Creatively Thinking

  Featured image: Life is Like a Box of Chocolates Life is not a paragraph - E.E. Cummings

  Featured image: Dreamer Hold tightly to your dreams even though it is sometimes extremely difficult and feels hopeless – never let them go.

  Featured image: Blue Jay II two blue jays looking across at the  feeder

  Featured image: Pine Cones Reflecting on the Beauty of the Season The holiday season is here—a time of joy, reflection, and wonder. As Christmas draws near, I encourage you to immerse yourself in the joy of the season—embracing its magic not just on the day, but in every moment along the way. Like the song of a chickadee in the crisp morning or the tranquil beauty of snow-covered pines, there is magic to be found in each moment leading up to the holiday. Art has taught me to notice these fleeting treasures, to see the brilliance in the ordinary and celebrate the spirit all around us. This season, may we all take time to marvel at the small joys—a kind gesture, the warmth of glowing lights, or the stillness of nature. Allow these moments to fill your heart and soul as we move toward Christmas Day together. Here’s to savoring the beauty of now. 🎄

  Featured image:  Her Song - She Has Always Marched To The Tune Of A Different Drummer Everyday, do you work towards independent thought?  I sure do.

  Featured image:  She Leaves a Trail of Stars Wherever She Goes morning star rises how few see the  enchanted woods where sun, water air and earth are and where truth, love morality, beauty come together in nature and where something delightful and creative emerges

  Featured image: Two Roads Diverged when you choose right or wrong, yes or no good or bad when you choose remember one does not have enough power to deny the other one does not exist without the “other.”

Featured image: Under the Stars We are the caretakers of this land that was settled so long ago. We till the soil clear the woods of fallen trees and plant gardens. Today I feel and am thankful for the settlers who came before me. Their sweat and hard work was done for us long ago. Although I feel like one of those first settlers, long ago, saving and loving the land.  I am not but I am a caretaker of this beautiful earth.  And we need to pass it on to those who follow.

  Featured image: Earth's Energy You and your Spirit  Soul & fields of energy ARE from the earth

  Featured image: Campfire Fire “I tucked the knot in among the glowing coals, where it was quietly caressed by exploring tongues of flame.  It began to burn, gently at first, the yellows, blues and reds of the resins bathing its black surface with strange lights.  Here was the accumulated sunlight of bygone days giving off its warmth once more, the sun that had shone over the Quetico-Superior centuries before we were born.  Now it was ours to share, and with it, all that pine had known throughout its life. That pine knot  was a concentration not only of energy but of country itself.  Burning it was the climax not only to its growth but to the expedition on which I found it.”  Sigurd Olson

  Featured image: End of Day I am incredibly honored and thrilled to announce that my artwork, "End Of Day," has been accepted into the 2024 Center for Contemporary Arts National (CCAN) competition!  As a prestigious national juried event held in Downtown Abilene, CCAN is a platform where creativity truly shines. A heartfelt thank you to this year’s juror, Adela Andea, for selecting my piece from over 300 remarkable entries. I'm beyond excited to be part of this year's exhibition and look forward to showcasing my work alongside so many talented artists! 

  Featured image:  Rocks Along the Ogami Shore Every rock in my rock jars has meaning and is a treasure.  Every rock matters. As I reflect on each one, I remember the open spaces, the waves crashing against the shores, and endless and endless creative thoughts.  Have you ever spent a glorious day on the Lake Superior rocky shores walking along - when suddenly you stop bending over for a rock catches your eye, you pick that rock up and examine it? It was unique, like all the ones in my rock jars.  We all are like the rocks in my rock jars: unique, beautiful, and divine.

  Featured image: Telling the Story Art, any art, tells a story. The artist is a storyteller. Artists tell stories that continually adapt to a changing world; if artists don’t adapt, they become irrelevant and forgotten.  I love, as an artist, being a storyteller. Each work of art I create tells a story, and I could go on and on for hours telling them.

  Featured image: Sunday Afternoon at the Park I'm thrilled and deeply honored to announce that my artwork, "Sunday Afternoon In The Park," has been invited to the "Utterly Profound" exhibition, ISEA’s sixth members-only online juried exhibition. 🎨✨ This is a significant milestone, and I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity. You can explore the exhibition and see my work alongside other talented artists by visiting the link below. Thank you for your continued support, and I hope you enjoy the gallery! 🌟 🔗 Explore the exhibition: ISEA Online Exhibition #ArtExhibition #ISEA #Grateful #ArtCommunity #SundayAfternoonInThePark

Featured image: Boreal Forest Shoreline I am truly honored and thrilled to announce that my artwork, "Boreal Forest Shoreline," has been selected as the featured Cover Art for the Bramble Fall 2024 Edition by the Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets (WFOP). This recognition is a testament not only to the beauty of the natural world that inspires my art but also to the profound connection between visual art and poetry. The WFOP is a revered non-profit organization devoted to the reading, writing, and advocacy of poetry. With a mission to elevate poetry as a significant cultural force, the WFOP endeavors to enhance public appreciation of our poetic heritage. Their commitment to fostering a richer understanding of poetry through seminars, constructive feedback, and educational initiatives is truly inspiring. Being part of this community represents a unique opportunity to contribute to the poetic landscape of Wisconsin, a state rich in literary tradition. I am especially grateful to Eli...

  Featured image: Tree, Tree, Tree fall in the woods dry leaves rustling beneath my feet you can see so far in the woods in the fall after the magnificent leaves have fallen and overhead eternal blue sky I thank you God I live here

  🎨🌟 I am incredibly honored and excited to announce that my artworks "End of Day" and "Inner Compass" have been invited to the esteemed 2024 West Texas Watercolor Society Signature Show! This prestigious exhibition runs from November 29, 2024, to January 12, 2025. The West Texas Watercolor Society has been a pillar of artistic community for 60 years, dedicated to connecting people through the beauty and creativity of watercolor art. Their mission to foster a love for water media and build a vibrant community is truly inspiring. The Signature exhibits are designed to push artists towards excellence, offering a platform to evaluate progress and showcase their creations alongside fellow talents. I'm thrilled to be part of this enriching experience and look forward to sharing my work with you all! 🌈  #WTWS #ArtExhibition #EndOfDay #InnerCompass #WatercolorArt #CommunityThroughArt

  Featured image: Endless Sky imagine traveling to the edge of the horizon. or to the beginning of creation what will we find there?

Featured image: Earth's Energies 🎨✨ Thrilled and deeply honored to share that my artwork "Earth's Energies" has been invited to the prestigious 50th Western Federation of Watercolor Societies Exhibition 2025! Hosted by the West Texas Watercolor Society, this milestone exhibition will take place at the Museum of  Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX. Mark your calendars for this incredible showcase running from February 1 to May 4, 2025, with the awards presentation on April 12, 2025. The WFWS has been a beacon of artistic excellence since 1976, bringing together over 5,000 artists from across ten regional watercolor societies. Their dedication to shining a spotlight on watercolor art is truly inspiring, and I am beyond grateful to be a part of this celebration. Looking forward to connecting with fellow artists and art enthusiasts alike! 🌟 #WFWS2025 #WatercolorExhibition #ArtCommunity #EarthsEnergies #WestTexasWatercolorSociety

  Featured image: Enchanted by the Hummer I have found when I live in this profound state for the natural I am calmer, stiller, happier, and tranquil.

  Featured image: Purple Finch in Flight I have found mainly because I was forced to, but now so glad to have found that there is power in the ability to Understand life as it is not as I wish it to be transformative

  Featured image:  Instinct - Out of the Wild The wild The wild is calling Let's go

  Featured image: Backyard Birds her reality dynamic changing becoming growing it is all a process

  Featured image: Chickadee in the Rain small portals of light keep pulling me into  the woods to listen and watch the beautiful mystery of life it is raining today long needed rain raindrops landing on the soft  amber and russet leaves form a canopy above i become still listen to the music  of the  natural

  Featured image: Ocean Sunset love divine mysterious beautiful have you ever loved?  really loved? if so, you know love is divine mysterious beautiful

  Featured image: Turn Turn Turn Being outside provides us a moment to access our truest selves, the person we usually are. Every breath I take when I am outside is as important as uniqueness and one-of-a-kindness.

  Featured image: July Bluebird smoke colored blue gray of her wing strive toward the horizon it swallows her

  Featured image: Over There - Singing - A Thrush “In the vast silence, there are moments when one seems suspended between heaven and earth.”  Sigurd Olsen the loud peacefulness of the outdoors little bird silently move from branch to branch to the feeder silence has it own sound in October, preparing for change peace in the autumn woods mind untangled

  Featured image: Flowers from the Garden “The purpose of life is not to be happy.  It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.”  Emerson

  Featured image: Along the Shore III “The ancestor of every action is thought.”  Emerson "Thought is the concept is the beginning of all things, it is original, it is the unique."  CEA

  Featured image: The Stone Wall "The imitator dooms himself to hopeless mediocrity. The inventor did it because it was natural to him, and so in him it has a charm." - Emerson

  Featured image: Snowbird River Thank you to everyone who came out and supported the arts within our communities and culture. I truly believe it's crucial to avoid a monochromatic culture where we all blend in with our sofas. Sharing art with you is always a joy, and having three whole days to discuss art was incredibly fun. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Blessings to all, Christine

  𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫! 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐰𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐬 𝐀𝐫𝐭 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐍𝐎𝐖! Join us on October 11-12-13, 2024, from 10am to 5pm daily for a mesmerizing adventure through the vibrant world of art. Each stop is a gateway to extraordinary masterpieces and inspiring creativity. Meet the brilliant artists behind the works and uncover their fascinating techniques. Who knows, you might discover that perfect piece to take home! Don't miss out—swing by and see me at stop #15! For more details and to plan your art-filled journey, check out the brochure here: Northwoods Art Tour Brochure . Let the art exploration begin!

  Featured image: Rolling Stones I am truly honored to share that my piece "Rolling Stones" has been awarded 1st place by The National Society of Artists, with juror Richard Williams selecting my work. This recognition means the world to me. Juror Richard Williams had this to say about my work, "Rolling Stones": "The person series of six works associated with Rolling Stones submitted, demonstrates a unique persona iconography, excellent in mark-making and decision-making. Their vision is similar to Kandinsky, leaving behind recognizable images and relying on sheer elements and principles of design to establish a visual dialogue. The verve, I am sure, was developed over a long period of trial and error, developing an intimate knowledge of balance, unity, variety, emphasis contrast. The reward of perseverance that drove their creativity, their muse, has finally paid off, making one's voice being raised above inter serving heard." I am deeply grateful for...

  Featured image: How Do I Get There To be yourself Who I wish to be An artist  I work hard I read I listen I think I observe I trust myself But Does that make me  Who I wish to be? An artist. I imagine And artist for me Sees the invisible Feels the intangible Achieves the impossible And most importantly creates Originals. But  Again I ask myself Am I that? That which I Imagine?

  Featured image: Your Inner Compass I am honored that my work, Inner Compass, won first place in the Lakeland Art League's annual membership exhibition at the Center for the Visual Arts in Wausau, WI. Judge Diana Weber-Osypowski offered these thoughtful comments about my work: "You consistently challenge us to open our minds and allow the imagery to tell the story in its own way—your work and accompanying narrative work in harmony to enlighten and challenge your viewer to contemplate. I am not the first to congratulate you and compliment you on your unique and forceful way of entertaining, please, challenge, and confuse. I appreciate your talent, skill, and expertise. You are a dynamo." I am deeply honored to receive this award and truly grateful for Judge Diana's kind words.

  Featured image:  Ocean Sunset “Nothing is neither good or bad, but thinking makes it so.”  William Shakespeare

  Set off on a captivating journey through the Northwoods Art Tour, where each stop reveals stunning, exclusive works of art. Immerse yourself in the creative world as you meet talented artists and delve into their intriguing techniques. You may just stumble upon a unique masterpiece to bring home. Join us October 11-12-13, 2024. Learn more: https://christinealfery.com/pages/northwoods-art-tour

  Featured image: Lily Pads on Kasba Lake Wandering wandering enchanted woods nature's serenity wandering winged wanderer In the pearly Sky wandering patches of black-eyed susans scattered about wandering water still stretching far beyond wandering my heart wanders in the gallery of nature's palette it holds new mysteries treasures every day

  Featured image: Cloud Berries Surrealism presents the familiar as unfamiliar and uncanny. Surrealism is the juxtaposition of seemingly unrealized imagery.  Artist Marcel Duchamp said this after the father of Surrealism passed; “He was a love of love in a world that believes in prostitution.” Oh, I love that quote—a lover of love in a world of prostitution.  

  Featured image: Falcon “Be yourself; no base imitator of another, but your best self.  There is something which you can do better than another. Listen to the inward voice and bravely obey that.  Do the things at which you are great, not what you were never made for.”  Ralph Waldo Emerson

  Featured image: Bluebird III The other day, when I talked to an art lover about the inkwork on my smaller pieces, she commented, “These are so surreal.”  I had never thought of my work as surreal, so I started once again to travel down the path of surrealism. It wasn’t hard because I have so many favorite surrealist artists.  The artist Miró was the first I explored because I understand and can read the visual language in his work. It’s tough to know if he is painting a person, tree, or bird, but once you start to look at his work and study Miró, you begin to understand what he is conveying.. I went online and saw this quote: “The laws of reality don’t apply to his work.”  No wonder I relate to him; the laws of reality don’t apply to my work. Miró has his own reality, as do I. So, I offered a couple of pieces to you all and would love your opinion. This first one is a new one called “Bluebird III.” The other one is an older one that has been accepted into several e...

 I was so excited when I saw this monarch butterfly in my flower garden a couple of days ago. She is still flying around in the garden but is quite illusive for photos, so I am glad I got this one.   This year, I didn't have my monarch caterpillar camp simply because I found no caterpillars. Did anyone else have trouble finding monarch caterpillars this year? Last year, I had about 15 in my camp and released them when they were ready. Maybe this one is from one of the ones I released a year ago. I am so glad she is in my garden enjoying herself.

 Featured image: Birds in the Garden II Mystery, and secrets Found in Mr Crow your shiny Plumage Purple, black Green Captivate  Your beauty Your mystery

  Featured image: July Rose Breasted Woodpecker Joyful choruses Tunes from the soul Lifting heavy hearts Birds in the morning

  Featured image: Don't Fence Me In - Wolf II  Teachings from the wolf ritual and order as well as harmony trust shelters The wolf disciplines  with respect the wolf is extremely intelligent intuitive the wolf is friends with the  raven …go figure the wolf understands how  to govern with freedom and wildness in the true spirit of freedom we would do well to learn from the wolf,

  Featured image: Adrift IV “What strikes me is the fact that in our society, art has become something which is related only to objects and not to individuals, or to life. That art is something which is specialized or which is done by experts who are artists. But couldn't everyone's life become a work of art? Why should the lamp or the house be an art object, but not our life?” ― Michel Foucault “Life is art. Art is life. I never separate it.” – Ai Weiwei. "The object of art is not to reproduce reality, but to create a reality of the same intensity." - Alberto Giacometti. Artists create their life, they give it form. Everyone should create their own lives and think it is art. Unfortunately, not many do. Christine Alfery

  Featured image: Light Has Dawned I am thrilled and honored to have my work, "Light Has Dawned," selected for the exhibition at the Lexis Gallery at Trinity Cathedral in Sacramento, CA, running from October 2 to November 3, 2024.  This exhibition delves into the profound theme from Genesis 1: "And God said, 'Let there be light.'" In a world where darkness often prevails, my piece seeks to interpret this divine call to light, inviting viewers to reflect on the transformative power of illumination.  It is a privilege to contribute to this inspiring showcase which echoes the eternal promise of light overcoming darkness.