My studio

Some paintings don’t just get noticed — they get recognized. Mona Leeza is one of those pieces. I once watched a couple return to it again and again, unable to walk away. Art chooses us as much as we choose it. This week, I wrote about that moment — when a painting finally finds its place.

How stepping back reignited me. I took a year off. Not because I wanted to. But because I had to. Actually it was a bit more than a year. A year of re-evaluating, of giving myself the grace to step away. Asking myself what was I giving away, and did I want to continue. You see, there is a lot of pressure (granted much self-imposed) to produce quality art, to sell constantly and nowadays to devote countless hours to social media. I felt I had lost "color," which is my mojo

That’s the beauty of living with art—it invites us into what I call the ritual of looking. Every day, the piece changes. Light shifts, mood shifts, even we shift. And in that shifting, a painting becomes something more than an object on the wall. To me, it becomes a living complexion. Complicated as it is simple. It becomes a mirror.

<p>&nbsp; I have missed having my studio open for visitors and participating and visiting art shows.  This past year has been quite an adjustment and I sometimes feel like Punxsutawney Phil peeking my head above the ground wondering if it is safe to come out.   I am writing this as the sun is shining outside [&hellip;]</p>

<p>Last night we had a windstorm like none I had ever been through before. I have been told that winds were gusting to 65 mph where I live.  Remarkably, our house came through it unscathed, considering we live next to a dense forest and have very tall trees in our yard. With everything that is [&hellip;]</p>

<p> I felt the need to paint even larger. I set out to buy 72&#8243; x 72&#8243; canvases.</p>

<p>I often struggle with the expectations that an artist have a body of work that is recognizably their &#8220;signature&#8221; style.  Part of what I love about being an artist is the creativity to be unique and let myself explore and be free. The art world does not always favor this course of creativity&#8230;at least in [&hellip;]</p>

<p>In reality I am a thriving,recognized artist, living her dream.  I have had plenty of acceptances, awards and applause. So don&#8217;t feel sorry for me,  today I received a &#8220;Dear John&#8221; letter.  In the art world that means a nice rejection letter for a submission to a show.  A thanks, but no-thanks.   It goes with [&hellip;]</p>