Did a branding photo shoot this week. Standing in the doorway, immediately I went into comparison. Later I recognized the old story of self-criticism around body image. Awareness is noticing stories we tell ourselves and deciding what’s true. Have a similar voice? #SelfAwareness #PersonalGrowth

This is from an Alleyway in Venice. I painted the watercolor when I returned home. What I loved about Italy was the way the sun lit up objects, especially yellow painted ones. #EastCoastKin #venice #colorfulpaintings

I’ve written a new post on Substack. It’s about Vienna. It’s about being scared and still showing up. It’s about the big hairy monster called Imposter Syndrome. It’s about breaking away. Read or have a listen. It’s free. #vienna #courage #Substack amandamottornartist.substack.com/p/what-is-yo...

I’m referencing Gustav Klimt today in my socials. I already shared Pallas Athena in early February. Enjoy this one. What I learn from Klimt is that when we create it’s possible it’s a #DefiningMoment in what we are doing. #Wien #InspiredbyTravel

St. Stephen’s Cathedral. (Stephansdom) on the morning after several inches of snow fell. #gothicstyle #solotravel #wien

In Baden on a trail that kept going up. It reminded me of Colorado on one hand and home on the other. Most unexpected. This path was full of discovery and gave me such joy. #BadenAustria #ForestFriday #EastCoastKin

Vienna didn't argue with me. It reflected me. When the Mirror is a City: open.substack.com/pub/amandamo...

The painting started out as watercolor from a view of the beach @ Laurel Hill State Park in southwestern Pennsylvania. Remnants from Roman ruins appeared and the wall from inside Castle Sforzesco exhibitions. The bronze is from an effervescent hue from Golden. #WallsonWednesday #EastCoastKin #ruins

If you find yourself in Baden Bei Vienna, go to the park and walk the Beethoven Trail (weg) to one that leads to an overlook area called Bellevue. I painted this from there. I see it as a teaching spot for Creative play for Adults. I loved Baden. #EastCoastKin #Vienna #watercolors #creativeplay

Yesterday I planned to paint in Bratislava. What we plan and what we do don’t always equate. It was Misty with steady rain by day’s end and chilly. I learned how to say thank you. I waddled after eating a traditional dish of potato dumplings and bacon. #solotravel #Bratislava #thankyou

A sculpture of three Men outside the castle in Bratislava.

Hundertwassenhaus. Today’s stop in Vienna. Saw the inside 5 years ago with a special group of friends.

The start of a tree I painted in the Viennese Woods. I demonstrated for the Creative Play for Adults participants. Trees are not always brown or black. color results in the way daylight hits an item, the position of the sun and what may be reflected around the subject. #ForestFriday #EastCoastKin

Coffee + cake at the Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien. Sketchbook open. Golden light on architecture out the window. During Creative Play for Adults, I painted the image that wouldn’t leave me. #CreativePlayForAdults #Vienna #DailyPractice #ArtistLife

Confidence forms in train tunnels, asking for directions when the country’s language isn’t your native one. Asking for support reshapes your day. Galleries respond to energy before credentials. amandamottornartist.substack.com/p/left-left-...

I’m taking in the sunny weather in Baden today. This is from yesterday’s abbreviated hike. #Baden #forest #hike

Before taking the picture of Ziska from Creative Play for Adults, Vienna, I joked, please don’t look grumpy. Do you not just love her little fox!? This is her best natural smile I’ve managed to catch. #creativeplay #dailypractice #paintingpractice #EastCoastKin

I was looking at Aimee McNee’s book and came upon her other products. This hit me at the right moment. As I’m building and growing my business, I continue having the old should statements even as I am here in Vienna doing research for future Creative Play for Adults and in building relationships.

This is MEP (Member of the European Parliament) Terry Reintke from Germany and I'm proud to call her 'my' MEP. I happily gave her my vote, and will do so again. She's on the right side, not just of history. She's on my side. And she expresses what many, many here in Germany feel about the US.

This watercolor painting is part of an exercise I taught in Creative Play for Adults, Vienna. The all color version of this painting is my previous post. As an artist I change details; it’s not a replica. #PinkMon #EastCoastKin #CreativePlayforAdults #dailypractice

This is a watercolor painting I did based on a Scottish highlands photo during a Creative Play for Adults, Vienna demonstration. It’s 7 x 10, 17,8 x 25,4. #dailypractice #ForestFriday #EastCoastKin

A watercolor I painted today while sitting from a bench outside the Belvedere in Vienna as dusk was setting. #BlueSkyArt #EastCoastKin

I had my first Creative Play for Adults, International on location in the Viennese Woods a couple days ago. It was so exciting to bring it people who are curious and at the beginning tell me they have zero painting experience to - at the end tell me they like what they created. Such joy!

I wrote about holding on, letting go, and what comes next. You can have a read or listen, especially for accessibility users. The image is a watercolor painting I did of red rocks, canyons contrasted with green sage bush and brown paths. amandamottornartist.substack.com/p/shattering...

In my visit to Vienna I’ve been looking for painting subjects. As I wandered in Vienna here in the Neuer Markt, I stumbled upon this view. #PaintingSubjects #Vienna

I went to the Albertina today. So many paintings inspired me. I can’t pick just one. I enjoyed an exhibition called “Mother Beings” by Leiko Ikemura longer than I expected. It was about becoming represented by figures and landscapes.

Breaking Away. Gustav Klimt. Seen at the Vienna Museum today. Amazing seeing it up close.

2 cappuccinos enjoyed at University of Vienna while waiting for Viktor Frankl museum to open. Dark chocolate hidden in the foam. Like reading a book, the 2nd visit to the museum gives new meaning.

It was hard to choose which painting I loved most of Richard Gerstl’s in Vienna. This one I hope brightens your day. #EastCoastKin #ForestFriday

Walked the 19th district today. Took the 37 up, the D back. Then I toured it again by foot, not so planned. I don’t know German. I guess at the root word. Then add 20 letters. You learn to find your voice . They are kind. I prefer knowing German. I know bitte & danke. Cappuccino is universal.

Went to the Leopold Museum—open late the first Thursday of the month. Lucky timing. Favorites: Gustav Klimt, Egon Schiele. New discoveries: Richard Gerstl and Oskar Kokoschka. #ViennaArt

Arrived in Vienna. Creative play has begun. #CreativePlay

Contemporary landscape painter Sarah Jane Brown captures the dramatic beauty of her home on the Pembrokeshire Coast, West Wales #WomensArt

What if you stopped waiting for permission to show your brilliance? This week, I shared a small moment from Toastmasters: snow, balance, and choosing where you belong. amandamottornartist.substack.com/p/your-brill... #CreativeCourage #QuietConfidence #FindingYourVoice

This watercolor is the opposite end of the yesterday’s lake painting. I painted this one from inside the car. Ideally I create multiple paintings at once; the cold had other plans. #EastCoastKin #BlueSkyArt

Painted from the hood of my car. Keystone Lake, snow-covered and partly frozen.Thirty minutes from Pittsburgh in southwestern Pennsylvania. When I started painting, relief arrived, and with it a quiet surge of joy. #EastCoastKin #ForestFriday #DailyPractice

Painted at Keystone Lake as the light dropped. Snow on the shore. Someone had walked out onto the ice. I used the hood of my car as a desk. The water froze. Then melted. The marks followed.

Wrote The Imposter this week on my substack. Waiting for the thing you know will help — then realizing you still have to step forward.

I painted this last night for my “get it out” moment, sometimes described as creative play. If I teach it, I must practice it.

Beautiful sunset sky in Minnesota 🌅 #Photography #Photographer #Stunday #BlueSkyArt #EastCoastKin #Nature #Minnesota

Beautiful sunrise in Minnesota #Photography #Photographer #BlueSkyArt #EastCoastKin #Nature #Minnesota

Beautiful sunset sky across the snowy field in Minnesota 🌅 #Photography #Photographer #BlueSkyArt #EastCoastKin #Nature #Minnesota

Beautiful burst at sunrise in Minnesota 💥 #Photography #Phoyographer #BlueSkyArt #EastCoastKin #Sunrise #Minnesota

Last night sunset in Minnesota after losing one of its own. Her last name says it all …. RIP Renee Nicole Good. #Photography #Photographer #BlueSkyArt #EastCoastKin #Sunset #Minnesota

Summer view in Minnesota 🍃🌞 #Photography #Photographer #BlueSky #EastCoastKin #Sunset #Minnesota

Bright and beautiful winter sunrise in Minnesota #Photography #Photographer #Minnesota #BlueSkyArt #EastCoastKin #Nature

Morning winter sun and shadows in Minnesota #Photography #Photographer #BlueSkyArt #EastCoastKin #Snow #Minnesota

Beautiful summer sunset through the grape vines in Minnesota #Photography #Photographer #BlueSkyArt #Stunday #EastCoastKin #Minnesota #Nature

Colorful sunset last night in Minnesota #Photography #Photographer #BlueSky #Sunset #Minnesota

Beautiful late golden sunset in Minnesota 🌅 #Photography #Photographer #EastCoastKin #Sunset #Nature #Minnesota