An Artist’s Island Retreat: Finding Inspiration in Aruba

Feb 28

*Originally published in 2019. Lovingly refreshed to keep the color, joy, and inspiration alive.

My watercolor painting drying by the beach.

I recently returned from an island retreat in Aruba, feeling rejuvenated by the sunshine, warm ocean waters, and vibrant turquoise beaches. While my husband, Brett, went north to enjoy some snowmobiling, I spent time with my parents and my paints on the island.

One of the things I love most about our marriage is this balance: although we often travel together, we also support each other’s individual interests. It’s like a perfect figure eight—we meet back in the middle feeling alive and refreshed.

If you want to see more of my island adventures, check out my earlier post, An Island Getaway, with photos and reflections from Aruba.

aruba.seascape-935x1024.jpg — Turquoise waters and sunlit waves in Aruba—an island that inspires my watercolor seascapes and creative escape.

A windswept Divi tree on Aruba’s shore, bending gracefully toward the turquoise ocean—nature’s own inspiration for my watercolor seascapes and island paintings.

Embracing Island Life

Being at the beach in the sunshine is one of my favorite things in the whole wild world. I feel like I must have lived on an island in another life, as everything about island living feels like home to me; the bright colors, the warm ocean water, and the joyful, laid-back spirit of the people.

aruba.door_-761x1024.jpg — Colorful Aruban doors, full of character and joy, influencing the playful tones in my watercolor paintings.

This retreat also reminded me of the power of escapism-stepping away from routine, even briefly, to recharge your creativity and spirit. I explore this idea further in my post The Art of Escapism: 4 Simple Ways to Create More Joy, Creativity & Inspiration in Everyday Life.

Beachside bliss in Aruba, where every detail—from piña coladas to sunsets—feeds creativity and joy.

One Happy Island

Aruba is known as “One Happy Island,” and whoever coined that motto created the perfect brand. It’s infectious! From the taxi drivers picking you up at the airport to the bartenders serving piña coladas on the beach, everyone radiates a bright, vibrant, happy spirit. It’s a wonderful reminder to find joy in all that you do.

Even Aruba’s license plates share the motto ‘One Happy Island.” How fun is that? Words are powerful! Imagine if every country adopted a positive affirmation to inspire its citizens daily.

If you love the idea of anchoring your life in meaningful words, you can download my Free Trust Affirmation Printable here.

The Key to Paradise Collection

During my retreat, I spent a lot of time painting. The colors, energy, and joy of Aruba inspired my Key to Paradise Collection of watercolor seascapes.

Watercolors are such a free and spontaneous medium, perfect for capturing the lively spirit of an island. Some of the playful experiments from this trip also led to my Polka Dotted Paintings, where I explored color, pattern, and joyful spontaneity. Each piece reflects the bright hues, warm waters, and joyful energy I experienced during my retreat.