Bloom Where You Breathe: Watercolor, Wellness & the Wonder of Letting Go

In watercolor, nothing stays still for long. A brush meets the page, the pigment blooms, and suddenly the colors are off on their own little adventure—unexpected, a bit wild, and completely worth following. For Rebekah Laffoon, founder of BotanicalBekah, that’s where the magic hides. 

What started with her kids’ proudly “borrowed” bouquets from neighborhood gardens has grown into a joyful mix of art and play while inviting guests to slow down, splash around, and see where the water takes them. In her workshops, petals lean wonky, gold ink catches the light just right, and every so-called “mistake” turns into a masterpiece. 

This summer, she brought that same spirit to Treehouse Hotel Silicon Valley, leading guests on a laid back stroll through the property before settling in for a relaxed afternoon of painting petals and chasing golden light. From happy accidents to golden touches, BotanicalBekah shares how watercolor can calm the mind and spark a little everyday wonder.

Finding Calm in Color with Rebekah Laffoon, Founder of BotanicalBekah

BotanicalBekah began as an ode to flowers. What first drew you to painting botanicals, and how has that subject kept you creatively energized over the years?

Nature’s beauty has always captivated me with its rich colors, perfectly imperfect shapes and how it engages all the senses. It’s endlessly inspiring. When I first started painting, I focused on single leaves and flowers, learning to sketch their form. Over time, I moved on to larger scale bouquets, wild arrangements, and eventually full landscapes that feature botanicals. It’s been a natural process of zooming in on details and then stepping back to see the bigger picture.

My kids have played a special role in this journey too. When they were little, the three of them would gather wildflowers for me to paint wherever we went. I’ll never forget how my daughter used to walk home from school picking flowers from every neighbor’s yard, and proudly handing me her bouquet at the front door every afternoon. It became a fun challenge to paint whatever they brought me, and it pushed me to try new things. That’s really how BotanicalBekah began.

Many people pick up watercolor as a gentle hobby, then discover it quietly rewires the mind for fresh ideas and calm focus. In your own practice—and in workshops—how have you seen painting with water and pigment open new creative pathways or support mental wellbeing?

I love this question because it’s exactly how I experience watercolor. This medium invites a balance of control and surrender. You learn the techniques, but the paint often flows and blooms in unexpected ways. Every painting is a mindful dance of intention and letting go. Embracing imperfection and discovery means no mistakes, only happy accidents that might lead to something even better than planned.

As a clinical therapist turned artist and teacher, I’ve seen how the same posture of curiosity, flexibility, and acceptance can help people emotionally reset. Watercolor pulls you into the present moment and teaches you to loosen your grip and trust the process, both on the page and in life. I've watched people come in feeling anxious or unsure and leave with a sense of calm and creative energy. That transformation is one of my favorite parts of this work.

For newcomers, what’s one beginner-friendly watercolor technique that instantly breaks the ice and yields surprisingly satisfying results?

The wet-in-wet technique is my favorite for beginners. You paint a vibrant wash of color on your paper, then while it’s still wet, load your brush with a second color and drop it in. Watching the colors blend and bloom together always elicits surprise and delight. It’s simple, beautiful, and gives you a sense of the magic in watercolor.

Every participant’s kit included a gold marker, an unexpected twist. How does that spark of metallic color encourage playfulness and experimentation?

I’m obsessed with adding gold details! I love adding a touch of gold at the end of a painting: some gold veining on a leaf, a few dots of sparkle, or a little mark-making that pulls the whole piece together. Because it’s so easy and visually stunning, it nudges people to loosen up and break the rules a little!