As a young girl, I remember visiting my great-grandma Whiteford in a nursing home in Traverse City, Michigan, not far from where I grew up. Though legally blind and in her mid-eighties, she painted simple yet beautiful watercolors of flowers, each one inspiring me. I had tried my hand at watercolors but was often frustrated by the limitations of my beginner paint sets and lack of skill, never achieving the beauty I saw in her work.

Fast forward more than 20 years. Now a new mother, I felt a longing for a creative and calming outlet that wasn’t music. Remembering my great-grandma’s beautiful watercolors, I decided to try again. With a $3 set of paint pans from a garage sale and some cheap watercolor paper, I painted my first little bird. It was small and a bit silly, but I was hooked!

Nature has always been a place of rest and inspiration for me. God’s creation is so beautiful and boundless, and I’m thrilled to share glimpses of that beauty through my art.

A special thanks goes to my husband, Matt, for his unwavering support. Without his encouragement, my art might still be tucked away in a drawer. And my daughter, Eliza, is my little painting companion, often chatting beside me as she “teaches” me with her own brush in hand.

Thank you for visiting! I hope my art brings you as much joy and inspiration as it brings me.

- Josie Minikus