The Mangoes

Ripening Mangoes, Acrylic.

1. A friend recently asked if I was still willing to paint her birthday gift—a painting of mangoes. She gently reminded me of a promise I had made over a year ago, and of course, I said yes!

Truthfully, I love making gifts for people.

There is something so special about creating something with my own hands, something personal and one-of-a-kind, instead of buying another item from a store that might be forgotten in a few months. A painting becomes part of someone's story. It hangs in their home. It reminds them they were thought of and loved. I can't think of a better gift than that.

She sent me two reference photos of mangoes she liked and gave me complete freedom to paint them in either oil or acrylic—two mediums I'm only beginning to explore.

Perfect! 😂

Two challenges in one.

• First, I had never really painted fruit before.

• Second, I was venturing into a medium I'm still learning. If you've followed me for any length of time, you know that's usually enough to make me say, "Let's do it!"

I am in the Milan Mastery Program for art. I am at the very beginning of lessons, so I drew on what lessons I had done to paint the mangoes. Since my friend wanted acrylic or oils, I chose acrylic for speed; it dries faster. I love oil paint, but you have to let it completely dry for at least one month before sealing it. My friend’s birthday was around the corner. I used a professional-grade, level 3 canvas from Michaels, and the acrylic paints and brushes from the Milan Mastery program.

Process

After studying the photos, I chose one with the mangoes hanging from the tree, ripening in the sunlight. It felt alive. Since there was a deadline for her birthday lunch, I decided to paint in acrylic because it dries much faster than oil.

I began by blocking in the composition directly with paint rather than drawing it first with pencil. From there, I built the painting with transparent layers before adding increasingly opaque passages of color and detail.

Was it smooth sailing? Not even close.

There were mistakes...lots of them. 😊 Thankfully, paint is wonderfully forgiving, and little by little I worked through each problem until the painting finally became what I had envisioned.

Even then, that little voice every artist knows whispered, "What if she doesn't like it?"

Giving artwork to someone is surprisingly vulnerable. You're handing someone a little piece of your heart, hoping they'll see what you saw.

When we met for her birthday lunch, I handed her the wrapped painting.

She absolutely loved it.

The next day she sent me photographs of it hanging on her wall.

I don't know that there's a greater compliment an artist can receive than knowing someone chose to make your work part of their home. That simple gesture means more than I can express.

But this painting represents something even bigger.

It feels like the beginning of a new chapter.

When I opened my booth in January 2024, my vision was simple. I wanted to share the products I genuinely loved—especially DIY Paint—and fill the space with artwork I had created, whether on furniture or canvas.

Then life happened.

School became my priority. Then came my dissertation. To keep the booth thriving while my attention was elsewhere, I gradually added more product lines and shifted my focus.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with that. Those products have been wonderful, and I still love sharing them with you.

But somewhere along the way, I realized my own artistic voice had become quieter.

Not gone...just quieter.

And I missed her.

This little painting of mangoes reminded me exactly why I started Wendy Molinaroli Art in the first place.

To create.

To learn.

To stretch myself.

To make beautiful things that connect with people.

I'm incredibly excited to share that I'm enrolled in the Mastery Program at the Milan Art Institute, and I feel like I'm stepping into the next season of my artistic life with renewed purpose and excitement.

You'll begin seeing much more of my original artwork in pencil, charcoal, watercolor, acrylic, oil, and of course, DIY Paint. While there may be fewer painted furniture pieces than before, you'll be seeing many more canvases, drawings, studies, and paintings as I continue to grow as an artist.

Honestly, I can't wait.

Learning new mediums has reignited something inside me that had been waiting patiently while I finished my degree. It feels like coming home.

Thank you for being here—for cheering me on, encouraging me, and following this creative adventure. Whether you've been with me since the beginning or you've only recently found me, I'm so grateful you're here.

I truly hope you'll join me as Wendy Molinaroli Art continues to grow, evolve, and become exactly what it was always meant to be.

If there's one thing I hope you take away from this story, it's this: don't wait until you feel "artistic enough" to begin.

I almost let fear convince me I wasn't ready to paint in acrylics. If I had listened, The Mangoes would never have existed.

Whatever you've been thinking about trying—painting, drawing, writing, sewing, gardening, or restoring an old piece of furniture—I hope you'll take that first step.

You don't have to get it perfect.

You just have to start.

You may discover, as I have, that creating beauty changes more than the canvas. Sometimes, it changes us too. ❤️

If this painting made you smile...

Prints, notecards, and original artwork are available in my online gallery at wendymolinaroliart.com.

Thank you for allowing me to share this creative journey with you. It truly means more than you know. ❤️

If you enjoy this kind of work, I share ideas, tools, and inspiration for creating in your own space. You’re always welcome here. If you’d like to keep exploring with me, you can join my email list below.