I knew I was an artist before I ever painted a thing because I had such a desire to create it wouldn’t leave me alone. I would visit a museum, or see something on Pinterest, or read a creative blog post and think, “I want to do that!” But, I didn’t know where or how to start. Have you ever felt the same?  

One of the benefits of teaching mixed media classes is that it encourages my own creative play. Collage is something that I have used in the past to add interesting details or texture to my mixed media art work. I more recently started practicing it on it’s own when I began teaching mark making and gelli printing to adults.

I've recently come back from a weekend retreat with my mastermind. We started this group in November of 2022 in order to support and encourage each other in our artistic and entrepreneurial pursuits. We have been meeting monthly for over a year and decided to celebrate with a weekend away in Blowing Rock, NC.

When I think about the classes I want to teach, they all have an element of experimentation, play and discovery. It is surprising how difficult this can be for many. We want instant, perfect results and can get easily frustrated when those results are less than…

The first time I ever heard of an artist date was in 2005 when I was reading the Artist Way by Julia Cameron. If you haven’t heard of Artist Dates I share what they are and some of my favorite kinds of Artist Dates on this post. They don’t have to be elaborate… In fact, you can organize one at home like I did here.

When I moved to North Carolina from Brooklyn, I hadn’t realized how much I needed more air and sky, trees and space to breathe. Along with that I had always wanted to keep some type of a nature journal and started keeping a winter journal a few years ago. So these books are a kind of emersion and research into the trees that surround me and that I see every day on my walks.

I’m joining @taraleaver ‘s #21daysinmyartworld challenge again this year :) I participated in 2020, 2021 & 2023. I find that it’s a great way to reflect on my art, and to practice articulating different aspects of the creative process…

Home is my favorite place. Even before I had a home of my own, I would pour over interior design magazines (think late 90s Martha Stewart Living, and later Living Etc. became a favorite) and I would dream of decorating and creating a space that would hold books, art, gatherings, and the people I love. In my imaginings those people were my children, my sisters and their children, and the grandparents …

The days are starting to get shorter and colder. Winter will be here soon… And as I have gotten older, I’ve come to really appreciate this season. It is the perfect time for reflection, quiet, and slowing down.. It is also the perfect season for journaling…