A Week In An Artist's Life 

My husband is in hospital, and worried, I dozed on and off on the couch all night. Then, before going back to the hospital, watching your video while I had breakfast and coffee, I feel calm and happy. Thank you Sandi. I hope your eye is all better xx

It's amazing how there's something on every work surface in your studio, but it still seems like everything has a place! A lot of artists are like that- if there's a tabletop or desk in the studio, it gets filled up pretty quickly! There's a story about the sculptor David Smith, who invited a friend to his studio and told him he should make something. His friend saw bits and pieces all around in every corner, but everything he picked up, Smith said, "Oh, I think I'm going to use that for a piece I'm doing."After several more tries, his friend picked up a coffee can with some rusty, bent nails, and said, "How about these?" Smith looked at them and they both laughed when he said, "I think I'm going to use those too."

I so enjoyed the owl card you made for your Dad. Love your painting

The moment at 33:09 when Grady zooms in on your face while you’re painting is so sweet. I could feel the love ❤ Your videos bring me so much joy!

Your work is so full of life stories, beautifully expressed in colour. The gouache is working out well in your sketch books. Loved the video - thank you, Sandi.

Sandi Hester, I love your videos. And the horse neighing always makes me laugh out loud! Why is that so funny, I don't know but it sure is. Your paintings are pure inspiration. Love from South Carolina!

Another fun video! I just wanted to take the time to say how positive impact your videos have had on my art practice. From not having drawn anything for years to a three year long daily art practice. You helped my perspective shift from a result based practice that drained and made me sad to a practice based in joy and curiosity of my own expression. I have grown so much and it had added a steady source of happiness to my daily life. So i just wanted to take a moment to say thank you and to emphasize how meaningfull what you do is. Great many thanks from here in Stockholm

Gotta say this is one of my fave vids…. Mainly because I question myself on my process…. Not having “proper” training. It gives me lil validation to keep going. I like hearing your thoughts. Thank you Sandi!

Hi Sandi --I knew today was Hester Friday!!!! You sure have been busy. When I was a kid at my Uncle's cabin by the lake we were playing volleyball & I jumped to hit the ball & got knocked out by a rock that flew from the neighbor's lawnmower. Scared everyone to death. Broke my glasses. I was OK in the end. During all the excitement that same neighbors dogs jumped up on the table & ate all the grilled hamburgers. It was like the movie Christmas Story!!!! My uncle was so mad. lol Glad that you are OK. I love the cards you made. Loved the garden painting & you do nature & landscapes so well. Take care!!!!

One of the things I love about your work is the way it is so uniquely you. I appreciate that you do your own thing so much. That’s not easy, but it sure is beautiful.

Those cards are adorable!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! love the owl face!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I so appreciate all the work that goes into your videos and very grateful , I love them , they’re beautiful to watch, inspiring and comforting , thank you ☀️ xx

That was an action packed week!! Whew Sandi. I saw and chuckled at the lady in the first garden painting. She had a big bottom. The horses teeth. And the skull faces on the owls. I hope your vision is ok. Artists need our eyes. That was pretty frightening and Grady wasn't there. I loved the two forest and stream paintings. And I'm going to check out your bird workshop. I've been working on native plants and wildlife in my environment so that will be fun. xo

I do love the garden scene. I wish I felt confident working this loose. It's so fun.

I loved everything you painted in this video, especially the trees and the garden scene. Looking forward to you upcoming course offering. YaY!!!

Oh my goodness I love the owl cards❤ they were beautiful I’m sure your dad was happy to get that for his birthday🎉

I am so glad I saved this as a treat at the end of a long day. It is such a joyous film to watch, brimming with creativity and inventiveness. And I love that owl!

Such a calming watch - so natural and refreshing 🙏💜

Your owls are wonderful! I loved the marks, color, and composition! And your figures! All the work was filled with movement! Thanks for sharing. It was yummy like ice cream!😊

Love the paintings especially love the owls and the birds. The landscapes are so interesting with all the colors and movement!!😊

Thanks for the video Sandi it's always fun to watch you play with colors. Love the owl cards those were great especially when you put them together that was really cool!I hope your eye is feeling better. Take good care💖

Wow, so glad you weren't more seriously injured. That must have been so scary, especially with Grady gone. All your paintings were gorgeous, especially love the 2nd spiderweb one. And your cards are brilliant! They are so lively. I bet you'd sell out in a heartbeat if you printed a luxury collection of them, though the cutting out would be tedious. Beautiful work, Sandi. I'll be doing your bird class as soon as I finish my landscaping and garden projects. Can't wait!

I love how you pointed out the sock lines! I mean, it's definitely not the only thing I loved about this vid ... srsly, thank you for being so open, inspiring and relatable - AAARGH your EYE!. It reminded me of times I giggled to myself when a detail I made happily surprised me. It's been hard to start again and now I find it hard to keep going despite itchy fingers. But those little moments of joy! So worth it.

Its always a fantabulous Friday when you put up a new video, and I love how long this one is! I love the owl card for your dad and the Van Gogh-esque sky ❤❤ and you may not be "fully happy" with your garden scene, but its a total feast for MY eyes! Gorgeous 😊 another thing you can sew binding with is dental floss, its become my go to, I like to buy old books and gut them to make sketchbooks with good watercolor paper.. they're so much fun. And yup, I saw your biscuit pic and Grady saying he'd eat it 😂😂

Love the two paintings of the forest

Another super great video. Sorry about all the problems and injury you had. I really love your owl cards too. Thank you for sharing everything.❤

You are such an inspiration! Love your paintings! Wow! Those are minimal supplies!

Enjoying working along with you. I really like the final image of you and your mom, and the owl card was inspiring. I am working in a complete mess too, its definitely a style.

Love you! Best video I've seen in a while. Art is humans at their best and worst. ❤

I wanted to wait until Saturday to watch so I had this to look forward to! 😊 I loved this video Sandi. I feel like I am having tea with a friend who is telling me about her crazy week! I loved that you painted a bit of everything on this trip-birds, trees, people, gardens! You are so talented and can put your talents to whatever inspires you. I absolutely adored the garden painting-I know you didn’t love it. But you rendered it magnificently-I love gardens but the detail seems overwhelming when I think about painting them. You did it with colour, vibrancy and life.

really like that owl cards, interesting shapes to it 🥰 they look great standing next to each other so surprised you didnt get a black eye! 28:43 that painting is gorgeous!🥰 LOVE those teeth on the carousel horses🥰🥰

The owl cards are beautiful!

It's funny, my favorite picture in all your sketches is the garden scene... especially the foreground and the lady. One of my fav that you've ever done. So, yeah in the eye of the beholder. 😊Your birds were great too. Love the cutout card idea!

This video was like a warm hug! These are my favorite style of videos. Thanks for giving us an inside look into your art and your world. Loved it!

Another lovely video, Sandi! So glad your eye is ok. Thanks for sharing and being a bright spot in my week!

It's so funny because the parts you often say you don't like are the parts I like a lot and i love the one you did on the camping trip- it looks like a forest island. The marks of movement on water and ground are beautiful. You inspire me to make bolder marks when I paint especially when I do larger canvas work. Even if I do squiggly pen your work reminds me to "commit" when making the mark rather than tentatively entering into the scene.

My favorite kind of video from you, THANK YOU!!❤❤❤❤❤

hi sandi i only just watched your sad video today. i watch all your videos actually but in a mixed up kinda way if you know what i mean! anyway, i was very dismayed to hear of the loss of your little.. er hem...BIG doggy. i know exactly what it feels like - i remember standing in the rain, holding on to my husband, both crying for the loss of our pet, a labrador of 12 years. so, i know you will have happy memories of Cooper now..condolences, my friend, although much belated, from south australia. xxx ps i want you to know i enjoyed seeing your processes in the 'painting birds' course. i am now confident to have a go at drawing anything at all, especially birds, after years of study, with books, that left me frustrated and NOT confident. thank you!

Hello Sandi. First time commenting. I know so bad since I think I have watched all your videos scrunched up, one after another in the last few months. I love your word mishaps, I have them too. And being silly, I am that too. So inspirational especially about loosening up and just being free with the materials to make art. Thank you Sandi for putting the time into these videos and I cannot wait to take your classes soon!

Look forward to seeing you back in your studio doing some larger paintings….

Beautiful video! And that mug at the very beginning gives me so much life!!

What a wonderful video! You got lucky with the eye! I too got a temporary crown today, conincidences... I loved the cards, the horses... a nice Friday gift for your viewers!!!❤

Oh boy, what an eventful start to a camping trip! Hope the man calling for help was ok.

Love the owl cards, and I actually liked the garden sketch. Glad your eye was alright! 💜

Your color swatches (color choices) are gorgeous! *the camping landscape that is

Hi Sandi I love your flower garden painting. Isn’t it funny the painting you’re not happy with is someone’s favorite. ❤️

So many wins ! Every piece of artwork was the best it could be. Your work inspires , maybe just to do some art everyday. I think God had you safe your eye injury is fine .

At 9:28 the garden is so beautiful!

I love the Learn to Paint podcast! And I swear Sandi, I sent an email to Kelly Anne on August 15, 2021 recommending that she interview you! (I just looked it up in my sent box, I’m a #virgo #typeA). I love the garden scene paintings in your sketchbooks ❤ And, I was watching your camper scene about Grady’s tooth, your eye, the truck breaking down and the man outside the camper - all with my jaw on the table. I mean, what a day! This is my absolute favorite channel on the Internet Sandi, thank you so much for all you share.

The cards are beautiful!!

Such a treat! I’ve had that happen to me with a lawnmower! I was bruised for weeks! I’m so glad you were ok.

After a long back-to-school week of teaching and brutal allergies myself, this video was exactly the relaxation I needed! What a feast for the eyes! The campground sketches of the trees are absolutely stunning with the range of colour and those sweet little spiderwebs. Love the owls and I’m absolutely loving the painting birds course so far! Hope the man at the campsite was okay. Thanks for taking us on this wonderful journey!

I've been sketching outside a bit which os lovely loved this video and your beautiful sketchbooks are priceless happy birthday to your dad too beautiful owls cards would ve a lovely painting😊

Thank you Sandi. I so want to be home again and play with all my supplies and practice all the ideas I get from you.

I love that scene with the lady and the flowers so much. There is so much for the eye to see.

❤️❤️❤️ and that mug too!

I love your videos and art Sandi!

Love these peeks behind your scenes. Have you previously shared what colors you have in your watercolor/gouache palette? I'd be curious to see what you're using.

I absolutely love your videos; thank you so much❤

I really enjoyed this, Sandi. I tried to watch closer while you were painting. Watercolor and gouache have tested me, but I like the way you just go into it so strong, if that’s the right word. What I mean is it is not so watery, seems thicker in areas. Also, the owls were beautiful. I just love the cards.

Wonderful video. Thanks for taking us along. I loved all the work you created, from the owls, to the trees and the family pictures.

Thank you for sharing your work I really like your work and thankyou for motivating me🥰🎨🖌😇

Such a great you tube this week ❤ thank you. So glad your eye is alright.I noticed that you used a fairly small brush , I was wondering if that is for textures. Thank you for your inspiration I can’t wait to start painting and I swear I’m going to try painting on location . Thank you Sandy.

I love watching you paint in your sketchbooks & seeing your ideas come to life 😊 I can't live without mine 😅

Making my Friday better.. thanks again Sandi !!

You’re just such fun to watch - your generosity of spirit is wonderful and makes all this channel so special. Thankyou Earth Angel 🥰

I really enjoyed this vlog-style video! I also use that Fabriano Studio hot press watercolor pad, which I actually learned about from your video in which you show how to make watercolor blocks. I made a couple blocks using padding compound, as instructed, and it worked extremely well (much better than hot glue and some other adhesives I’ve seen in other tutorials. I don’t think most people know about padding compound.) I’ll sing the praises of the paper, which is a great versatile heavyweight paper. It’s funny, but the only thing it’s not good for is traditional watercolor! The paper actually resists water and colors look faded… a sizing issue, I’d say. The surface is sort of closed and “hard.” But it works very well for any water-based paint which stays on the surface, more or less, and even oil paint, when primed. The blocks made from that pad end up so hefty and sturdy that they actually form a nice hard surface you can set in your lap, and I also love it for oil pastel, etc.. I have probably 5 of the pads now (some made into blocks, some not.)

Your owl cards are super cool 🥰

Oh my goodness!! What a trip! So thankful your eye is okay - that sounded so scary. The thing about Grady saying "don't throw away the biscuit, I'll eat it" was so precious - what a husband thing to say! 🤣Also I am SO IMPRESSED at the limited supplies you took! I know that is so hard. I'm always tempted to just pack everything. And then of course I only use like half of it, or less!

Love your cards! I need to push the depth of color like you do…it just sings! Glad your eye is okay!

It's always lovely to see you creating art outside 😊

really enjoyed this vlog style video! glad your eye was okay in the end.

That was really fun Sandi! I adored the two owl cards especially. Bet your Dad loved it too. Thanks for sharing your week. ❤

So wonderful to see your processes. Thank you for sharing. Will start saving my pennies for you bird painting classes.

I love your videos. I've larned a lot of things

Enjoyed seeing your journey of doing art. Very interesting and love your art work!!😊

Omg what a trip

Hi Sandi!! I've missed you!! I love, love everything about this video! Except the part where you got hit by the pebble. I love your sketches, the bird cards, your sceneries and I especially love the one with you and your mom. I've been busy house hunting and packing to move to the south, so I haven't had time to watch your channel. It's really great to see your video. Now I have to play catch up with the rest... LOL. Have a wonderful weekend!! Stay Safe 🤗

Thank you again for a great video! You so often inspire me to get out my paints and pencils and just give it a go. I wonder, are you never out of inspiration? Are there any activities or exercises you do to come in the flow?

Yay! It's frrrrriday!!! been waiting for your video since this morning 😝Thanks for sharing Sandi and have a lovely weekend 🥰

I love seeing all the bits of how you spend your time and your work process. The incident at the campground was scary! I'm so glad you are okay. The sketches in the woods are wonderful! The coloring of the water and the web.... yes. The piece with the "overworked" flower bed in front I actually like a lot. I love the big purple flower but then I like purple. But I love the bird and sun in that one so much. The cards you made are so amazing! Just beautiful. .... I don't comment often but I may have said this before - I find your voice calming. I have some anxiety and it is such a peaceful experience to watch / listen to your videos. Thank you for sharing! Take care of you.

brilliant. so inspiring. thanks, sandi : )

Really lovely vlog! I'm glad your eye was okay - thank God! I hope your dad's birthday went well. Thank you for sharing, your videos always inspire me to create x

A WONDERFUL video. The owls are unbelievable. I paid attention to what you were saying about value and movement. And the colors in your landscapes are wonderful. You’ve made my coffee time this morning so enjoyable!

Wow Sandi I love those cards you made and yes they would look great as a painting also watching you paint outside your caravan is so relaxing and I always want to get outside and do the same when I watch ❤❤

What a full week!!! Made a very nice vlog 😊 gorgeous paintings, and I absolutely adore the owls birthday cards 🦉❤

Beautiful cards! I do some card crafting mostly using stamps and dies, but I'll make my husband specially crafted cards and he seems to really I appreciate them.

I love your owls and your garden scene! You work is so inspiring. Your idea of setting a timer is a good one---I need to do that. I've not worked much in gouache--mostly watercolors, but I sure want to give gouache a try again. I always look forward to your videos and I appreciate your beautiful art.

Love Friday evening dinner with Sandi.❤

Such a wonderful video. SOOOO glad your eye is ok----so scary. Loved hearing the cicadas from your campground. I lived in Tenn. as a kid and miss hearing those out her in Oregon. Enjoyed all your art esp. those owl cards. Delightful.

2 unique cards of different styles

Love that last painting of you and your mum. So expressive and really like your brush marks. Did you find out about the man who shouted in the night?

Seems like you. had a busy and exciting two weeks. I don't know about relaxing at camp??? Glad that you are ok!!! I so look forward to your videos as they have become a bonus on my Fridays!!! Your videos and insight into art always make me want to come back for more!!!

I think I know where you went on your trip! great video Sandi! : ) Those cards are beautiful.

This was so interesting, informative and inspiring. I love the colours of your two tree root and rock paintings.

Wow I think the garden one with the lady is magical. You’ll probably like it more when you look at it later…maybe? So when you decide to use your Turner Gauche instead of your acrylics, is that because of how it dries to a matte finish, or what else makes you pick that? I just love watching your art practice, thank you again for letting us watch! ❤

Just want to say how happy this video made me.

So lucky Sandi, not so lucky Grady - alls well that films well though - Great RU-vid video ! Jam packed with busy brilliant painting 🎨🖼️

Sandy I see this stand that you had your computer on,that’s what I need we’re did you get that ,never seen one before,I always look forward when you come on you are so blessed

Sandi, I’m so glad your eye is ok. Scary! Love your raspy voice lol some might say it’s sexy. I’m always happy to hear and see your videos. Enjoy the first part of September, it’s a beautiful time of the year. Looking forward for 2 weeks … sending hugs from NC to TN ..🥰