Hello my Dabble family!
It’s Jen here, and I cannot wait for you to meet today’s featured artist, the wonderful Kathy Davig from Belgrade, Montana. Kathy describes herself as an artist, but after hearing her story and seeing her art, I think we can all agree she’s an artist with a capital A.
The Artist's Journey?
Kathy’s art journey is such a beautiful example of how creativity can show up at just the right time. She had only done one watercolor painting (with her mom’s help) about 25 years ago, and after a short-lived experiment with plastic palette knives (her words: “bad!”), she thought maybe art wasn’t for her. But then—cue the fireworks—she saw my invitation in her Facebook feed in July of 2020. With a little trepidation, she joined the online painting course.
Now, she’ll be the first to tell you, her first three paintings weren’t exactly masterpieces… but by the fourth one, she could see her progress, and she was hooked. And when I say hooked, I mean she dove in headfirst: over 300 paintings, countless post-palette pieces, and even 100 jewelry sets made from dried paint skins. Talk about turning leftovers into treasures—move over, last night’s dinner, Kathy’s leftovers are gallery-worthy.
Retired as of 2022, Kathy now paints every single day. Her former home office has transformed into her Happy Place studio, and she falls asleep dreaming about her next painting. I just love that.
Inspiration
When I asked Kathy what inspires her creativity, she had the most thoughtful answer. Since joining Let’s Dabble, she says she sees the world differently—she notices the play of light and shadow, tree trunks, branches, and those Montana clouds that stretch forever. She finds inspiration in God’s creation, the beauty of the Rocky Mountains, our classes, and even the posts from fellow artists in the Club. That’s the magic of art—it makes us notice the extraordinary in what we used to take for granted.
Artwork Showcase
Here’s the painting Kathy chose to share: “Amalfi’s Allure.”
The Amalfi Coast is one of her favorite places in the world, and this painting was both a huge challenge and one of her proudest achievements. And you can feel it when you look at it. I swear, I can almost hear the waves crashing against the cliffs and smell the lemon trees drifting in on the breeze. It’s such a breathtaking piece, and I love that Kathy poured her heart into it.
What She Loves About DabblePaints™
In Kathy’s words: “They’re creamy—oh so creamy. And such great coverage. The Lemon Yellow especially is such an upgrade from what we used previously… My leftover dried paint even makes beautiful skins.”
How fun is that? Turning dried paint into jewelry and church art projects. Kathy, you’re officially the queen of upcycling in the most creative way possible.
What She Enjoys Most About Painting
Kathy told me what she loves most is the sense of accomplishment—going from staring at that intimidating white canvas to stepping back and seeing a finished piece. Even when a painting doesn’t turn out as expected, she views it as a “learning piece.” She also loves trying new techniques, like painting palm trees, waves, and lavender fields, and weaving them into future creations. That’s exactly the adventurous spirit that keeps an artist growing.
Her Advice to Beginners
Kathy gave us a whole treasure chest of wisdom here:
-
Baby steps—it won’t come overnight.
-
Don’t be hard on yourself.
-
Celebrate your successes (even the little ones).
-
Follow Jen’s instruction—it’s all fixable.
-
Watch, paint, rewind… as many times as you need.
-
Share your art and engage with fellow artists.
-
Keep your first paintings so you can see your progress.
-
Never give up.
-
Most importantly—enjoy the fabulous ride.
Honestly, can we just print this list and tape it above every easel? Such great advice!
Kathy, thank you for sharing your story, your art, and your heart with us. Your generosity, joy, and persistence are such an inspiration to our Dabble Family. You remind us all that it’s never too late to discover the artist inside—and once that spark is lit, there’s no turning back.