In the Studio

This past August, I celebrated my 50th birthday—a milestone that inspired me to pause and reflect. Lately, I’ve been gradually editing and refining my vision for how I want to navigate the next few decades of life (with any luck, many more to come).

One of the things I wanted to get back to was my own learning. I’ve been dedicating some time to refilling my creative well by taking an online class through Jeanne Oliver’s network.

The class, "Women of Abstract Expressionism", dives into a period of art history I’m deeply passionate about. I’ve often shared my fascination with the book Ninth Street Women and my mild obsession with this transformative era in art.

One of my all-time favorite female abstract expressionists is Joan Mitchell. Experiencing her retrospective at the Baltimore Museum of Art only deepened my admiration for her—her story, masterful use of color, and the scale of her work left me in awe.

In this class, I’m especially enjoying the lessons focused on Joan and her unique artistry. The collage studies above are inspired by Diane Reeves’ teachings, while the pencil and crayon sketches on the left are my playful, “going rogue” moments. What pure joy it is to explore and create!

Study of Cape Orange

A part of me wishes I could immerse myself entirely in studying these incredible artists—but, of course, life calls, and there’s always other work to be done!

I’d love to know who your favorite artists are. Take some time to dive deeper into their stories and works—you never know what inspiration you might find! :)