Who I am today is because of who they were —
and how we can now share it with others...
Why this story matters
Art isn’t only what’s on the paper—it’s the hands, the history, and the hilarious detours behind it. I grew up with paint-splattered mugs, half-finished vases, plates, rocks, and a mother who could turn a quiet afternoon into a full-blown creative experiment. Today, I’m bringing those pieces (and my great-grandmother’s watercolours from over a century ago!) out of the attic and into the world—thanks to a very modern toolkit.
Growing up in Waikanae, a small town on the Kāpiti Coast of New Zealand, I spent quite some time watching as my mother learned to paint, asked for feedback, and continued navigating her own life in colour. My great-grandmother was a talented watercolour painter herself, but likely wasn’t aware of how her art would touch me 100 years later—a few of her pieces I’m lucky enough to have and enjoy as wall paintings. Here is one of her watercolours; I’ll continue to share more in future blogs.
The Art
- Medium: Watercolour on paper
- Original year: 1918 (inspiration) / 2025 (reinterpretation)
- Use: Printable card & wall art
Re·Generation — “Thinking of You”
Vintage classical ladies from my family archive, refreshed for today. Shop the card and see the original artwork together.
The heartbeat: Art that runs in the family
My great-grandmother painted elegant watercolor ladies in 1918. My late mum, Jackie, taught herself china painting—sometimes funny, sometimes simple, always heartfelt. As a kid, my brother and I were not her ideal focus group (our official review was usually a distracted “it’s… okay”). If emojis had existed, we would’ve offered a polite 👍 and gone back to our snacks. Appreciation takes time, the right audience, and reflection...
Those pieces lived in boxes for years. I couldn’t part with them; they held a kind of comfort only family-made things do. Now I’m re-photographing, cleaning, and reinterpreting them—sometimes digitally—so they can be enjoyed again, not just by us, but by anyone who loves stories woven through paint. The struggle with the technical side of achieving worldwide sharing is real for me—I sometimes have more questions than answers and go in circles until I can finally hit publish. Then I wait for my audience to find what I’m trying to share.
The modern stack (aka how art finds its people in 2025)
Here’s how I’m making century-old art discoverable, shoppable, and shareable—without losing its soul:
- Linktree: my one-link hub so people can jump between my shop, blog, Pinterest, and latest releases without playing hide-and-seek.
- Pinterest: visual search engine heaven. I post process shots, product mockups, and story-driven Pins that link back to my shop and blog.
- Zazzle: print-on-demand magic for cards, napkins, notebooks, and more—perfect for testing designs and offering global shipping.
- Etsy: a friendly storefront for instant downloads and curated product lines with strong search and reviews.
- (And yes) ChatGPT: my 24/7 studio buddy. It explains things three ways, never rolls its eyes, and helps me turn “hmm” into “oh!”
Lessons from the messy middle
- Creative flow > perfect plan. I rarely know exactly how a piece will start or end. The process gives me mindfulness, peace, and that sense of finding my place in this world.
- Make tech your studio assistant. From resizing images to writing product copy, the right tools mean more time with a brush (or stylus) in hand.
- Iterate in public. I share drafts, ask questions, and tweak fast. The work gets better—and the audience grows along with it. Join me—keep reading, commenting, and sharing; maybe even begin your own journey...
- Your audience might be elsewhere. My mum’s audience wasn’t two kids under 12; it was future floral lovers, stationery fans, vintage romantics, and collectors around the world—people she had no way of reaching from her dining room table in New Zealand.
From “saved in a box” to “saved to cart”
One of my favourite rescues: a small 1918 watercolour portrait—edges rough, board a bit tired. Today it’s photographed, gently restored, framed on my wall (because I love it), and available as a thoughtful greeting card online. The story travels with the piece, and that’s the part I cherish most. I also love it because I can relate to my past family ancestors—it's a comfort knowing that they too found joy in a brush and a pot of paint! I belong here too.
For fellow creatives (near and far)
If you’ve got a shoebox of sketches or a camera roll full of “maybe one day,” here’s a simple path:
- Choose one piece that still makes your heart tilt.
- Digitise it (scan/photograph in bright, even light).
- Clean it lightly—remove dust and fix small tears, but keep its character.
- Tell the story. Who made it, when, and why does it matter now?
- Publish to your hub (Linktree), then share on Pinterest and list on Zazzle/Etsy.
- Invite feedback and keep iterating. The right audience will find you.
- Shop & Follow my designs:
Instant downloads + curated sets: Etsy (coming online very soon) https://www.etsy.com/nz/shop/PapercraftStudioNZ
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/lovepaperthings/
Everything in one place: Linktree — linktr.ee/nickybourkeart
If this resonated, share it with a creative friend who needs a nudge to open their own attic boxes. 💜
Thank you for being here and letting me share these small echoes from our family’s brushstrokes & my own desire to join them today!
With warm regards,
Nicky
creative every day—especially when memories are what we have to share 💜
#ReGeneration #VintageArt #ThinkingOfYou #GreetingCard #ClassicalArt #NZArtist #Waikanae #ZazzleShop