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Manda Comisari

Fine Artist specializing in gouache

  • Art
  • Commissioned Work
  • About
  • Contact
  • Blog

Gouache has long been overlooked in fine art. Here’s why this bold, honest medium deserves gallery space—and why I’ve chosen it for 14+ years.

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tags: gouache, fine art mediums, artist life, painting techniques, contemporary art, material honesty, why use gouache, creative defiance
categories: Studio Notes
Thursday 05.29.25
Posted by Manda Comisari
 

Take a peek inside my favorite tiny travel art kit—complete with a miniature sketchbook, a paint flask, and the quirky history involving the Whiskey Painters of America. Plus, easy steps to build your own DIY kit.

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tags: travel watercolor palette, whiskey painters, portable art supplies, mini art kit, painting while traveling, art on the go, gouache travel kit, sketchbook inspiration, miniature art supplies, tiny sketchbook
categories: Studio Notes
Wednesday 05.07.25
Posted by Manda Comisari
 

From experimenting with plaid patterns to embracing bold new colors, my creative process has taken an exciting turn. In this post, I dive into how houseplants and personal experiences inspired a new collection of works., and how rediscovering fun in the process led to my biggest artistic shift.

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tags: gouache painting techniques, mini sketchbook paintings, watercolor travel palette, houseplant art, pattern painting with gouache, experimental painting techniques, overcoming creative blocks, art blog creative journey, artist journey after vision loss
categories: Studio Notes
Tuesday 04.29.25
Posted by Manda Comisari
 

From creative block to breakthrough—how vision loss, healing, and repotting houseplants led me back to art and a brand-new body of work.

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tags: Vision loss and creativity, Finding inspiration, Houseplants and healing, Art after illness, Overcoming creative block, Gouache painting process, Emotional healing through art, Creative recovery story
categories: Studio Notes
Wednesday 04.23.25
Posted by Manda Comisari
Comments: 1
 

In 2023, an eye exam turned into a life-altering experience when I suddenly lost my eyesight. What followed was my strangest year yet—full of acupuncture, carrot juice, community, and a whole lot of self-trust. This is the story of how losing my vision helped me see everything more clearly.

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tags: vision loss, optic neuritis, healing journey, prism lens complications, artist life, burnout recovery, personal growth, creative process, self trust, rediscovering joy, painting after burnout, creative healing
categories: Studio Notes
Tuesday 04.15.25
Posted by Manda Comisari
Comments: 2
 

Go behind the scenes of the Unusual Animal Messages oracle deck—from planning and painting to unexpected challenges and brilliant breakthroughs.

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tags: unusual animal messages, unusual animal messages oracle deck, how to make an oracle deck, oracle deck creation process, painting oracle cards, gouache animal illustration, animal spirit cards, behind the scenes oracle deck, gouache textures, intuitive animal messages, writing an oracle deck
categories: Studio Notes
Monday 12.12.22
Posted by Manda Comisari
 

Every creative project has an origin story—and mine starts with severe childhood anxiety, an introduction to energy work, and an early love for the world’s weirdest animals. In this post, I’m sharing how Unusual Animal Messages came to life, from the initial concept to a finished product sitting on shelves.

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tags: animal oracle deck, oracle deck creation story, unusual animal messages, publishing journey, oracle deck publishing, how to publish an oracle deck, gouache oracle cards, illustrated oracle deck
categories: Studio Notes
Thursday 12.01.22
Posted by Manda Comisari
 

Studio update: Eeek! I did a thing!

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tags: oracle deck, unusual animal messages, gouache illustration, intuitive card deck, animal symbolism, animal spirit guides, illustrated oracle deck, self-love, personal growth tools, psychology and art, creative healing
categories: Studio Notes
Tuesday 11.01.22
Posted by Manda Comisari