Hello my artist family!

It’s Jen here, and today I get to introduce you to an artist whose story truly feels like it was wrapped in patience, timing, and a whole lot of heart — Sheila DeCosta from Dawson Creek, British Columbia. Sheila’s journey is such a beautiful reminder that art never really leaves us… sometimes it just waits quietly until the moment is right.

Sheila’s love of art began back in high school in the late 1960s, where her art classes were inspirational not only for her, but for her father as well. He was so proud of her paintings that he persuaded the manager of their local bank to buy two of them for five dollars each. And honestly, I love that detail — because when someone believes in your art that much, it plants something lasting.

Now here comes the part that stopped me in my tracks. Fast forward fifty years. That same bank manager tracked Sheila down to say that he and his wife were moving into a care home and wondered if she would like to have her two paintings back. He shared that over more than fifteen moves, her lighthouse painting had always hung in the center of every living room they lived in. I mean… if that doesn’t tell you art matters, I don’t know what does.

Sheila later picked up the paintings in Vancouver on her way to winter in Arizona, and that long-held appreciation for her work planted a new seed — the desire to paint again. Just two months later, while in Arizona, she came across a Let’s Dabble demonstration of Pewter Life and was immediately captivated by the textured approach to painting. That moment sparked her return to art, and she became a member in 2022. Since then, she’s been continually inspired by the teaching, the reference photos, and more recently, the high-quality paints.

When I asked Sheila what inspires her creativity the most, her answer was simple and powerful: texture. She loves the third dimension it brings to her paintings — that sense of depth and physical presence that makes a piece feel alive. And once you fall in love with texture, it’s hard not to want more of it.

Here’s the painting Sheila chose to share, titled “Call of the Wild.”

This piece is a wonderful example of Sheila applying the techniques she’s learned and confidently creating her own original landscape. She shared that this painting represents a turning point for her — proof that she now has the confidence to create her own scenes and take on landscape commissions. And I have to say, that confidence shows beautifully.

When it comes to DabblePaints, Sheila described them as having a peanut-butter creaminess with intense, vibrant pigments that bring a brilliance to her paintings. I smiled when I read that, because that creamy texture and rich pigment are exactly what I dreamed of when creating these paints.

What Sheila enjoys most about painting is seeing how technique and texture come together to give her the freedom to paint any landscape she imagines. And her advice for someone just starting out is one I couldn’t agree with more: everyone has the ability to paint — all it takes is picking up a brush or palette knife and actually trying. She added that having a personal instructor makes all the difference, and I received that with a very grateful heart.

One final piece of Sheila’s story that I absolutely had to share is the joy she finds in gifting her artwork. Under a photo of her giving two paintings to her grandsons, she spoke about what a pleasure it has been to gift so many of her paintings to family. The “Leaving a Legacy” message of Let’s Dabble felt especially meaningful as the boys prepared to move into their new home after Christmas, excited to hang the paintings in their bedrooms. That, right there, is legacy in its most beautiful form.

Sheila, thank you for sharing your journey, your art, and your heart with our artist family. Your story is a powerful reminder that creativity stays with us for a lifetime — and when we return to it, it welcomes us right back.

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

XO,
Jen