Hello my Dabble family!

It’s Jen here, and I am so excited for you to meet someone whose creative heart and resilience absolutely inspire me — the wonderful Charlotte Hines.

Charlotte’s story begins like so many of ours — with a love for creating that just couldn’t stay quiet, no matter what life threw her way. Back in 2020, when the world slowed down and everything felt uncertain, Charlotte found herself at a crossroads. A retired computer illustrator and multimedia designer, she had been pouring her creativity into crafting backdrops and props at her local Alabama theater. But when the pandemic shut everything down, Charlotte — like so many artists — found herself yearning for a new way to express her creativity.

That’s when fate (and a well-timed Facebook ad) stepped in. Charlotte stumbled upon one of my “Let’s Dabble” videos and something inside her just clicked. She’d always dreamed of painting landscapes but felt held back by fear — that little voice that says, “You can’t start now.” I think we’ve all heard that one, haven’t we?

But Charlotte decided to take the leap anyway. She joined the First Five Program and—get this—transformed her formal dining room into her very own studio. I love that so much. Honestly, who needs a fancy dining table when you can have a sea of color, brushes, and DabblePaints spread everywhere?

Through Let’s Dabble, Charlotte found her rhythm and started painting every day. Her years of precision and detail as a technical illustrator gave way to something looser, bolder, and more expressive. Then, just as her passion was soaring, she faced an unexpected challenge — tremors in her hands and arms. But instead of letting that stop her, Charlotte did something truly extraordinary: with the encouragement of another Dabble family member, she turned those tremors into part of her signature style. That’s pure artist alchemy — turning struggle into beauty.

What inspires Charlotte most

These days, she’s surrounded by the breathtaking desert landscapes of southern Utah — red rocks, lava fields, slot canyons, and skies that shift with the seasons. She says she’s endlessly inspired by how the colors transform — vibrant during monsoon season and muted but magical during the dry months. You can practically feel that energy pulsing through her work.

Here’s one of Charlotte’s recent pieces, “Pumpkin Patch”

 When I first saw it, I could almost smell the crisp autumn air and hear the crunch of leaves underfoot. Those warm oranges and glowing blues? Perfection. You can tell this piece represents her growth as an artist — it’s joyful, confident, and full of life.

What she loves about DabblePaints™

Charlotte absolutely glows when she talks about the paints:

“The consistency, vibrant colors, rich opaqueness, and radiant shine are truly exceptional… but what truly sets them apart is the ingenious packaging! The effortless non-stick lids and bottles are a game-changer — reducing waste and making it a sheer delight for retirees like me to paint frequently without breaking the bank.”

Charlotte, I have to say — hearing that makes my heart so happy. Matt and I spent months perfecting those bottles, so knowing they make your painting sessions smoother is music to my ears.

What she enjoys most about painting

Charlotte told me she’s continually growing with each class and solo session — and that “Pumpkin Patch” really captures her evolving color palette and artistic confidence. I love how she said it fills her with joy and confidence every time she scoops up paint with her palette knife — that’s the magic moment we all chase, isn’t it?

Her advice for the beginners

“Do it. Take that first step to paint with Let’s Dabble; your creative knowledge and skills will expand to new heights, and your fear will dwindle to nothing.”

Simple, powerful, and absolutely true.

Charlotte, thank you for sharing your story, your perseverance, and your stunning art with our DabblePaints™ community. You’re living proof that creativity never retires — it just finds new canvases to dance on.

Keep creating, keep shining, and keep bringing more beauty into the world.

XO,
Jen