It’s Earth Day!

One of my favorite lessons from the Earth is simple:

just be.

Nature doesn’t wait for permission—it exists, transforms, and flows based on the elements around it. A river doesn’t ask if it’s okay to keep moving. A tree doesn’t wonder if it’s growing the right way. Everything just is.

DMC Original Art table, “Jungle Star” holding a succulent plant.

This rhythm of nature—the flow, the heat, the coolness, the quiet shifts—has become the foundation of how I create art. When I paint, I often think of water’s freedom, wind’s playfulness, and fire’s boldness. My connection to Mother Earth reminds me that art, like life, doesn’t need to be forced. It only needs space to unfold.

Of course, we’re all aware of the climate crisis we’re in. Global warming is no longer a distant warning—it’s here. But even so, I choose to keep doing my part, however small, because every conscious act matters.

The other day, my mom mentioned needing something to store her toiletries. I smiled and gently reminded her that she probably already had something at home that could work—she just needed to see it with fresh eyes. We’re often conditioned to believe we need to buy something new for every problem, but sometimes the solution is already in our hands. We just haven’t noticed it yet.

This mindset shows up in my art practice too. When I host workshops, I love bringing in cut-up pieces of cardboard. What might’ve been tossed into the recycling bin becomes a blank canvas. Most participants are surprised by how much they love what they create on cardboard—it’s unexpected, but beautiful. And it sends a quiet message: waste less, wonder more.

American culture can be so tangled in consumerism that we forget how healing and powerful it is to pause, reuse, and reimagine. The truth is, it’s easy to be wasteful—but it’s just as easy to be mindful.

As I continue to create and share my passion, I’m committed to choosing ethical and earth-friendly practices—and encouraging others to do the same. Sustainability isn’t just about saving the planet. It’s also about protecting our peace, our health, and our creativity.

In honor of Earth Day, here are a few ways you can start (or continue) making art more sustainably—with what you already have:

DMC Original Art Workshop participants create fluid art designs on repurposed cardboard with paper straws.

Earth-Friendly Art Ideas Using What You Have at Home:

Reuse cardboard boxes as canvases for painting or collaging
Transform old T-shirts into rags, stamps, or fabric strips for mixed-media work
Save glass jars as brush holders or storage for small supplies
Use dried leaves, flowers, or herbs to add natural texture to your work
Repurpose paper bags, magazines, or mail for collage projects
Create your own paint from natural pigments like turmeric, beet juice, or coffee
Save scrap wood or tiles from home improvement projects for functional art pieces

Happy Earth Day, friends. May we continue to be gentle with our planet, one beautiful action at a time.

With peace and purpose,
DMC