At this year’s Village Arts Festival, my painting Stacked Serenity took an unexpected tumble when a gust of wind knocked over a display wall, tearing two gashes in the canvas. What followed was a careful repair process, a lesson in patience, and a reminder that art, like artists, can be resilient and evolve after a setback.

Quirky museums remind me inspiration is everywhere — even in the smallest, most unexpected places.

Valerie was all in, hunting down the perfect mosaic design for her frame. Meanwhile, I decided that instead of working on my pad plant frame, I would swap out the window in my half-bath with a sea-themed mosaic instead. Matt’s only rule: “No flamingos, for heaven’s sake!” So naturally, I went underwater—sea turtles, fish, seaweed, and none of those pink feathered party crashers.