Every painting begins with an idea — sorry, no photo of my mind! Once I can see it in my imagination, I look for something to help me plan what I’ll paint and later animate.
1. Inspiration
Here is a leaf twig I found on Pixabay. It’s only to give me an idea of what to draw and paint.
(Photo of the leaf twig from Pixabay)
2. Painting the Leaf Twig
Here is the finished leaf twig painted with shimmering metallic gold watercolor. I really wanted it to shine.
(Photo of the finished leaf twig)
3. Size and Scale
I left it large because it’s always easier to make something smaller than larger when editing digitally.
4. Creating the Background
I painted the background using the wet-on-wet technique with Daniel Smith Prussian Blue. First, I brushed horizontally. After it dried, I turned the paper and painted vertically for the YouTube short format. The overlapping strokes created a beautiful tone.
(Photo of the finished background)
5. Setting Up for Animation
Before I paint, I use a special template that helps me match the proportions needed for a YouTube vertical short video. It shows me exactly where the main subject should go.
6. Why So Many Pieces?
I’m not painting for a gallery — I’m painting for animation. Each part becomes a separate layer that moves and transforms when I animate it. Because of this, I don’t need the most expensive watercolor paper. I use Fabriano 140-lb watercolor paper. It’s not the highest grade, but it’s perfect once stretched properly and can handle a reasonable amount of wash.
7. The (Future) Animation Plan
The leaf twig, painted with metallic gold watercolor, will eventually be animated in Canva (a gentle float from the top of the canopy to the bottom, where it dissolves) and finished on a green screen. The background is static — it doesn’t move — so I scan it, cut it to size, and place it into Clipchamp as the base layer.
The dissolve is another matter. I painted three versions of the dissolve:
One with a few small gold spots,
One with many more gold areas,
And one completely gold.
These stages will later be animated in Synfig, a vector-based animation program that uses tweening to make it look as if I painted hundreds of in-between steps.
8. Bringing It All Together
Right now, you can watch a short photo-video that walks through the finished watercolor steps. The full animation is still in progress and will be shared later.
Thank you for reading my watercolor process. Come back soon to see the completed watercolor animation of the golden leaf twig! I’ll also be sharing how I make my own metallic watercolor paints from scratch, using methods inspired by the old masters.
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Here is the video of some cats in Halloween Cat Costumes — we hope you enjoy it!
I thought these photos of real cats in the cutest costumes deserved to be seen in the proper environments. Cat costumes have really come into their own. I see online hundreds of costumes — from full-body outfits with headpieces (which only a few cats can tolerate!) to simple hats, character headgear, and “front-only” costumes with fake arms that make cats look like they’re walking on two feet. Those can be especially adorable!
We even used one of those for our short Wrath the Cat Wife. Honestly, I don’t know which kind I like best; they all look so cute on our feline friends.
A word about costumes: please never force a cat to wear something they don’t want to wear. It can be very upsetting for them.
The Costumes My Wife Makes for Our Own Cats
Written by my husband, for our YouTube channel — Serenity of the Mind.
My wife loves making costumes for our cats. Before creating anything, she considers each cat’s personality. We have six cats, and each one is different.
Emily is our oldest and easiest. We’re always careful not to make her uncomfortable. She’s the only cat who will tolerate wings or a halo. My wife uses soft elastic to keep them on and usually works with felt. We know felt isn’t fire-safe, but costumes are never left on for long and are kept away from any heat source. We’re always present during filming, and as soon as the photo or video is done, the costume comes off.
Emily is comfortable with small hats or halos that fit between or outside her ears. Occasionally she’ll wear a fuller costume, like when she was a leprechaun, but even then, my wife designed it more like a soft cape so Emily could move freely. In winter, Emily wears little coats to keep warm, but that’s about the only time she tolerates a full costume.
Daisy and Jessica are fine with hats as long as their ears aren’t squeezed. Neither likes the ear cutouts, so hats are measured between the ears. Jessica was a witch one year, and Daisy a scholar.
Lily and Polaris don’t like costumes at all. Polaris is too bouncy to measure, so she got a bow instead. Lily is shy and hides when measuring time comes, so my wife used an old collar of hers as a guide and made her a flower-petal collar.
Lastly, Athena — another shy one — allowed a quick measurement, so my wife crocheted a tiny, old-fashioned baby bonnet for her. She didn’t like it much, and my husband had to hold her for a quick photo before we removed it. That was the end of her Halloween adventure!
We might not do another Halloween with costumes — perhaps just some cute props, pumpkins, or special treats next time.
Cats and Halloween go way back—centuries, actually—mixing history, folklore, and superstition into traditions that still shape the holiday.
Ancient Egypt: Cats were revered as sacred animals and linked to the goddess Bastet, who symbolized home, fertility, and protection. People believed cats brought divine favor, and harming one was a serious crime.
Celtic Legends: The Celts saw cats as mystical creatures tied to the Otherworld. The legendary Cat-Sìth, a large black fairy cat with a white spot, was said to guard the border between life and death.
Medieval Europe: During the Middle Ages, black cats were associated with witches and witchcraft. Some believed witches could transform into cats or that cats acted as their “familiars.” This fear spread through Europe and into America, giving black cats their mysterious reputation.
Modern Symbolism: Today, cats appear in Halloween décor, stories, and costumes as symbols of mystery, protection, and luck. Their deep roots in folklore remind us that Halloween’s imagery comes from centuries of myth and imagination.
Freedom of Movement: Make sure the costume allows your pet to walk, run, and move normally. Avoid tight or oversized outfits that cause tripping.
Avoid Flammable Materials: Choose natural, non-synthetic fabrics to reduce fire risk.
Watch Masks and Hats: These should fit snugly without blocking sight or breathing.
Skip Dangly Decorations: Buttons, ribbons, and trim can be choking hazards.
Leashes & Visibility: Costumes should allow a harness or leash and include reflective materials if you’re outside at night.
Be Patient: Introduce the costume gradually, and if your pet seems anxious, remove it right away. Some animals prefer a simple festive collar or bandana instead.
Keep cats indoors before, during, and after Halloween — especially black cats, who are sadly at risk of pranks.
Provide identification — reflective collars and microchips can make a big difference if a cat slips outside.
Create a quiet safe room with food, litter, and toys during trick-or-treating.
Avoid candles and dangling decorations. Use battery-powered lights instead.
Limit costumes — only for quick photos, and remove them right after.
Watch the candy! Keep chocolate and wrappers out of reach.
🌟 Closing Thoughts
Whether you’re celebrating with homemade costumes, fun props, or just cozy time together, remember — our cats’ comfort and happiness always come first. The history and magic of Halloween remind us how special they’ve always been, but love and safety make the night truly meaningful.
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Funny Cats in Costumes: Our Clowder’s Halloween Trick or Treat
A behind-the-scenes look at how we gently dressed our cats for a calm, safe, and very cute Halloween.
I started this project back in 2024, when my wife began designing Halloween looks for our cats. Then she became ill and had to pause, so the costumes—and the handmade trick-or-treat bags—waited patiently on the shelf. This year, she finished everything in time, and our clowder got to enjoy their own gentle Halloween celebration. Our cats are truly family—our “fur babies”—and we treat their comfort as our first priority.
Because full outfits can be overwhelming for some cats, my wife created light, cat-friendly headwear this year. She carefully measured each head and chose simple, soft designs that were easy to put on and take off.
Polaris & Lily
Polaris, our youngest, was originally slated to be a Roman soldier, but she made it clear that nothing should cover her face. We honored that and she became a charming little girl with a big red bow—simple, sweet, and just right for her. Lily, our shy one, bloomed as a flower with soft petals encircling her face—gentle, pretty, and comfortable.
Emily
Emily was the only cat with more than a headpiece: delicate angel wings and a halo suited her perfectly. She wore them calmly and stole our hearts. Her trick-or-treat bag, however, was another story—gluing just two sides didn’t make it easy for paws to reach the goodies. Lesson learned for next time!
Athena
Athena, the shyest in the young clowder, wore a hand-crocheted vintage baby bonnet with a tiny pacifier prop. We filmed quickly—my wife behind the camera while I supported Athena—and then removed it right away when we saw it stressed her. Treats and toys weren’t interesting to her afterward; a quiet hideaway was.
Daisy
Daisy did wonderfully, though photographing her face with the hat took patience. She went as a thoughtful scholar and looked adorable—and she was definitely there for the treats.
Jessica
Jessica was our witch, complete with a classic witch’s hat trimmed in dark wine and blue ribbons. A black hat on a black cat can be tricky to capture—even against a light bedspread—but if you look closely, the ribbons peek through and she looks downright magical. She also loved her treats.
We hope you enjoyed this peek at our clowder’s Halloween Trick or Treat. Thank you for celebrating with us and for being part of our little community.
🌸 Inside the Serenity of the Mind Universe: How Our YouTube Channel Became a Creative World
🪷 From One Channel to a Whole World
When we first began Serenity of the Mind, it was only a YouTube channel — a small, peaceful corner where we shared calming videos and funny cat moments.
Over time, that little channel grew into something much bigger: a world of art, storytelling, and creativity, filled with voices like SOM, GrandMother Serenity, Shy Artist, and our beloved clowder of cats.
What started as one simple idea — to bring a little serenity to people’s day — became a whole creative universe.
🎬 The Real Creators Behind the Curtain
Behind the camera are the content creator and his wife, partners who edit videos, choose music, sew cat costumes, and care for the cats who inspired it all.
Together they turn everyday moments into gentle stories of peace, humor, and heart.
🪷 Meet the Voices of Our Universe
🎙️ SOM – The Narrator
A fictional storyteller who speaks for the channel. SOM guides viewers through both our own cats’ stories and funny cat compilations featuring cats from around the world — always with calm, warmth, and a touch of humor.
Alt text: Microphone symbolizing SOM, the narrator voice of Serenity of the Mind.
👵 GrandMother Serenity – The Gentle Spirit
An animated grandmotherly figure who appears in our relaxing and bedtime stories.
Her soft voice reminds us that serenity can be found even in the quietest corners of life.
Alt text: Soft glowing candle symbolizing the wisdom of GrandMother Serenity.
🎨 Shy Artist – The Creator of Beauty
The hand behind every drawing, painting, and animation.
Shy Artist fills our world with watercolor skies, glimmering silver swirls, and quiet imagination.
Alt text: Watercolor palette and brushes on a softly painted background — symbol of Shy Artist.
🧶 Crazy Cat Lady’s Attic – The Maker of Cozy Wonders
The wife in real life — she designs and builds cat costumes, caves, props, and decorations.
From Halloween outfits to birthday party sets, she fills the world with play and love.
Alt text: Handmade cat costume and sewing thread from Crazy Cat Lady’s Attic.
🐾 The Cats – The True Stars
Our own cats — Emily, Jessica, Daisy, Lily, Athena, and Polaris — share their real lives and cozy adventures.
They live side by side in our videos with cats from around the world through our Funny Cat Compilations, celebrating feline joy everywhere.
Alt text: Emily, Jessica, Daisy, Lily, Athena, and Polaris — the real cats of Serenity of the Mind.
🧵 The World We’re Building
Today Serenity of the Mind has become more than a YouTube channel.
It’s a living creative universe where real people, animated spirits, and cats — both ours and others — share moments of calm, humor, and imagination.
🌙 Our Mission
To bring peace, joy, and creativity to your day — one painting, one purr, and one playful story at a time.
💫 Looking Ahead
As our universe keeps expanding, we’ll keep sharing new art, stories, and short films from every corner of Serenity of the Mind.
Whether it’s GrandMother Serenity’s soothing tales, Shy Artist’s shimmering paintings, or SOM’s voice introducing another round of clever cats,
we hope each visit brings a moment of calm and a reason to smile.
Thank you for being part of our journey — from one small channel to a world filled with serenity, creativity, and love. 🐾
Glittercore Watercolor Painting: My Whimsical New Art Style
I’ve been experimenting with a new art style that I’ve decided to call Glittercore. It isn’t quite the same as the versions you might see online—it’s my Glittercore, and it’s inspired by how I see the world around me. It’s whimsical, luminous, and joyful, capturing the way sunlight sparkles on flowers, leaves, and water.
What My Glittercore Means
Glittercore, as I practice it, is about finding the magical shimmer in everyday nature. It’s not just about glitter—it’s about light itself.
🌿 The glow of sunlit leaves in a tree
🌸 Blossoms that seem to sparkle in full bloom
💧 Water catching light with a soft shine
My art is whimsical even without metallic paints, but with mica shimmer, it feels enchanted—like nature glowing from within.
Glittercore vs. Other “Cores”
Many modern aesthetics end with -core, so here’s how mine compares:
Sparklecore – Dreamy, whimsical, and ethereal art with glitter, glowing light, and fantasy scenes.
Glowcore – Focused on neon, artificial lights, and futuristic vibes.
Dreamcore – Surreal and hazy, with nostalgic or unsettling dreamlike imagery.
Glittercore (common use) – Often just means covering everything with chunky glitter.
✨ My Glittercore is different. It’s inspired by nature’s shimmer—the luminous way sunlight transforms ordinary things.
Why I Make My Own Mica Watercolors
Metallic watercolor paints are beautiful but often expensive. To make Glittercore more accessible for me, I decided to create my own mica watercolors.
Instead of buying a full eco-friendly binder kit, I used Winsor & Newton Gum Arabic—it’s reliable, easy to find, and simple to work with. My pigments came from Natural Earth Paint, which are non-toxic, archival, and sustainably sourced. All of my supplies came from Amazon since I live in the country and don’t have access to art stores.
Making my own paints not only saved money but also gave me a deeper connection to my work.
Tools: Nuanchu Watercolor Paint Muller Set (glass muller, slab, knives, and half pans)
Optional: Pipette or ⅛ teaspoon for measuring, paper towels for cleanup
The kit was listed for oil and acrylic, but it works perfectly for watercolor. I didn’t bother with the magnetic strips or glue dots—instead, I filled empty half pans from an old watercolor set.
Aside: I purchase my watercolor supplies and tools from Amazon.com. I am not an affiliate and make no money from sharing this information. I include it only to help readers find a place to purchase these items if they wish.
Step-by-Step: Making Glittercore Mica Watercolor
Measure the pigment
Place about ½ teaspoon of mica pigment on the glass slab.
For my first batch, I chose gold.
Add binder
Use a pipette or ⅛ teaspoon to add just enough gum arabic to dampen the pigment.
The mixture should be like thick cream cheese—never watery.
Grind and mix
With the glass muller, grind the pigment and binder together.
Keep pressing and swirling until smooth and creamy, about 5–10 minutes.
Test consistency
Swatch the mixture on watercolor paper.
If it looks streaky or chalky, add a drop more gum arabic.
Fill half pans
Use the palette knife to place the mixture into empty half pans.
Tap lightly on the table to remove bubbles and settle the paint.
Dry completely
Leave the pans uncovered for 24–48 hours until hardened.
Once dry, they rewet easily with a damp brush.
My Experience So Far
I began with gold mica watercolor paint, and the results were magical: a soft shimmer that brought warmth and glow to my painting. My next step is to make silver mica, and eventually, I’ll build a whole palette of handmade Glittercore paints.
Painting with colors I created myself feels extra special. It’s not just about the shimmer—it’s about pouring more of myself into my art.
What’s Next
Below you’ll find a video of my first animated Glittercore watercolor painting made with metallic paint. This is only the beginning of my Glittercore journey.
In my next post, I’ll show you how to make your own metallic mica watercolor paints step by step—starting with silver! I’ll also share more of my whimsical art inspired by nature’s glow.
✨ Stay tuned—there’s a lot more shimmer and sparkle to come.
Big Changes Coming to “Serenity of the Mind” in 2026 —
What You Should Know
The YouTube platform is about to undergo significant changes in 2026, and these adjustments will affect how the Serenity of the Mind channel creates and shares content. The purpose of this post is to explain what’s happening on YouTube, why these updates matter, and how the channel will adapt while continuing to bring viewers calming, creative, and entertaining videos.
What YouTube Is Changing (2025 → 2026)
YouTube recently updated its monetization and community guidelines, focusing heavily on what it calls “inauthentic content.” This is the updated term replacing “repetitious content.”
The platform now treats duplicate or mass-produced videos, including compilations with little transformation, as spam. Here are the key points:
Duplicate or repeated content will be flagged as spam. Long compilations or repeated “best of” styles are now considered low-value.
Compilations and reactions are still allowed but only when the creator adds clear, unique commentary or significant editing.
AI tools are not banned, but every video must show clear human input and originality.
In practice, YouTube will push down or even block distribution of videos it considers duplicative or non-unique. Even small channels that are not monetized are affected, because flagged videos may get limited reach.
What This Means for Serenity of the Mind
1. No More “Best of the Best” Compilations
In the past, the channel created longer videos by combining multiple shorts into a single compilation. With the new rules, repeating or recycling that style would risk being labeled spam.
Going forward, compilations will be replaced with announcement shorts and community posts directing viewers to blog posts that feature video lists ranked from “best to least best.” That way, audiences can still see curated content — but in a format that respects YouTube’s new policies.
2. Added Uniqueness for Cat Shorts
Cat shorts are a cornerstone of the channel, and they will stay — but with enhancements. Future uploads will feature:
Tiny licensed or custom animations (for example, a small cat running across the bottom of the video)
More use of static and animated elements for uniqueness
Text overlays, sound effects, and human voiceovers by the channel creator and spouse
These adjustments ensure that cat shorts stay compliant while remaining fun and original. Cat Candy already follows these guidelines, so that series should continue without changes.
3. Rethinking Calm / Sleep / Meditation Videos
This area is more challenging. The channel used to use free video clips from sources like Pixabay, combined with filters, color adjustments, and music. But with many creators doing the same, those uploads now risk being flagged as low-value.
To avoid this:
Only unique animated watercolor art from the channel’s artist, who prefers to be called “Shy Artist,” will be used going forward.
To increase distinctiveness, additional features like on-screen text, gentle voiceovers, and custom animations will be layered in.
Plans are underway to design a signature icon (perhaps a rotating leaf or drifting flower petal) to glide across the bottom of shorts, giving each video a recognizable identity.
This way, calm and meditation videos will remain truly original and valuable to viewers.
Why These Changes Matter
YouTube’s stricter rules are meant to raise the bar on quality. Content that looks repeated or copied will not be promoted, even if the creator is not monetized. For Serenity of the Mind, that means leaning even more into authenticity, creativity, and uniqueness.
Viewer support is more important than ever. Every like, comment, and share shows YouTube that the videos bring real value, which helps them reach more people.
In Closing The channel is committed to adapting to YouTube’s evolving standards while keeping its focus on relaxation, creativity, and joy. Though best of the best compilations are going away, new forms of engagement, added originality in cat shorts, and unique hand-created artwork in calm videos will carry the channel forward.
Thank you for following along on this journey and for supporting Serenity of the Mind as it grows in a new era.
Super Fast Looping Shorts: How YouTube’s New View Count Created
Our Cat Candy Super Shorts
On March 31, 2025, YouTube changed how views would be counted on Shorts. From that day forward, a view was counted as soon as a Short started playing or was replayed — no minimum watch-time needed.
Many content creators didn’t know what to do with this new method of counting views, or how it would affect their channel. Some wondered if Shorts needed to loop over and over to be recognized, while others worried that looping might be seen as spam and hurt their channel.
When YouTube first made the change, my 60-second Shorts didn’t do very well. So I decided to try something new — something short and eye-catching that might put us back in YouTube’s good graces.
Creating Super Shorts
I thought maybe a fast Super Short, no longer than 10 to 20 seconds, would work better. The first step was figuring out how to stop the fast-moving thumb — to make people pause scrolling and take a look.
My inspiration came from comic books. Comics always used eye-catching splashes of color with bold words written inside. The words were drawn in bright colors and huge fonts, often with movement lines that added emotion. These comic-style splashes gave the Short a burst of energy — exactly the kind of thing that stops thumbs mid-scroll.
That’s when I came up with my new type of fast looping Super Short — Cat Brain Candy.
What Is Cat Brain Candy?
To make Cat Brain Candy, I start with a very short cat clip — something unusual, funny, or chaotic that sparks an idea. For example, one time I found a clip of a cat in a front-facing dress, and her paws made it look like she was carrying a bat. The first thing that came to my mind was the classic cartoon of an angry wife chasing her husband with a rolling pin or frying pan. (Of course, these are silly cartoon tropes only — no one should ever go after anyone with anything dangerous!) From that idea, “Wrath of the Cat Wife” was born.
These Cat Brain Candy clips did very well and kept our channel alive while YouTube’s new rules were settling down. Eventually, I was able to go back to making longer 60-second Shorts too.
Why I Still Make Cat Brain Candy
I didn’t stop creating Cat Brain Candy even after my 60-second Shorts recovered. I just balanced both. The longer Shorts let me use humor, add my own sound effects, and include licensed music from TunePocket. But Cat Brain Candy is super fun to create, and people love them.
Of course, I can’t always find the perfect clip to turn into Cat Brain Candy. But when I do, I add a funny caption, give it that comic-book flair, and make sure it loops smoothly. Before viewers realize it, they’ve watched the same cat attacking a toy bird or knocking ceiling tiles down from inside the ceiling — over and over. Cats don’t need much help from us to get into chaos; that’s just cat nature!
Please check out the videos and playlist below by clicking the link. We even combined all our Cat Brain Candy Shorts into one longer video, and people really enjoyed it. Click the link below so you can watch it too!
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