Express Yourself Studios
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    • Not A Threat
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  • Create for a Cause - Art Fundraisers
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  • Contact
  • Home
    • About
      • Contact
      • Policies/Copyright Notice
  • @EYS The Blog
  • Express Yourself Art & Co.
    • All Things Colorful Graphic Tees
    • Black + Nerd = Blerd Apparel
  • Artwork by Simone Anthony-Brown
    • Commission an Abstract Landscape Painting by Simone Anthony-Brown
    • Commission a Custom Collage Portrait by Simone Anthony-Brown
  • Commission an Abstract Landscape Painting by Simone Anthony-Brown
  • Commission a Custom Collage Portrait by Simone Anthony-Brown
  • Original Art for Sale
    • Blooming Essence
    • Echoes of Heritage Series
    • Not A Threat
    • Rhythms and Roots
    • Sacred Beginnings
    • Living With Art
  • Art Prints and Framed Art
    • Living With Art
  • Digital Art Downloads - Print & Frame Collection
  • Virtual Paint & Unwind – 4th Sundays
  • Creative Team Building for Companies and Private Group Events
  • Art Workshops for Schools, Youth Organizations and Scout Troops
  • Create for a Cause - Art Fundraisers
  • Mobile Art Birthday Parties
  • Contact
Workshop Fees, Product Pricing and Studio Policies Are Subject to Change Without Notice. 

We're an Amazon Associate​ and earn from qualifying purchases.

© Express Yourself Studios, LLC 2008-2025. All rights reserved.

Celebrate Spring with a Fresh Burst of Creativity

3/25/2025

 
Picture
As the days get longer and the air fills with the scent of blooming flowers, spring invites us to embrace new beginnings—and what better way to welcome the season than with a little creative expression? Whether you're picking up a paintbrush for the first time or looking for a fun project to enjoy with your kids, spring offers endless inspiration.

Let Creativity Bloom:

Try a Simple Watercolor Spring FloralOne of the easiest and most satisfying ways to channel the season’s energy is by painting a spring floral using watercolors. Here's a simple project to get you started—no experience needed!

What You’ll Need:
  • Watercolor paper (140 lb cold press recommended)
  • Watercolor paints in spring tones (try a palette with shades of pink, yellow, green, and lavender)
  • A round brush (size 6 or 8 works well)
  • Water cup, paper towel, and a mixing palette
Steps:
  1. Lightly sketch a few simple flower shapes—like tulips, daisies, or wildflowers—onto your paper.
  2. Start by painting your lightest colors first, letting the water do the blending. Don’t worry about perfection—spring is all about playfulness!
  3. Add layers as needed, allowing each layer to dry before adding details.
  4. Use a fine-tip brush or pen to outline or accent once dry, if desired.

Recommended Supplies:
  • Watercolor Paper Pad – 9x12, 140 lb Cold Press
  • Watercolor Paint Set – Spring Colors
  • Round Watercolor Brushes – Set of 8
  • Portable Watercolor Mixing Palette

Spring-Inspired Creativity for Kids

Kids love springtime—the colors, the critters, the chance to get outside. Here are a few creative activities to try with your little ones this season:

1. Nature Collage Walks
Take a walk and collect twigs, leaves, flower petals, and bits of grass. At home, use glue and cardstock to make a nature collage.
  • Washable Glue Sticks
  • Bright Cardstock Pack

2. Flower Pot Painting
Grab some terra cotta pots and let kids decorate them with acrylic paint. Use them to plant seeds or flowers as a spring keepsake.
  • Mini Clay Pots – Set of 12
  • Acrylic Paint Set for Kids
  • Kids' Paint Brushes – Easy Grip

3. Sidewalk Art with a Twist
Instead of plain chalk, try paintable chalk kits for bold, bright pavement art such as a Liquid Chalk set.

Join Us and Paint Together

If you're looking for more creative connection this season, we’d love for you to join us for our 4th Sunday Virtual Painting Sessions—a great way to stay inspired from the comfort of your home. Each month we explore a new theme, and you’ll receive a supply list ahead of time so you can follow along.

And if you’re local…

Join us Wednesday, March 23 from 7 PM - 9 PM for our Bold Florals Painting Workshop in partnership with the South Orange Maplewood Adult School. This in-person workshop will take place at Columbia High School. We still have a few seats available—come and paint with us!

Final Thoughts

Spring is a beautiful reminder that creativity is all around us—blooming in the garden, buzzing in the trees, and waiting to be expressed on paper, canvas, or clay. Whether you're painting a floral scene, crafting with your kids, or picking up a brush for the first time in years, take this season as a cue to create something new.

For more workshops, products, and inspiration, visit Express Yourself Studios and let your creativity blossom.

Honoring Achievements and Expanding Creative Opportunities at Express Yourself Studios

3/21/2025

 
This season marks an exciting new chapter for Express Yourself Studios—one filled with recognition, growth, and a renewed mission to make creativity more accessible than ever. From community honors to major exhibitions and a new mobile and digital focus, we’re proud to share what’s new and what’s next.

Simone Anthony-Brown Named Unsung Shero in Business

We are proud to share that Simone Anthony-Brown, artist and owner of Express Yourself Studios, was recently recognized as an Unsung Shero in the category of Business at Unsung Sheroes, presented by South Orange Village, Maplewood Township, and the South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC).

This meaningful recognition highlights local women making outstanding contributions across sectors. Simone was honored alongside:
  • Advocacy: Nicole Josey
  • Arts: Susan Haig
  • Education: Elizabeth Petroccia
  • Community: Mona Karim and Geetanjali Mehra
  • Public Service: Stacey Ross-Trevor
  • Youth: Violet Kessler

We are incredibly grateful to see Simone’s work in the arts and entrepreneurship acknowledged in such a powerful way.

“Rhythms and Roots” Featured at Newark Liberty International Airport

Simone Anthony-Brown’s artwork, Rhythms and Roots, has also been selected for the Art of NJ Digital Art Exhibition at Newark Liberty International Airport’s Terminal A. Chosen from nearly 400 submissions, Simone is one of just 20 artists selected to represent New Jersey’s vibrant creative community.

Her mixed-media collage—rich in texture, color, and cultural storytelling—will be displayed digitally, introducing national and international travelers to the depth and diversity of New Jersey's artists.

Simone’s work has also been featured in exhibitions hosted by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, and is held in private collections across the United States and Canada.

We’ve Gone Mobile (and Digital)! As of this year, Express Yourself Studios has officially evolved into a mobile and digital creative arts hub. That means we’re now delivering engaging art experiences wherever creativity is needed—at schools, corporations, community centers, senior living facilities, and virtually, too.

Whether it's a team-building workshop, wellness program, family art session, or special event, we bring all the supplies and the inspiration to your location.

Recent Highlights:
  • March 5: We led a Senior Pottery Workshop at Brandywine Living in Livingston, NJ, guiding residents through hand-building techniques with clay.
  • March 6: We returned for our 4th creative team-building session with Deloitte in Morristown, helping employees step away from their screens to reconnect through a guided mixed-media painting workshop.
  • March 11:  We conducted and kids and family Collage Workshop for Women's History Month
  • March 17:  We facilitated a Mixed-Media Floral Collage Workshop at the Springfield Library guiding participants through layering paint, papers, and text to create vibrant, one-of-a-kind pieces
  • March 26:  We will facilitate a Bold Floral Painting Workshop at Columbia High School in conjunction with the South Orange/Maplewood Adult School.  There are still seats available so join us!  

​These events reflect our mission to make art accessible, interactive, and meaningful in all kinds of environments.

Virtual Painting Sessions – 4th SundaysWe’re also continuing our Virtual Painting Sessions for individuals and families, held every 4th Sunday of the month. These sessions are perfect for relaxing, bonding, and expressing yourself creatively from the comfort of home.

Pre-registration is required. Contact us to sign up for the next session.

Explore Our Digital Art Collection

Looking to add beautiful, original artwork to your space? Our Digital Art Collection features high-resolution, ready-to-download art that you can print at your convenience using platforms like Fine Art America or Finer Works.
Whether you're decorating your home, gifting something special, or curating your office space, our collection offers the flexibility and inspiration you need.

Mobile Art Birthday Parties

Celebrating a child’s birthday soon? Our Mobile Art Birthday Parties bring creativity directly to you! We handle everything—supplies, setup, and instruction—for a fun and engaging experience.

We travel to community centers, clubhouses, and backyards throughout Suburban Essex, Morris, and Union counties.

Let’s Create Together

We're excited to share these milestones and look forward to continuing to bring art into lives and communities in new and meaningful ways. We'll be sharing updates monthly and hope you'll stay connected.

Whether you're looking for an offsite art workshop, virtual painting session, original artwork, or a mobile birthday party, Express Yourself Studios is here to help you create.

​Contact us to get started or to learn more about how we can bring a creative experience to your home, team, or community.

    Author

    Simone Anthony-Brown is the founder of Express Yourself Studios, an artist, and a passionate advocate for creativity in everyday life. With over 16 years of experience running her New Jersey based studio, Simone has inspired countless individuals through art workshops, community events, and her own mixed media artwork.
    ​
    Her vibrant creations celebrate cultural heritage and the transformative power of self-expression. As an Amazon Associate, Simone earns from qualifying purchases, allowing her to recommend tools and products she genuinely believes in.

    Through her blog, she shares insights, tips, and resources to help readers unlock their creative potential and bring more joy into their lives.

    Simone’s  artwork can be purchased at Express Yourself Studios, Wayfair​, Etsy and Fine Art America.

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  • Home
    • About
      • Contact
      • Policies/Copyright Notice
  • @EYS The Blog
  • Express Yourself Art & Co.
    • All Things Colorful Graphic Tees
    • Black + Nerd = Blerd Apparel
  • Artwork by Simone Anthony-Brown
    • Commission an Abstract Landscape Painting by Simone Anthony-Brown
    • Commission a Custom Collage Portrait by Simone Anthony-Brown
  • Commission an Abstract Landscape Painting by Simone Anthony-Brown
  • Commission a Custom Collage Portrait by Simone Anthony-Brown
  • Original Art for Sale
    • Blooming Essence
    • Echoes of Heritage Series
    • Not A Threat
    • Rhythms and Roots
    • Sacred Beginnings
    • Living With Art
  • Art Prints and Framed Art
    • Living With Art
  • Digital Art Downloads - Print & Frame Collection
  • Virtual Paint & Unwind – 4th Sundays
  • Creative Team Building for Companies and Private Group Events
  • Art Workshops for Schools, Youth Organizations and Scout Troops
  • Create for a Cause - Art Fundraisers
  • Mobile Art Birthday Parties
  • Contact