for six months. This painting is just one of many reminders of love, heartbreak, and my healing journey.
“Lone Wolf ” Watercolor By Award Winning Artist, Misty Lemons Of Designs By Misty Blue Art
This beautiful original piece is 9×12 inches and matted in a 11×14 frame that is ready to hang. The mat was specifically cut to show most of the artwork. Plexiglass is used in place of glass.
When I started livestreaming on TikTok, I offered a glimpse into my artistic process. Whether I was painting in watercolor in the park or sculpting polymer clay in my studio, I urged viewers to seek progress and not perfection when practicing art. I spoke on how therapeutic creating art can be, after suffering childhood trauma and using art as a tool for healing.
This Watercolor Fairy Garden Tutorial Is Available In My Shop Now!
After twenty plus years of being a professional creative, it only made sense to start teaching what I’ve learned. I’m starting with watercolor painting and may move on to acrylic painting and polymer clay later.
I chose to start with watercolor tutorials because I remember when I started to learn watercolor how intimidating it felt. But I kept at it and I want to share my insights into the medium with others who may be feeling the same way I did.
To Honor Him, I Named This Tutorial After My Dog, Bones. He Loved Eating Watermelon With Me. He Was My Bestest Buddy And I Miss Him Every Day.Here I Am With My Sweet Boy After Demolishing A Watermelon Together On The Fourth Of July
When the pandemic hit, people were picking up new skills while in quarantine. I decided to pick up watercolor. But after my mom passed in 2022, I decided I needed something to help me through my grief. So I started painting several times a day for six months. Only when I started practicing daily did I see real improvement. And I still consider art a practice. Every time I create I learn something new and see progress in the skills I’m learning.
After Losing My Mom, Going To The Park To Paint Was The Best Thing I Did For Myself. It Helped Me Process My Grief.
It’s my hope that I inspire others to create and use art for their mental and emotional well-being. I’m not a therapist or doctor, but studies show art is beneficial and beyond that, I believe it because I live it. Art helps me. Maybe, it can help you too.
To Learn More About Me & My Artwork & To Shop My Art & Tutorials, Please Visit My LinkTree
Art & Blog Copyrights & Reproduction Rights Belong Solely To: Misty R. Lemons/Designs By Misty Blue Do Not Copy
I’ve got a fantastic opportunity on the horizon: a chance to exhibit my artwork at the prestigious Grove Gallery in London and collaborate with the incredible team at Wraptious to develop a commercial range of products.
Your support can make a huge difference. Here’s how you can help:
1.) Vote & Share. Head over to the link above, give my entry a like & share it with your friends from there.
2.) Buy My Design: To further bolster my journey in this competition, consider purchasing “Rainbow Llama” on a luxuriously soft vegan suede pillow. Your choice to invest in this design brings me a step closer to securing a spot in the winner’s circle. Thank you!
Your Vote & Shares Count!
To Learn More About Me And My Artwork, Please Visit My LinkTree.
Copyrights & Reproduction Rights Belong Solely To The Artist, Misty R. Lemons/Designs By Misty Blue Do Not Copy
Misty Blue Arts is an award-winning, multi-passionate artist and a survivor of thyroid cancer, chronic illness, and childhood trauma. Her work blends whimsy and resilience, often bursting with vibrant color and playful creatures, including the occasional feisty llama.
She works in watercolor, acrylic paint, digital illustration, and clay, creating soul-led pieces that offer refuge, spark joy, and reflect the depth of lived experience. Whether born from heartbreak or hope, Misty’s art is always emotionally honest and infused with wonder, humor, and healing.
Despite everything she’s endured, she still believes in magic and makes art that gently whispers, “You’re not alone.”
Her greatest strengths are her vulnerability, creativity, and courage. Through them, she connects, uplifts, and reminds us: even in darkness, we are not broken, we are unfolding.
Curious to learn more, explore Misty’s art, or talk licensing? Visit her Link Tree
Misty, Holding A Foam Conversation Heart She Sculpted & Painted, With An Affirmation That She Holds Dear
Copyrights & Reproduction Rights Belong Solely To The Artist, Misty R. Lemons/Designs By Misty Blue/Misty Blue Arts Do Not Copy
Misty Blue Arts is a multidisciplinary artist with over twenty years of experience creating vibrant, emotionally driven work. Her art has earned multiple awards, including first, second, and third place honors at the State Fair of Texas, runner-up in the PAAS national egg-painting competition, and recognition for a miniature landscape painted on a penny. She was also a finalist in a Hallmark holiday card competition, with her design produced and sold both online and in stores. Misty’s creative range includes everything from rainbow-toned watercolor pet portraits to public art; she has painted large rain barrels, an 8×4 mural for the City of Mansfield (TX), and a holiday standee design commissioned by the city. Her photography has been awarded as well, including a winning sunflower portrait featured in Mansfield’s music and arts festival. Misty curated and exhibited work in The Give Love Project (2020), a community-healing window-gallery created during the height of the pandemic and has exhibited work in two solo shows and several group exhibitions. Her YouTube channel has surpassed half a million views, where she shares her creative process and art-driven healing journey. And her Pinterest has 5,000+ where her work performs strongly in visual discovery and product-driven spaces.
For current work, writing, and advocacy, visit my Substack.
She is currently open to licensing opportunities, collaborations, commissions, and public art opportunities Here.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to the possibility of working together.
Watercolor
Acrylic Painting
Digital Art
Sculpting
Mixed Media
I’m an artist forging my own path and I rely on community support to keep going. The best way to help is by collecting my art or grabbing some merch, every piece fuels both my work and my survival as a creator and human being. If you can’t buy right now, that’s okay. Sharing, commenting, or even just hanging out here still means the world to me.
I am celebrating my life and all the hard work it took to get to where I am now.
For the past two years, I’ve been working on healing my childhood trauma and ptsd.
Highlights From My Life In The Past Year
Looking back now, I see just how far I’ve come. Loud unexpected noises don’t cause my body to go into an adrenaline filled tailspin. It would make me feel sick for a day or two. I recover almost instantly now. And when I’m triggered, which is less often, I’m able to analyze why it happened and how to move through it.
Along the way, I received some therapy. I journalled, sat with my feelings and let them pass through (I don’t ignore or resist them now), I got outside and painted, took up sculpting, and researched quite a bit on Pinterest.
Here I Am Sporting A New Hairdo And Wearing Polymer Clay Earrings & Pin That I Made
Journalling helped me process my thoughts and emotions. I had several breakthroughs that way. And Pinterest gave me new information I didn’t have before.
I didn’t think I’d live past the age of 17. Yet here I am now at 43. At home in my body. Loved and accepted by myself. At peace.
I don’t know what’s next, but whatever it is, I’m hopeful and grateful.
If you’ve ever experienced anything similar, please feel free to share in the comments.
To Learn More About Me And My Artwork, Please Visit: My LinkTree
I’m putting together a proposal for a gallery exhibition. I have art pieces in mind. Some need to be framed (paintings and drawings) and others will need to be printed onto canvas and framed (digital art). I’m calling my exhibit, “A Light In The Dark”.
The theme for my exhibition is my journey through generational trauma and how art has been a major coping mechanism and driving force in my healing, throughout my life.
I want to incorporate pieces from my childhood and teenage years, as well as work from my adulthood.
Here, I am standing in the beautiful gallery space I want my exhibition to be in
Art is an extremely pure form of expression, in my opinion. It helps the artist express and work through buried thoughts and emotions. It’s also a form of meditation and living in the moment, when you’re creating. Which, in turn helps with anxiety and depression.
As I’m Working To Put This Exhibition Proposal Together, I Made A Video Talking About What Motivated Me To Do So, Please Watch
Putting this together, on my own, will be an expensive undertaking. But I need to be fully prepared and ready to go, should my proposal be accepted. I want to put forth a fully fleshed out exhibition, before I approach the gallery. The gallery is more like a museum setting, so the pieces will not be shown for purchase. I will not be making money from this.
I’ve set up a Kofi Fundraiser to help offset costs. If you feel inspired to help me make this exhibition a reality, it is greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Copyrights: Misty R. Lemons/Designs By Misty Blue Do Not Copy
Here I am standing with a large 3d statue of a hand reaching out. I painstakingly hand painted it in an homage to Van Gogh. It’s named “Never Let Gogh Of Your Dreams”.
A friend purchased this large statuette at Ross with the hopes of doing something special with it. She never got around to painting it, so she asked me to work some magic and my first thought was Van Gogh’s Starry Night. What could be more magical?!
Detail Photo Of “Never Let Gogh Of Your Dreams” by artist Misty Lemons of Designs By Misty Blue
I liked the idea of the design swirling around the length of the arm and stars kissing the fingertips on the statue. I love how the piece turned out, but it fought me every step of the way. Lol! Van Gogh was a genius who created flowing, passionate works of art. To try to recreate such a unique style was difficult, but well worth the effort and I had so much fun with it!
Detail Photos Of “Never Let Gogh Of Your Dreams” by Misty Lemons
One of my all time favorite artists is Van Gogh. He had a tumultuous life and yet still created brilliant emotionally charged pieces in vibrant colors. You can almost feel the flow of energy radiating from his pieces. I can relate to having difficult and traumatic times in my life also. And though hard times suck, they can enrich the soul and your art. It can make you a more passionate, empathetic person.
“Never Let Gogh Of Your Dreams” by Misty Lemons
The statue stands almost one and a half feet tall. My friend wound up giving me the piece to do what I wish with it. I don’t think I’ll part with it anytime soon. I love how it turned out and I want to keep it in my personal collection for the time being. Despite how large the piece is, it’s fairly lightweight, which helps with carrying it. Right now, I have it on display in my office.
Size Reference (Please, Excuse My Dry Hand! Lol!)
I painted the hand with acrylics and thoroughly sealed it in a semi gloss finish, so it has a nice sheen to it.
I love how painting odd shapes presents a challenge. It was a lot of fun trying to feel out the piece and place the artwork in a pleasing manner. Painting rocks prepared me well for this challenge! A rocks surface can present several challenges! From size, texture, surface, porousness, and more! I love painting rocks!
Large Rock I Painted (This Piece Is Also A Part Of My Personal Collection)
I hope the name of the piece resonates. Despite hardships and disadvantages, it’s important to hang on to hope. Please, remember to “Never Let Gogh Of Your Dreams”.
As the year comes to a close, I’m wont to reflect upon the highs and lows of the year. I’m sure so many are doing the same all over the world.
For me, the year has been an emotional rollercoaster. I bet you can relate. It was getting to a point where it was effecting my health, so I was put on an anti-anxiety medication. Which, has taken the edge off. You may be thinking I’m oversharing and I might be, but if you are going through some things, just know you aren’t alone. It’s been a tough year for a lot of people and it’s okay to seek help. You don’t have to shoulder the burden alone.
That said, there’s been a bunch of good too! People coming together (but staying apart, if that makes sense), people trying to help others stay calm or find peace and comfort, artists trying their level best to make a positive difference. Myself included!
Earlier this year, right after the pandemic hit, I decided to create a project with other artists, all while in lockdown/quarantine. I came up with the Artists Give Love Project. We each created a painting of a message we wanted to convey to our communities and the world. I did “Give Love”, but there was also “Give Kindness”, “Give Thanks”, “Give Hope”, and more. In the end, we created a video challenging others to give messages and then ultimately, our pieces were hung in an exhibit at the Farr Best Theater in Mansfield Texas. The project was even featured in an Art News article circulated online for Texas artists to read and be a part of.
I’m proud that I could curate such a fine endeavor with a group of highly talented artists with kind, beautiful souls. And from that project grew friendships and strong art connections. I love my arty friends!
During quarantine, I wanted to help artists keep busy during an extremely difficult time and create hope for others who were struggling. To combat anxiety, I drew a lot and I do mean A LOT! My iPad was a constant and welcome companion. Each illustration was meant to shine a light into the darkness, not only for others, but for myself. I’m so thankful I had such an outlet for my thoughts and emotions. And it is my deepest hope that I was able to help others.
This illustration was inspired by the senseless, heartbreaking murder of Elijah McClain. Please, if you don’t know about it, Google it. His family still needs justice. You can also go to their Justice For Elijah page on Instagram.
People are trying to find some sense of normalcy and comfort during these exceedingly difficult times and so people are trying to move on. That said, art/music festivals are trying to find ways to be safe and create opportunities for artists to work. Mansfield had Music Alley this year and though it was less capacity and people had to wear masks, it was a success. I didn’t have a booth set up, but my art was present. I entered into the art contest and the photography contest. I won first place in the photography contest. I actually cried when I found out. It meant so much to me, after the year I’ve had. It was a bucket list item of mine, to win a photography contest. Before I started Designs By Misty Blue, I did photography with Misty Expressions Photography, a hobby that I loved for many years. So photography holds a very special place in my heart.
My Photo That Won First Place In Mansfield’s Music Alley Photo Contest
When I took the photo, we were still in quarantine basically, the tail end of it really. I found out about a huge sunflower field about an hour from our home. It was a welcomed outing for my family. When we got to the field, it was breathtaking! I was so excited that I didn’t look where I was stepping and evidently I trounced through an anthill. I still have the scars on my ankle where they tore into me. But getting this image and especially winning first place made it worth it.
So yeah, it’s been tough. Tougher than most years. But there’s been so much good too. I feel closer to my husband and son. I’ve gained some pretty amazing art friends, and so much passionate art has come from these trying times. I’m counting my blessings, for sure. Keep hope alive. That’s the least we can do. G*d bless and here’s to better days! Cheers!
Copyrights to ALL images displayed here on this blog are the sole property to Misty Lemons of Designs By Misty Blue and Misty Expressions Photography. Do Not Copy Or Distribute Without Permission Or Credit. Permission must be approved first. The same goes for any quotes from my blog. All thoughts expressed are opinions and not subject to legal action, as such. Thank you.
Hi, friends! It’s been awhile since my last post and I apologize. I’m sure you understand though, given the circumstance of the world right now.
My family and I have been going through some things, just like so many others are. Job loss, health concerns, worries of the world, etc., etc.
In between the not so good, we count our blessings and do our best to push through. It’s important to find or make the good during these terrible, strange, frightening times.
I’m creating again. It was sporadic at best at the beginning of the pandemic. Like so many, I was scared, worried sick, and unsure of what the future holds. To be honest, I still am. But I’m trying to be careful and I’m still trying to be hopeful. All I can do is take it a day at a time and try my best to spread love, kindness, and hope.
I have acrylic pins available now! Ask me how to order or visit my Instagram!
My son has been encouraging me to start a YouTubechannel, so I finally agreed yesterday. We worked all day to create videos for it and posted one already too! Check out my Ultimate Llama Guide!
It may be a little rough around the edges, but it’s a learning process and we’ll grow and get better as we go! But I assure you, it’s super cute and silly! Well worth the watch!
I’ve also created two 2021 calendars! One is an Ode To 2020 and the other is Llama Llove! Ask me how to order or visit my Instagram for more details!
In our first video, I explain the different parts of one of my llamaillustrations. We tried to inject some humor and of course it’s full of color and joy!
I hope you’ll like, comment, subscribe, and share! This is going to be fun!
For more info about me and my art, please visit my Link Tree! Thank you!
Copyrights: Misty R. Lemons/Designs By Misty Blue Do Not Copy
Misty Blue Arts 