STUDIOS Magazine Re-Visited

I am delighted and honored to be
part of the latest STUDIOS Magazine.

The current issue hits newsstands on
April 1st, so be sure to check out the
article and photos from my studio makeover,
as well as the studios of fellow artists,
Kelly Rae Roberts, Helga Strauss,
Tim Holtz, Claudine Hellmuth,
and more!

Shown below are a few bonus images from
my revamped creative spaces.










I am off to Artfest and look forward to regaling
the tales of my adventure when I return.

Oh, the Weather Outside is Frightful!

I am tucked away in my studio today,
all warm and cozy, while literally
a blizzard of sleet and snow rages,
blanketing the Spring landscape
of the Plains.

Quite the surprise ending
to these last days in March!

Although the outdoors seem
engrossed in this delirium of
winter, my thoughts drift toward
the beauty of both flora and fauna,
as I finish up a few new paintings
for Artfest Vendor Night.

The Interview

Back in January, my dear friend,
Sue Pieper (a.k.a. Artful Adventures)
asked me to participate in an
interview as one of the March
guest artists on the MMCA
Marketplace blog.

I enjoyed the chance to talk with her,
as Sue's questions were both thoughtful
and in-depth.

Check out our entire conversation, here.

The Heart and Soul of It

This week, I thought would share some images
from my studio. It is a busy time with lots of
neat little piles scattered about and creativity
pouring forth, as I am quite deep now, into
preparations for teaching and vending at Artfest.
I am so excited to be bringing a few nest shadow
boxes to sell. I love constructing assemblages,
and working with natural materials always inspires
my imagination. Each piece holds such a tender
place in my heart.







I have been gathering lots of goodies for my
workshop students. Giving out beautiful collaged
folders is a great way to start each class.

I finally have the opportunity to use the lush
rust and patina metal backgrounds I shared
back in this post, by making some incredible
nature collages. I can hardly wait to debut
these original artworks on vendor night.




The days are sunny and warm, here upon the Plains,
and the musical sounds of this, this, and this are lacing
through my head as I work.

The Landscape of One Life

It's very easy in life to continue down the familiar
path, never straying to far from what is safe and
known.

So in order to grow, we have to stretch and bend,
reaching out beyond the comfortable boundaries
created and maintained, in search of something
that will lead us in a new direction.

Often times situations arise urging us onward,
leading us toward those first steps of discovery.
For the past nine months, I have been part
of an exchange focused around the subject
of nature. Each month, participants make
an 8"x 8" piece of art based on a particular
nature theme.

For March... the theme is Landscapes.

I am a long time admirer of landscape paintings
and artists. Individuals, such a Wolf Kahn and
Lilias Trotter, constantly inspire me with their
scenic masterpieces. They flawlessly capture
the wide expanse of space and distance, using
color, shape and line to depict breathtaking
reflections of an unending horizon.

I, myself, have been a closet landscape artist
for a number of years. Mostly experimenting
with my longings to depict the land, and the
sky among the private pages of a journal.

Now however, this March theme has forced
me to step beyond such safe confines and
create a work to share with the world.

Using molding paste to build a rough and
uneven texture across a pristine canvas,
I simply let myself go, trusting my artistic
voice to find the landscape I have dreamt
of painting... I have dreamt of sharing...
the beautiful Plains of my life.


Although this piece still needs a few finishing
touches to be complete, I feel a great sense
of wonder and excitement, as I experiment
with new mediums and a new found freedom.

And maybe... just maybe it's time to walk down
a path I have yet to travel.


March 12:

"I wrote my days
upon the Plains, these
grains of parched earth
with words scattered about
to the wayward winds
that stripped away the husks,
polishing every letter,
softened by time
until ripe for harvest.

left to gather what remained
of those moments, and
finding silken threads
of memories,
I wove a tapestry
of fine gold,
taking root
becoming the landscape
of one life."

Squam GOODNESS!

I wanted to share THIS POST made by Stef
of Craftside Blog.
STEF... YOU ARE AWESOME!!!

THANKS SO, SO MUCH for sharing
information about Squam with your readers.

I am BEYOND EXCITED to be teaching there
in June. It is DEFINITELY a MUST ATTEND EVENT,
and I am looking forward to seeing everyone in
New Hampshire!!!

More Signs of Spring

Spring continues to burst forth, making its presence
known here among the Plains. Even though both
Winter and Summer weave brief moments of
themselves among the days of this beginning,
one can not help but be inspired by all things new.

February 28:

"Once again at the end
waiting breathlessly
for another to begin,
wondering what this new
might bring, clinging tight
to a familiarity"

March 4:

"sinewy sweet summer's eve
entangled among the thickets of Spring
luring away all peaceful dreams...
down thorny path of wayward scheme,
winds from the west, billow and sway
beseeching this night to forever stay"

Background Magic

With Artfest less than a month away, I am deep into
preparations for two days of workshops and Friday
night's vendor show.

Vendor night is definitely one of my favorite events,
as it offers the chance for participants to collect
unique, one-of-a-kind treasures from their favorite
artists. I am honored to have a table this year, and
will be offering some new original collaged art,
nature assemblages, copies of both of my poetry books,
nature stencils and other delights.

Over the last week, I have been working to prepare
the backgrounds of several muslin canvases that
will eventually become the foundation for my original
artworks. Using distressing techniques that mimic
patina metals, weathered wood, and rust, these
methods always give the most amazing results.
They are, in fact, techniques that I am excited to
be sharing in my painting workshops this year.

Take a look at the backgrounds I have created so far.

Reminiscence

It was a weekend of working on more deadlines
as they loom large upon the horizon.

However, I did find a few stolen moments to pen,
some words for the Winter Poetry Postcard Exchange
I am participating in.

I thought I would share some of my latest
verse...

Feb 21st:

lovely distractions of rhetoric,
weaving a web of truths and lies,
to tell a story...
delicate writings upon the page,
absolute necessities of one life's days.


Feb 24th:

But what was clung too
until breathless from a flood
of unspoken ideals
was the letting go...
of vanity and humility,
of need or want,
desire and necessity
as the heavens disappeared
and the stars burned away
crushing this will,
knowing that no pain was worth saving me
from this stolen moment of eternity.


Feb 25th:

Bird Song, harken the melody sweet,
wafting along the evening breeze,
carried away down dreamy street,
waking the cold heart
from spells of Winter's keep,
a world renewed once again,
living a full life wondering
what more could be given.