Let's Have a Watercolor Potluck!
...plus an upcoming watercolor workshop at a farm, Strawberry Caprese, Potato Artichoke Salad, Lasagna, and Floral Aperol Spritzes.
Hi friends,
It’s been 10 days since my book came out and I am blown away by the response! If you’ve been enjoying it, I hope you’ll consider writing a review (Goodreads / Amazon) and sharing on social. These early weeks really impact the success of the book and I so appreciate all your support!
Seemingly overnight, spring has arrived in Madison! The lawns are suddenly green and the tulips and magnolia trees are blooming! Did I just survive my first midwest winter (or might we still have a spring snowstorm?!) Either way, things are looking up. Neighbors are emerging from hibernation and mingling on the sidewalks again which makes me want to plan some gatherings!
Last weekend, we hosted a dinner party. We’d planned the date many weeks in advance and I was really looking forward to it. However, when the day came, I was feeling tired and a bit overwhelmed. We had just gotten back from New York, hadn’t unpacked, the house was messy, the kids had sports to get to and the idea of getting everything put together by 5pm felt stressful. So when people asked what they could bring, I suggested sides and inadvertently made it a potluck. (Thank you to our kind and generous friends who brought such lovely things to share). It was not my most creative or elaborate entertaining moment. It was a simple lasagna meal but we enjoyed being together— which is what it’s all about.
So, POTLUCKS! Maybe this is the answer to all our hosting hesitations. Not a new idea of course, but what if we put a creative twist on it? A theme! A reason to gather. I bet you can see where I am going with this….WATERCOLOR!
Even though our dinner was simple, I did add a creative touch: a folding table with watercolor supplies. A painting table acts as a nice landing pad as people arrive and get settled into a new environment. It’s a calming activity over a drink and both kids and adults seem to like it.
Perhaps you remember my post about watercolor gatherings and the challenge to host 2 parties in 2025. I’d like to push this idea forward! If anyone hosts a watercolor potluck in the coming months, please send me your photos and thoughts. I’d LOVE to share them here and inspire others to do the same.
My motivation is this: art and food give us a reason to gather, talk more, understand each other better and strengthen relationships…which builds community. Stronger, more empathetic communities will inevitably make the world a more peaceful and loving place. So, by my calculation…. WATERCOLOR POTLUCK = WORLD PEACE :) Let’s do this!
Menu Ideas:
Aperol Spritzes (for more fun, garnish with an edible flower!)
Roasted Potato Salad with Artichokes and Arugula
Strawberry Caprese (Also see here from my Road Trip book where I make this salad with sliced strawberries, sliced yellow cherry tomatoes, basil, mozzarella and balsamic).
Squash Lasagna (adaptation: for the lasagna last weekend, I roasted a tray of cubed butternut, bell pepper, onion and zucchini and layered it in to the lasagna with ricotta, mozzarella and Parmesan, fresh baby spinach and plenty of Rao’s roasted garlic marinara sauce.)
May 3: Upcoming Watercolor Workshop in Madison!
So many of you have been asking if I’ll be teaching watercolor workshops and classes and if you’re in the Madison area, you are in luck! On Saturday May 3rd, I’ll be teaching a very special floral painting workshop at Haney’s Tavern in Cross Plains. This is a gorgeous flower farm that hosts workshops in a historic, restored barn. I attended a floral design workshop there last fall when dahlias and zinnias were blooming and loved visiting this special farm so much!
On May 3rd, we’ll be painting flowers together and guests get to take home a spring bouquet, a set of watercolor paints and my new book.
See all of Haney’s Tavern Spring Workshops here, including a “bundle” option for my painting workshop combined with a class by floral designer Mike Hines on May 3rd. There will also be a garden sale at the farm that day!
Lastly, Happy Independent Bookstore Day tomorrow! Thank you to everyone who has been supporting my local bookshop, Mystery to Me and for making The Watercolor Feast one of their biggest preorders ever! Signed copies are still available online.
Happy weekend!
xx
Erin
PS: I am looking to add more cities to my book tour this fall! If anyone works at or runs a venue that might like to host me for an author talk or class, please reach out! Can’t wait to paint with you.