Dream Big: Starting Where You Are
Hi! If you're new to my website or my art—welcome! Over the last five years, I’ve been on a journey to create the life I’ve always dreamed of—one filled with the freedom of time and money to create art and spend time with the people I love. If you're dreaming of starting something creative but feel stuck, I’m here to share how I took small steps that changed everything.
Just Starting
At the beginning, I had no idea where or how to start. I’d spent 15+ years building a career in graphic design, so I didn’t even know where to begin with painting. But I started with what was easiest—my own mind, my thoughts.
I listened to a lot of motivational talks, and one study really stuck with me. It was about basketball players practicing free throws. One group trained physically, while another only visualized themselves making the shots. When tested, the group that practiced in their minds had results just as good—if not better—than those who practiced physically.
That study made me realize—I’d been practicing visualization my whole life without even knowing it.
I’ve always used my imagination as a kind of escape. If I wanted something I didn’t have, I would pretend, just to “experience” what it might feel like to have it, even if just for a moment. I started applying this to my art. Instead of thinking about my daily commute as lost time, I turned it into a mental practice session. I imagined how I’d mix paint colors to capture the shades of trees passing by, how the warm light of the sun reflected on snow. I thought about the movement of my wrist as I shaped branches with my brush. Sometimes, I’d even imagine the smell of painting supplies from art school and pretend it was how my studio smelled.
At first, it was just visualization. Then it turned into sketching at my desk to start my design projects. Soon, I was sketching for fun on my lunch break, wandering the city to take in inspiration from murals and galleries. What began as a mental exercise slowly evolved—I made space at home, picked up my brushes, and started painting for real.
Creating Your Own Experience—Even When It’s Not “Ideal”
Growing up, my mom instilled a deep sense of resourcefulness in me. I remember one year around Christmas, she created an in-home "store" for my six siblings and me to pick out gifts for each other. Maybe it was about saving money, maybe it was about managing time—after all, taking seven kids shopping individually wasn’t exactly practical. But she found a way to give us the shopping experience while keeping it simple and within her means.
That lesson stuck with me, and I still apply it today.
Later in my working life, I realized I’d developed a similar mindset when it came to creating offerings at different budget levels. Whether it was choosing materials or pricing projects, I trained my brain to think in three levels:
What does this look like at the lowest cost and time investment?
What would it be if there were no budget limits?
What’s a middle ground that makes it happen now?
This approach helped me see that there’s always a way to make something happen—even if it’s not at the “ideal” level right away.
Now, I’m constantly finding new ways to build my dream—small steps that might not look like progress but move me forward in big ways.
One of those steps was getting a part-time job at a local paint bar. Some people might see this as a step back from my plan to have full control over my schedule and time, but for me, it’s been like a slingshot forward for so many other goals. I plan my days in advance to maintain the time freedom. Every shift, I get to practice sharing my skills, build confidence in teaching, and learn from some seriously talented artists. It’s not just about the paycheck—it’s about painting more, connecting with a creative community, and sharing my art and positivity with others. I’m fulfilling my purpose in a way that is a little bit closer to my ideal, and that’s exactly what I need right now.
It’s also helped me feel confident enough to start sharing live painting sessions and to do some paint-along-with-me sessions too!
Remember, your dream is unique to you, and it doesn’t matter what other people think.
I’ve known for a while that my way of learning isn’t the same as others—I need to do things, to experience them, in order to find my way. And I am finding my way. I am succeeding. It’s not always easy, but every day, I am a step (or more) closer.
If you’re on your own journey or want to be, let’s cheer each other on! Connect with me @bonnie.aparicio.art on Instagram, and let’s keep the encouragement going.
One of the things I mentioned above was painting and traveling. So, I put together a mini painting kit that I can carry with me wherever I go. I thought it would be fun to do live painting sessions or short videos so you can paint along—whether you’re an artist looking to practice or just need a creative mental break.
Here’s what I use for my travel-friendly art kit:
🎨 Liquitex BASICS Acrylic Paint Set
🖌️ Paint Brush Set
📜 Canvas Panels in Various Sizes
I use paper plates for my palette and a cup, or bottle, of water and paper towels from whereever I am. If you want to join in, grab some supplies and paint with me on Instagram @bonnie.aparicio.art. Or just watch, relax, and soak in the creative energy!
Wherever you are in your journey, make sure you start. Even if it’s only in your mind at first. Every step counts.
If you’re interested in learning other tools I use to achieve my goals, I put together the Dream Big, Dream You Workbook. It’s available on Amazon or if you prefer a digital version, you can get a pdf of it directly from my site here. I have been releasing videos of each section on Instagram as well, @bonnie.aparicio.art. Feel free to DM or comment on the Dream Big Dream You posts with any questions you have.
I’m excited to share my live painting sessions with you and look forward to hearing how you’re acheiving your unique goals too!
Dream Big, Dream You!
Love, Bonnie
p.s. One thing I’m trying out is affiliate links. This means if you click on one of the links above, and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. Please know, I only link to products I have used, would purchase myself, and brands I trust. This helps support the site at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!