Day 2, the slug. I crossed paths with a slug yesterday, which made me think of the Mount Kaputar pink slug in Australia. They are huge, bright pink, endangered, and their habitat was ravaged by the bush fires. Some were able to retreat to the soil. When it was safe, they emerged from the ashes. I made this piece with my handmade watercolor and the black in it is an ink I made out of ash. The sun is made out of a bee, stars, and 24k gold leaf. Chunks of charcoal follow the slug to imply it’s emergence from the ashes. This piece will be framed in an oval antique frame. . . . . . #my100daysofpainting2020 #the100dayproject #100dayproject #artwork #painting #australia #goldleaf #kalamazoo #saicalumni #slug #slugs #slugsofinstagram #invertibrates #natureart #sunset #beeart https://www.instagram.com/p/B-vlwlcHrbA/?igshid=badukmpmf55u

And a pic during the day. . . . . . #forgetmenots #aceo #painting #goldleaf #armenian #the100dayproject #armenia #armeniangenocide #april241915 #my100daysofpainting2020 #botanical #aceo #smallart #goldart #delicate #kalamazoo #chicagoartist (at Kalamazoo, Michigan) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_avbmfH-ex/?igshid=1pk3cstyhtr1c

Another little tadpole for day 91/100 of #the100dayproject. I’m doing a small shop update this Friday. I will hopefully have some Cyanotype wall pieces available along with a few paintings, including these tadpoles! ❤️ the scarves will be available in a couple weeks. #tadpoles #frogs #aceo #smallart #lakemichigan #goldleaf #my100daysofpainting2020 https://www.instagram.com/p/CCHMMLNHVoO/?igshid=5z0mty5jl5id

A couple of pictures of the golden bumble bee that will be listed in the June 5th update. 🐝❤️ #the100dayproject #100dayproject #artwork #bees #bee #bumblebee #my100daysofpainting2020 https://www.instagram.com/p/CAyfytbntrs/?igshid=10d9i80zxgt7i

I started this one when I was working on Photosynthesis, but I never finished it. Working on it again gave me the courage to start another bigger piece. A portrait. I am putting this out there to hold myself accountable. 😂 I will start on Monday! . . . . . .#gardenspider #gardening #arachnids #spiders #spider #sunart #skyart #natureart #goldleaf #gilded #deerart #artistsoninstagram #artists #artstudio #artcollectors #the100dayproject #100dayproject #my100daysofpainting2020 #my100daysofpainting #saicalumni #saic https://www.instagram.com/p/B_bSttLn_2i/?igshid=2h77ho3kq56m

And another green beetle for day 31/100. Still working on the Luna moth. Can’t believe we are a month in! It seems like it has been wayyyy longer. It’s weird how the feeling of time passing, changes. Oh yeah, time is only an illusion. . . . . . #the100dayproject #arttherapy #painting #art #aceo #beetle #greenbeetle #beetlepainting #beetleart #natureart #natureartist #doitfortheprocess #kalamazoo #westmichigan #my100daysofpainting2020 #lunamoth https://www.instagram.com/p/B_5zPSunEPQ/?igshid=hkz9c8n8wdbr

Green Cicada for 2020. Day ?/100. I’m confused. I have been painting every day, but I was interrupted by a commission that I won’t be able to share for a bit, and I am still working on the Luna moth. They always take me a long time to finish, so what can you do. Honestly, this 100 day project is just keeping me working and that makes me happy. If I wasn’t doing it, I don’t know if I would choose to paint right now. Sometimes life is so tumultuous, you need the push. The project is my push right now. 💚 . . . . . #the100dayproject #100dayproject #painting #goldart #my100daysofpainting #my100daysofpainting2020 #alexakarabin #naturelovers #cicada #cicadaart #insectart #cicadaemergence #transition #insect #greencicada #aceo https://www.instagram.com/p/B_1J8tWnpeF/?igshid=1w7g4o5r47nhh

Today starts #the100dayproject!!! I haven’t even thought of a personal hashtag, so I am just going to use #my100daysofpainting2020. A year we want to forget, but we must remember, as it will shape our collective history forever. I have been paralyzed by fear and depression for the last month. In 2018, when I did #my100daysofcolor, the project became meditative for me. A place to go everyday and reflect, while dealing with that feeling of losing myself to motherhood. It brought me peace and comfort having the project to go to everyday. It kept me moving forward, and I could see that progress when I looked back on each week. I am forcing myself to do this, because I need that again. This was my first painting from my first 100 day project, and the second photo is my daughter at the time. She was 6 months old. I would paint during her nap time and for 5 hours after I put her down for bed every night (yes, I am still tired from that). Now my children are 2 and 4. They stay up much later, and don’t nap. So, I have set up a table in my kitchen so I can paint when they are eating and having down time and when my husband gets home from work (and I can still be with them while I paint). This will be a challenge, but I NEED to do this. Thank you all for following along on this journey. I need your support too. ❤️🙏 . . . . . #art #beeart #bees #aceo #bumblebee #bombus #100dayproject #creativehappylife #artmom #artistlife #painting #goldleaf #gilding #kalamazoo #michiganartist #chicagoartist (at Kalamazoo, Michigan) https://www.instagram.com/p/B-rrT_BHGET/?igshid=k8i02305a9to