Animal Parade

As I continued to play in my studio this
week, a few more charming creatures
joined the parade of little animals that
had began to reveal themselves under
delicate brush strokes on canvas.

Quite an endearing cast of characters
they are... sent to chase away the winter
blues and bring a smile to any face.

January Blooms

"A bouquet of flowers grows
amidst wide brush strokes made,
beautiful visions that blossom
from seeds of this dream like
imagination, creating a garden
more lovely than eden."
As snow drifts gently past the windows, I spend
more days surrounded by the four walls of my
studio. I feel completely emersed in an atmosphere
of painting bliss, while this garden of beautiful
botanicals and charming little creatures continue
to introduce themselves among the strokes of
paint on canvas.

Keep On, Keepin' On

My creative pace is finally starting to quicken, as I have
been feeling much more in the groove of painting this
week. Now if only those feelings of euphoria would
linger a bit longer after each artwork is complete.

But also helping to motivate me these last several days
has been my discovery of a new bit of music by the
group Switchfoot, and their CD, The Best Yet.

It is very rare that I don't have music playing while I am in
the studio, but Switchfoot's songs are quite moving, and
particularly poignant.

It has been a good week. I thought I would share a few
glimpses of my work table, along with my latest works.

This Beautiful Dream

With a fast approaching, signup deadline
for our Springtime Sojourn to Italy,
Marylin and I would like to extend an
invitation for you to join us!

We are only a few students shy of making
this lovely dream a reality, and hope you
will consider coming along as we experience
the beauty, the inspiration of Orvieto.

Bill and Kristen Steiner will be our wonderful
travel hosts for this occasion. With their superb
travel expertise and guidance, they will be leading
us in grand style through the streets of this
ancient city, as we revel in the Italian culture
and countryside, soaking in every nuance and
detail of this magnificent scenery.

I am quite a fan of the Adventures In Italy blog and
thought I would share with you a recent post made.
I feel Bill's words truly capture the essence of this trip,
we hope to make.

"American actor and songwriter Eddie Cantor said,
“Slow down and enjoy life. It’s not only the scenery
you miss by going too fast - you also miss the sense
of where you are going and why.” This from a
man who died in 1964 before the crazy pace of today.

His words are so apt today, and can give us real
comfort during this recession. I continue to believe
there is much good that will come out of the economic
downturn. All are buying less, and are beginning to
find comfort and joy in being human - that is, in
sharing time with other people. We had forgotten
that this is where true happiness lies.

The remarkable thing about spending a week
in Orvieto is that we do slow down. We see how
much interaction there is amongst the Italians
all around us. We see detail and nuance we miss
when we go so fast. We have time to reflect on
where we are going and why. This experience is
particularly useful for us in this recession. Hard
times help us evaluate. Orvieto helps us examine
where we are going and why, and get our priorities
straight. Make haste slowly!"

What a PERFECT gift to give yourself ... the
Gift of Time, Travel, and Rich Experiences, along
with Unforgettable Memories

This INCREDIBLE experience is scheduled
for mid May of 2009 with reservations required
no later than late February 7, 2009. Find out all
the details, here.

Monday, Monday

I am feeling a bit of the Monday blues today, with
several looming deadlines fast approaching that
now need my immediate attention.

During these first couple of weeks of the new year,
I have found myself drifting along somewhat
aimlessly, feeling a bit paralyzed by all the ideas
swirling around in my head.

There is this deep longing or swell that has been
building inside over the last year, to push outside
the comfortable boundaries I have established, and
explore art-making in a new way. Perhaps creating
larger, more intricate pieces that are in answer to the
deeply felt, poignant words engraved upon a silver
bracelet cuff that I constantly wear,"Let My Thinking
Be Creative and Fill the World With Light".

As I continue to ponder the fulfillment of this
longing, I thought I would share a couple of
sneak peaks at some new work, I have
managed to begin.





In addition to this, I have also started preparing for both
Artfest in early April and Art and Soul, Hampton at the
beginning of May.

I feel so blessed, grateful and very humbled that the
Artfest - Of Nested Visions workshop is completely
FULL and that there are only a few spaces left in the
The Art of Nature workshop.

I am also SUPER EXCITED to be returning to the
east coast at Hampton, Virginia for a second year
with two TERRIFIC workshop offerings,
A Painted Pendant and Painted Nature.

I invite you to join me for one, two, or perhaps all
three workshops, as we explore some unique methods
of painting and mixed media inspired by the unending
beautiful of nature.

The Promise

Although most of the country has been experiencing
a plethora of winter weather, yesterday was the first
snow of the new year for the Plains.

I could not help but marvel at such beauty,
that brings with it... such peace.

This tranquility could erase the worries from even the
most furrowed brow.

However, the snow was not the only unexpected visitor.

"Breathless, I stand
a captive between
dream and reality
with such tender emotions
weaving themselves
like threads among
the moments and fantasies
of my mind.

Winter returns to blanket
the ground, with its reminder
that all is not lost...
all is not forgotten.

I promised you...
the stars,
the moon,
and a world of white."

Paint, Paper, Fiber

Toward the end of last week, I finally had the chance to settle
back into a creative rhythm. It felt long over due to be holding
a brush again and working with paint, paper, and fiber.






I am always amazed by how quickly time passes when
I am truly living in the moment. I feel wildly satisfied
and quite euphoric as a piece begins to revel is itself.

Often times the art is somewhat different than my original
idea, as I continue to work taking twists and turns
during the building process before there is a conclusion.

Visit NatureGathered.blogspot.com
to see the completed artwork, along
with other wonderful nature artworks.

Sharing Peace and Hope by Creating Art

"To me there are few things more beautiful
than colorful prayer flags fluttering in the wind-
sometimes waving gently, sometimes raging;
a dance of shadow and light. There is perhaps
no simpler way to create good merit in this
troubled world of ours than to put prayer flags
up for the benefit of other living beings.

Prayer flags are not just pretty pieces of colored
cloth with funny writing on them. The prayers,
mantras and powerful symbols displayed on them
produce a spiritual vibration that is activated and
carried by the wind across the countryside. All beings
that are touched by the wind are uplifted and a little
happier. The silent prayers are blessings spoken on
the breath of nature."

-Timothy Clark
( in the 8th month of the Water Horse year at
Redway, CA., Copyright Radiant Heart Studio)


The above words by Mr. Clark are so incredible,
and powerful... don't you think!

After reading them, you can quickly understand how
they became the foundation for an EXCITING Workshop
I have been invited to teach at Squam Art Workshop's
June 2009 Retreat.

Beautiful, peaceful prayer flags seems so appropriate
and so very poignant, as our world continues to struggle
in these desperate and trying times.


In this class, we will create our own expressions of peace and
hope by drawing upon the extraordinary natural setting that
surrounds us on Squam Lake.

And I have been dreaming about the ENORMOUS impact of
faith, love, and goodwill, these banners will bring when
attendees actually SEE all of those prayer flags hung together.

The Painted Fiber Prayer Flag Banner workshop
will be offered every day of the retreat, so I hope
you will join me for one, two, or even all three days
of creating your own inspiring art.

An Additional Announcement:
at Squam in June, there will be a showing of a film by
Elizabeth Tanner Boll called "Who Does She Think She Is?".
If you are not familiar with the film, it was made by the
same producing team that won an Academy Award for
Born Into Brothels. "Who Does She Think She Is?" examines
some of the most pressing issues of our time: parenting
and work, partnering and independence, economics and art.

January Days

After two full weeks of traveling hither and yon, visiting
for Christmas then turning right around and having guests
come to celebrate the New Year with us, I am in the studio
today, settling back into a routine.

Enjoying family and friends has been incredible, and I have
tried to soak in every moment. But now with the holidays over,
I find myself anxious and ready to begin creating again.

January was never been one of my favorite months, I seem to
suffer from post holiday blues once all of the hubbub ends.
However, my opinion has changed over the years, regarding
these first days.

This first month tends to be much more quiet and serene
compared to the remaining months of the year. Which affords
me the opportunity to tuck myself, all cozy-like, in the
studio to paint, assemble, collage, or whatever my heart
desires, as the Winter winds blow and howl outside with
perhaps snow or ice coming down.

Although I will spend the next several days catching-up on
lingering to-dos, I look forward to painting a few more of
these artworks shown below. This particular piece is a
sample for a workshop I will be teaching in Britain.

Yes, I have to keep PINCHING MYSELF, that I will be
traveling to the United Kingdom to teach in August!
























There is lots more to share, as 2009 starts to unfold. It
will be an exciting year, and I look forward to filling you
in on all the details.