Miranda Doores (@brushedbotany) is a self-taught artist who credits her experiences of exploration and natural wonder as her inspiration. Rather than a typical canvas, Doores uses real leaves she gathers and presses as the foundation for her work. She paints natural scenes across all seasons, from winding wooded paths to vast plains and mountain ranges. In February 2025, she created an inviting and accessible tutorial for patrons at the Kalamazoo Public Library’s Coffee & Connections program. The finished works were collected and preserved for a display of our local talented creatives.

Her tutorial is available for patrons at home to join in. This tutorial was made specifically for Kalamazoo residents, using the limited brushes and step-by-step guidance through some introductory landscape painting techniques for all to enjoy.

You can see more of Miranda’s completed works here: https://www.tiktok.com/@brushedbotany