To inspire creativity

I recently visited Jackson Hole, Wyoming where the beauty abounds here-in nature.  A setting that is unforgettable surrounded by majestic mountains, wildlife and wide-open land.  How could I have possibly have overlooked this part of the west all these years?  I have always loved being outside, as a girl I hiked and camped in the Adirondack Mountains and loved the smell of the white pines and the sound of leaves crunching under my feet. In Wyoming I am embracing a different landscape and so inspired by it. [...]

As I walk into my studio, the painting sits on my easel of a bearded gentleman.  It’s probably one of my most favorite paintings, the brush just flowed across the canvas, I was in my zone, my hand, eyes, and canvas were one, and it was intuitive.    This painting is a reminder of the joy and inspiration I feel when I do an underpainting.  The simplicity and beauty of an underpaintlng sometimes stands to be left alone.  I created this painting on a linen panel with a gray ground.  Using only burnt umber.  I started this portrait with the intention of using color, once I completed the [...]

Art has given me solace. Throughout these precarious times that have been evolving over the past several months, I have been improving on my skills as an artist in hopes to capture the innate feelings of both nature and the human spirit. [...]

Children are resilient, they bring hope, they raise our spirit, and they bring laughter and love into our world, especially when we have so much ambiguity that surrounds us. [...]

I hope that you, your family and friends are all well. During these unpredictable times, we are all experiencing many different emotions. Take all the precautions to protect yourself including healthy habits like exercise, hand washing, and good nutrition. Let us have patience with one another and support each other during these hard times. While we are all snuggled in our habitats for several days facing uncertainty in many forms, let us not look at what we’ve loss, but be grateful for what we still have, and look forward to the future. For us as artists, I feel we are the fortunate ones because our outlet is to create. [...]

It is with no great surprise that I needed to find a purpose in my artwork.  My life is about intention, direction, choices, peaks and troughs, managing my time to name a few. The dread of finding a purpose is I often find it difficult to forge a path, focus and find clarity in the direction of my art. Why? Because everything I look at, I am inspired to paint.  The beauty of all of this is that I love what I do and to grow as an artist, I need more of a focus, substance and purpose. [...]

Thank you for following The Journey this year, I hope you have enjoyed reading my insights and art tips and I'm grateful to be doing what I love. [...]

The thought of sitting and listening for a two-day demo was daunting! I am an active person and I’ve never sat through a demo for a few hours let alone days. With that said, I relented because a highly talented master artist was going to do a two-day workshop – demo only and this was a rare occurrence for this particular artist. Can you guess who it is? [...]

It was an honor hosting Robert Liberace this past weekend at The Art Establishment in Bethlehem, PA for a workshop STUDIES IN LIGHT: EXPLORING SOROLLA. Rob is known as a “Living Master” by Art Renewal Center (artrenewalcenter.com) and known for demonstrations of old Master’s techniques. [...]

My daughter once sent me a book called "A Glorious Freedom" by Lisa Congdon. It's about older women leading extraordinary lives, although when I first received it in the mail, I almost immediately was ready to send it back! [...]