We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Aimi Medina. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Aimi below.

Aimi, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Was there an experience or lesson you learned at a previous job that’s benefited your career afterwards?

Little did I know that when I gave my second-grade art student Jaelyn an assignment, it would be me that learned a lesson.

I asked Jaelyn to create a rendition of Vincent van Gogh’s famous “Sunflowers” painting. This was a special project for an upcoming art contest. I thought this project was a perfect match for this student. Jaelynn has always displayed a strong interest in art. She’s energetic and is always eager to share art ideas with me that she’s seen or learned outside of school. I thought I would be able to teach her a few lessons about paint and colors. I did. But what I wasn’t expecting was that she taught me something too. She taught me that you can “throw down” paint. You can experiment while creating. You can be free with your ideas. They don’t have to be pre-planned. Most importantly, she reminded me to have fun.

This was the most amazing lesson I’ve taught and learned from. I would give her a simplified direction for each step in the process of drawing to the finished painting. After each step, I would back away and let her process and display it in her own creative style. As I watched, all my cautious thoughts of how I would do it, how I would wipe the brush, how I would mix the colors first before letting the brush touch the canvas were completely different. My way was carefully planned and organized. Her way was free spirited. She re-taught me the joy of painting. She taught me that less rules work too. She taught me that the mind of a child is an amazing gift. Thanks Jaelynn for an amazing lesson in art.

Aimi, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Aimi Medina and I am a retired elementary reading, writing and art teacher. I live in Vero Beach, Florida. All my life, I have always had the need to tap into my creative side. Whether it be watercolor painting, poetry, photography or teaching. While teaching elementary art, many projects revolved around the natural world and “What’s in your backyard?” I spent many weekends on the Indian River Lagoon observing and photographing local birds in their natural habitat, the mangrove trees. I often became frustrated in the classroom because I knew many children had never experienced the sights, sounds, and smells that were the foundation of my art projects. I felt it was up to me to interpret nature in its natural form for them. I’d often wonder, how do I bring my photographs to life? How do I share the chatter among the birds? Most importantly, how do I express my love for a place many young eyes have never seen? That is how River Tweets: The Royal Shrimp Boil came to be.

The bird characters were all inspired by everything I stand for and love. Every character has a talent. I feel all children have a talent too; they just might not know it yet. I tell this to children because some talents come naturally and some don’t. It’s important for young children to try new things. I was the child who had to work really hard at it and still do. Even once your talent is discovered, you have to give it your all for it to shine.

The story is about a roseate spoonbill, Rosetta Spoonbilletta, who needs to find shrimp to bring back her striking pink color. Rosetta Spoonbilletta is a local artist who lives among the mangrove trees in the land of “Old Florida.” Parsley the Pelican holds a Royal Shrimp Boil to turn her rosy pink again. The local birds bring a special talent and ingredient for the pot. Getting Rosetta to the boil is no easy task. The story focuses on friendship and working together to acquire a goal. The pages are scattered with rhymes, poetry, puns, similes, alliteration, vocabulary, and word play. The adventure and humor are enjoyed by young children and readers ready for chapter books. The shrimp think they are invited to join the fun but Parsley has something else in mind. The adventure builds as the birds run into Swamp Gator and the great shrimp escape. A life lesson, “You win some, you lose some” rounds out the ending. The race is on to turn Rosetta pink before one clever shrimp spoils the boil.
My hope is to create curiosity about birds in young lives. I want them to fall in love with my characters and then fall in love with the real thing. I hope my commitment to give back teaches others to do the same. A portion of the book sale proceeds will go to benefit the Environmental Learning Center, a local nonprofit on the east coast of Florida that educates children and adults on conservation of the natural environment.
River Tweets: The Royal Shrimp Boil can be found on Amazon.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is the satisfaction of taking an idea and bringing it to life. My entire life, I have always had the desire to use my creative side. Whether it be watercolor painting, photography, poetry, or teaching children. When I was a reading and writing classroom teacher, I was often told by administration that the creative ideas to help teach a lesson took up too much time and were not part of the curriculum. I had a hard time accepting that and it did not help my self-worth. After eight years in the classroom, I became certified as an art teacher. It was amazing that everything I did in the art room was appreciated. Unfortunately, I learned my creative mind was only accepted in certain places. I spent another eight years teaching art. Once Covid hit, again my creative ability was hindered with regulations on spacing children and sharing items. Creativity in the art room was limited. That is when I began to write my children’s book River Tweets: The Royal Shrimp Boil. It was the only way I could still be creative and know that my time was valued, at least by me. It took three years to write and illustrate while working a full-time job and caring for my mother. I retired last year and was finally able to finish and publish my story. I’m glad I kept my creativity going even through tough times. I can now share it with the community and give back some proceeds to help the environment. Now, that is what I call rewarding.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

I think non-creatives think that artists can do anything. That may be true for some but not for me. I was often asked to do artwork far beyond my means or experience. One thing that is important to know is that some artists have a photographic memory and some don’t. I couldn’t draw a horse if my life depended on it unless I had a picture in front of me. I am a visual learner. If I imagine a horse, I can’t hold the image in my head and pull all the details to help me draw. When I look at a reference picture, I can still use my creativity and skills to draw. The reference picture helps to draw the correct proportions and size. My teaching experience taught me many children are visual learners. I adapted many art lessons with that approach. It was amazing to see how talented children were if I gave them the tools needed to succeed.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://aimimedina.weebly.com
• Instagram: Instagram.com/river.tweets
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/rivertweets
• Youtube: https://youtu.be/sSHCGD0H_eA