Silver Streaks

 

Featured image: Flowing River

Silver streaks
  dancing
   with the water,
glorious—glorious—
  movement.

Tones and Textures

 

Featured image: Arizona Landscape

Landscapes quietly absorb the tones, textures and rhythms of our living.

The Rules to Our Journeys

 

Featured 3D Sculpture: Fish

There are no rules for our creative journeys. If there were, we would all be wind-up toys heading in the same directions—or no direction—and never knowing what that direction is.

I have been collecting wind-up toys for a piece in my new 3-D series (I have enough ideas for my 3-D series to last a year or more, honestly). I told folks during the tour that when I first moved most of the 3-D collection out to its new spot, I just started assembling all my ideas. Finally, I had to say to myself – stop, just stop, you can’t do this – so I am limiting myself to three at a time. I will photo a couple of them that are pretty well along so you can see where I am heading with this.

One is a hand-carved fish. It came with a letter about who carved the fish. Beautiful history. It is mounted on a turned-upside-down fruit bowl. Hand-turned. Beautiful wood. Some huge cracks in it that had to be fixed. I had no idea these things would take so much time to work on.

You may be saying to yourself – why is she destroying history like that – but I am not. I am just bringing history forward, imagining what it might be like, what it could be like, giving others ideas, and perhaps an idea that might possibly trigger something else, and then something else—sort of like science fiction in the arts. The key here is to imagine, to think outside the box, and not be some wind-up toy just playing follow the leader.

Well, perhaps I will only share one with you all—and share them with you slowly—not to overwhelm you with too much creative thinking.

Love to all of you.
C

P.S. Note: the big fish has a smaller fish in his mouth—the lure is a vintage lure—the key is an old clock key

Play Play Play

 

Featured image: Hummer III

Play
 Play
  Play
"What we play is life." — Louis Armstrong

Couldn’t agree more with him. Creativity is the natural order of life. Life is energy—pure creative energy I believe—and when we don’t have it, our life isn’t the best. You can feel it.

Play
 Play
  Play

Your empowerment of life is your spirit; your spirit is your creative energy. Let it flow. My eyes were closed. I could feel the energy of the hummingbird’s wings hover above my face. I imagined that little being there, smelling the sweet nectar of my coffee and the red potted flowers next to me—sweet, sweet life.

Northwoods Receives Award

I'm excited to share that one of my newest pieces, Northwoods (30x60, watermedia on clayboard), was featured in the 60th Annual Manito Art League Art Show —and received a Merit Award Ribbon!

This annual show is a special tradition in our region and celebrated 60 years of promoting great art in the beautiful Northwoods. I’m grateful to be part of a creative community that supports artists through exhibitions, workshops, and weekly plein air gatherings.

A heartfelt thank you to the Manito Art League for this recognition and for continuing to nurture the arts in such a meaningful way. Being part of this milestone year made it all the more special.

Backyard Birds Accepted Into Exhibition

 

I'm honored to share that my painting Backyard Birds has been accepted into the 32nd Annual Red River Watercolor Society National Juried Watermedia Exhibition!

This year’s show will be held at the beautiful Diederich Art Gallery at Minnesota State University Moorhead, from August 25 to September 19, and juried by the incredibly talented Kim Johnson Nechtman.

I'm deeply thankful to be included among so many inspiring artists and grateful for opportunities like this that celebrate the joy and challenge of working in watercolor.

If you're in the area, I hope you'll stop by and experience the exhibition!

The Divine In Us

 

Featured image: Travelers

The divine in us is there all the time. We just need to wake it up and discover it. It will always be there to travel with us on our creative, very unique, individual journey of life.