When I step into my studio each morning, I feel a calm excitement. The world outside might still be quiet, the light just beginning to peek through the window, and there I am, ready to see where color and water will take me next.

For me, painting has never been about control. It’s about trusting the flow. Every time I pour water onto the paper, I’m letting go. I’m allowing my heart, my instincts, and my memories to guide my hands. That’s the beauty of being an intuitive watercolor artist, you don’t plan too much; you simply feel your way through.

Why Watercolor Feels Like Me

Over the years, I’ve tried many art mediums, but watercolor feels like home. It’s alive,  it moves, it surprises, it dances across the paper. It doesn’t like to be forced, and neither do I.

When I paint, I don’t use brushes. Instead, I use a credit card,  yes, you read that right! I call it my card swipe technique. It started as an experiment, but soon it became my favorite way to paint. I dip the card into color, swipe it gently across the wet paper, and watch as the pigments swirl and spread like little rivers.

The water always decides where it wants to go. I just follow.

Sometimes it forms the shape of mountains, other times it becomes the calm reflection of a lake. I never know what I’m going to get, and that’s what makes it so exciting.

The Music and the Silence

My best paintings begin in stillness. I usually start with soft music playing in the background, something peaceful and slow. Sometimes I paint in total silence, just listening to the sound of water brushing against the paper.

The rhythm of the music or the quiet hum of my studio helps me sink into the moment. I can feel the colors before I even touch them. Bright blues for peaceful days, deep reds for days when my heart feels full, and gentle greens when I’m thinking about nature and growth.

I believe the water knows my mood. It moves differently every day, just like I do.

Inspiration Hides in Everyday Life

People often ask me where I get my ideas. The truth is, everywhere.

I find inspiration in the river trails of Edmonton, where I love to walk and watch the light dance on the water. I see it in the golden leaves of fall, the sparkle of fresh snow, and even in the quiet gray skies of winter. Each season brings its own palette, its own feeling.

I’m also inspired by my travels. I’ve been lucky to see parts of Europe, Holland, Turkey, Morocco, Costa Rica, Mexico, and the United States. Every place has its own colors,  the warm terracottas of Morocco, the deep blues of the Mediterranean, the misty greens of Canadian forests. Each time I travel, I carry those colors home in my heart, and they often find their way into my paintings.

But inspiration doesn’t only come from nature. It comes from people, too, the way someone laughs, the kindness in a smile, the joy of a shared meal. All of it fills my imagination.

The Excitement of the Unknown

One of the things I love most about painting this way is that I never know what the final piece will look like. I start with a few chosen colors, add water, and then simply let it happen. The colors mix, move, and create patterns I could never plan.

When the painting dries, it’s like opening a gift. Sometimes, it’s exactly what I hoped for. Other times, it’s a total surprise, but it’s always something beautiful. I’ve learned that the best art appears when you stop trying to control it.

That lesson applies to life too, doesn’t it?

How My Travels and Memories Shape My Work

I often think back to where I grew up, the Peace River country in northern Alberta. As a child, I didn’t realize how lucky I was to be surrounded by such breathtaking views. I remember the sunrises stretching endlessly across the fields and the soft pinks and oranges that painted the sky at night.

Even though I wasn’t fond of the animals (especially those pecking chickens!), I adored the colors of each season. The golden hay, the bright greens of spring, the rusty reds of fall,  those shades are still with me today. I think that’s why my paintings are full of light and color. They’re not just landscapes; they’re feelings from my past made visible.

Learning Never Stops

Over the years, I’ve taken many art classes. Each one taught me something new: how color adds mood, how depth creates space, how texture changes the story. But my biggest teacher has been the paint itself.

Watercolor has its own personality. You can’t rush it, you can’t push it. You have to respect it and learn to dance with it. Every painting teaches me something new about patience, trust, and letting go.

Even after 25 years, I’m still learning. That’s the best part.

A Modern Artist in a Changing World

One thing I’ve noticed in recent years is how art has become more global. Distance doesn’t seem to matter anymore. The world feels smaller, and that’s a beautiful thing.

We’re surrounded by new ideas, new cultures, and new ways of seeing beauty. Younger generations are collecting art too; they look for bold colors, emotion, and energy. I find that so exciting. Maybe one of my pieces will speak to them someday.

It warms my heart to think that my art could hang in a cozy home, a hospital hallway, or a bright office space, anywhere that could use a moment of calm and color.

Painting the Feeling of Freedom

When I paint, I feel a freedom I’ve never felt anywhere else. It’s just me, the colors, and the water. No rules, no pressure, no judgment.

I often say my paintings are like whispers of emotion, quiet but powerful. They’re my way of expressing peace, joy, and gratitude for all the moments that brought me here.

Sometimes, when I look at a finished piece, I see a mountain or a shoreline. Other times, I see something completely unexpected, maybe even a reflection of my own heart. That’s what keeps me painting every day.

Thank You for Joining Me

If you’ve made it this far, thank you for spending this time with me. I hope reading about my process helps you see watercolor, and maybe even life, in a new way.

Art has taught me that we don’t need to have everything figured out. We just need to start, trust the flow, and see where it leads.

So whether you’re an artist, a dreamer, or simply someone who loves color, I hope my paintings bring you a bit of calm, beauty, and joy.

Until next time,
Shirley Rosin
Surely It’s Art 

Welcome to Surely It’s Art!I’m so happy you’ve stopped by to share a little piece of my creative world. My name is Shirley Rosin, and I call myself an Intuitive Watercolor Artist. That means I don’t paint what I see,  I paint what I feel. My art flows from my heart to my paper, with colors leading the way and water showing me where to go next.

But it took me a lifetime to get here.

A Farm Girl Who Didn’t Like Dirt

I grew up on a small mixed farm near Grande Prairie, Alberta, in the great Peace River country. It was a simple, hardworking life. We had cows, horses, chickens, and all kinds of bugs and worms, and I’ll be honest, I didn’t like any of them! I still laugh when I think of those chickens chasing me around. I was terrified of them, and I couldn’t stand getting dirty.

But while I may not have loved the animals, I fell completely in love with the colors around me. The skies would change with every season,  the bright golds and pinks of sunrise, the deep purples and oranges of sunset, and the soft glow of snow sparkling like diamonds in winter. The seasons painted their own masterpieces right outside my window. I didn’t know it then, but those early memories would stay with me for life.

When Creativity Wasn’t Encouraged

In school, art was something I looked forward to until the grades came in. Every time, I failed. The teachers wanted perfect drawings that looked exactly like the subject, not the wild, free colors I liked to play with. After a while, I stopped believing I could be creative.

That idea stuck with me for years, that a “real” artist paints only what’s in front of them. I thought art had to be perfect, not expressive. I wish those teachers could see me now!

Life, Work, and a Quiet Dream

As I grew older, I built a busy and fulfilling life. I ran my own businesses and worked with architects, designers, corporations, and marketing teams. I loved the challenge of generating ideas and solutions, and tweaking them to make them work better. I didn’t realize it at the time, but that same problem-solving energy would later show up in my paintings, the way I experiment with water, paint, and color until they all find balance together.

After decades of work, I decided to retire. I told myself I was done. No more deadlines, no more business plans; just rest. But after a while, something was missing. I missed the creative process, the challenge, and that feeling of bringing something new to life. That’s when I knew: it was time to pick up a brush again.

Well… not a brush exactly.

Falling in Love with Watercolor

I had always been drawn to watercolor. There’s something magical about it; how the colors move and blend, how water takes control and surprises you. But my journey with watercolor wasn’t simple. For over 25 years, I experimented with every technique I could find. I took classes, watched YouTube videos, and learned from artists all around the world.

And then, one day, I discovered my own way, the card swipe technique. No brushes, no rules. Just me, some water, and a credit card. I swipe, tilt, and let the water dance across the paper. The colors move, mingle, and decide for themselves what they want to become. Sometimes, I don’t even know what the painting will look like until the next morning, when it’s dry and has revealed itself.

That’s when I fell in love with loose watercolor painting. It felt like freedom.

The Turning Point

In October 2024, I decided to stop calling painting a hobby and start calling it my life’s work. I registered my business and gave it a name that felt right;  Surely It’s Art. It was time to step into my next adventure as a full-time artist.

Now, I wake up every day with energy and excitement, knowing I get to create something new. Every painting is different. Every day brings new colors, shapes, and emotions. I’ve learned that the best art happens when you stop trying to control it, when you let go and trust the flow.

Finding Inspiration Everywhere

My inspiration comes from many places: the landscapes of Alberta, the music in my studio, the silence of early mornings, and my walks along the river trails in Edmonton. Nature has a rhythm that feels alive, and watercolor seems to understand it perfectly.

Travel has also opened my eyes to beauty around the world. I’ve been lucky enough to visit Europe, Holland, Turkey, Morocco, Costa Rica, Mexico, and the USA. Each country has its own colors and moods. The terracotta tones of Morocco, the blues of the Mediterranean, and the greens of our Canadian forests all show up somewhere in my art.

And oh, those fall days! When the air is crisp, the leaves glow with reds and golds, and the water reflects it all; that’s when I feel most inspired. Those moments of calm and quiet remind me why I paint.

My Favorite Moment;  The Day I Knew I Could Paint

I’ll never forget my visit to the Rembrandt Museum. In one of the rooms, there was a note beside a painting that asked: “Can you spot the mistake?” I found it! That tiny moment gave me so much confidence. It reminded me that even the greatest artists weren’t perfect; they just kept painting.

So I practiced, practiced, and practiced some more. And here I am today,  still learning, still experimenting, and still amazed by what water and color can create together.

Who My Art Is For

My paintings have found homes with collectors, educators, business owners, designers, and art lovers across generations, from millennials to baby boomers. I believe art should make you feel something. It should bring peace, curiosity, or even a smile. That’s why my work also fits beautifully in corporate offices, hospitals, senior homes, and personal spaces; anywhere that could use a little calmness and color.

I hope that when you view my paintings, you feel a sense of serenity, freedom, and warmth.

The Joy of Starting Over

Becoming an artist later in life has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I left behind my old life; yes, even all the money from my divorce, but what I gained is priceless. I found myself. I found peace, passion, and joy in color.

Now, I believe it’s never too late to follow your heart.

Join Me on This Journey

Thank you so much for reading my story. I hope it inspires you to look for beauty in your own life, in the colors of nature, the sound of music, or the stillness of a quiet morning.

Please join me here at Surely It’s Art every week, where I’ll be sharing new paintings, stories, and little moments from my creative journey. Who knows, maybe you’ll even find a painting that feels like home.

Until next time,
Shirley Rosin
Surely It’s Art

There’s a quiet kind of magic that happens when I sit down in my studio, music softly playing in the background, and a blank sheet of watercolor paper waiting in front of me. The world slows down, and I let the colors take over. I don’t plan much, just a few chosen shades, enough water, and that little spark of intuition that always seems to know what it’s doing better than I do.

My brush? Well, I don’t use one. Instead, I let a simple credit card guide me. With each swipe, I feel the rhythm of the paint as it moves and flows, blending into unexpected shapes. This is my art; intuitive watercolor landscapes that come alive one movement at a time. I never really know what the final painting will look like. I wait, watch, and let the water tell me its story.

By the next day, when the paint has settled and dried, a landscape appears. Sometimes it’s a calm lake reflecting a golden sky. Other times, it’s rolling hills or distant mountains whispering through mist. Every painting feels like a little surprise from the universe, like a gentle reminder that beauty often blooms when you stop trying to control it.

The Call of Nature

I’ve always been inspired by nature. Maybe it’s because I grew up surrounded by it, the endless skies, the wide fields, and the way light changes with every hour in the Peace River area of Alberta. Even as a child, I felt the urge to capture that vastness, that serenity, even when I didn’t quite know how.

Fall is my favorite season. There’s something about the crisp air, the crunch of leaves underfoot, and those fiery colors, reds, golds, and oranges, that makes my heart full. I often imagine those colors dancing across my paper. They’re bold, alive, unapologetically beautiful.

A few years ago, I painted a piece called “Isle of Gentle Ripples.” The inspiration came from a quiet moment by the water, the sun dipping low, and a cool breeze brushing across the surface. The world felt still, and yet everything was moving. That balance between calmness and motion is what I always try to bring into my art.

The Journey of an Artist

My journey hasn’t been a straight line; it’s been more like the flow of watercolor itself. As a young girl, I was told I wasn’t good at art. I still remember those failed grades in school. Back then, it stung. But maybe that was just life nudging me to find my own way, to discover that art isn’t about rules, it’s about freedom.

For over 25 years, I explored different watercolor methods, learning, unlearning, and experimenting. I also built a successful business career, working with corporations, architects, designers, and collectors. It was fulfilling, but art was always there, quietly calling me back.

When I finally returned to painting, I brought with me everything I had learned from business: the confidence, the curiosity, the courage to think differently. That’s when I found my true voice as an artist: intuitive, spontaneous, and deeply connected to emotion.

Inspiration Everywhere

People often ask where I find my inspiration. The truth is, it’s everywhere. I find it while walking the trails of Edmonton, surrounded by tall trees and soft winds. I see it in the way sunlight touches the water, in the laughter of people I meet, and even in quiet moments alone with a cup of tea.

Travel has also been a huge part of my journey. I’ve been lucky enough to explore places like Europe, Holland, Turkey, Morocco, Costa Rica, and the USA. Each country brought its own colors, textures, and rhythms. The blues of the Mediterranean, the earthy tones of Morocco, the warm hues of Costa Rican sunsets, they all found their way into my paintings.

And then there’s music. Oh, how it stirs the soul! Soft piano notes or the melody of a violin can move my hand in ways I can’t explain. The paint seems to dance to the rhythm, flowing across the paper in harmony.

Painting Without Rules

There’s something beautifully liberating about painting without strict plans or outlines. Every piece begins with a feeling, a sense of what I want to express, and then I let the paint do the rest.

The card-swipe method became my way of creating because it allows me to move freely. There’s no brush between me and the color, no barrier between thought and movement. It’s just water, pigment, and instinct.

Sometimes the water runs in unexpected ways, merging colors I hadn’t planned. But instead of seeing it as a mistake, I see it as nature’s touch, its way of joining in the creative process.

Art That Calms the Soul

Over the years, I’ve realized that my paintings bring calmness not just to me, but to others, too. Collectors often tell me how the soft blends and open landscapes make them feel peaceful. My art has found homes in offices, hospitals, senior living spaces, and cozy homes across Canada.

I think that’s what makes watercolor special; it breathes. It moves, changes, and surprises you. Just like life.

A Future Full of Color

Art is evolving, and so are the people who appreciate it. I see younger generations embracing original art more than ever, bringing creativity into modern spaces. They want pieces that speak, that feel alive, that tell a story. That’s why I believe there’s room for intuitive watercolor art in every heart and every home.

Looking ahead, I want to keep creating, exploring, and sharing. Each new painting feels like a conversation with life, a blend of joy, calm, and curiosity.

So thank you, truly, for being here. For reading, for supporting, and for letting my art find a small place in your world. Whether you’re an art lover, a collector, or someone simply looking for a bit of calm in your day, I hope my paintings bring you a moment of stillness, a deep breath, and maybe even a smile.

Because art, at its best, reminds us to pause. To feel. To see beauty in the unpredictable.

And that’s exactly what watercolor has taught me, sometimes, the best things appear when you let go and simply let life flow.

So thank you, truly, for being here,  for taking a moment to read about my journey, my art, and the colors that fill my days. Whether you’re an artist, a collector, or simply someone who enjoys a quiet moment surrounded by beauty, I hope my paintings bring you a little peace and joy.

Please join me again next week for more stories, new art, and maybe even a little laughter along the way.

Thank you for your time and your interest in my work.

Until next time,
Shirley Rosin
Surely It’s Art