Wild and Joyful

 

Featured image: Raven's Spirit

wild and joyful

    flying with ravens

    magical

    mystical

collecting

    precious

    treasures

    ribbons and 

flowers

twisting in 

the wind.

Honor It

Featured image: Gifts from God

When someone asks

why

do you believe

in God

?

I answer

because when

I am still

in the woods

walking on the shore

in the woods

just sitting

listening

watching the

sun set

the sun rise

listening to the rain

when I personally

as an artist

I

create

I can feel Him

as the first

artist 

His creation

I know I am

a

blessed 

artist 

I have been 

given a

gift

and I feel it

and I honor it.

Part of Me

 

Featured image: The River Runs Through Us

flowing like a river

always moving

always changing

allowing all things

to be a

part of me

like the beautiful yellow warbler

its song

flows through me

is a

part of me

the raven, the chipmunk 

The red fox

Are a part of me

flowing

Divine Jewel

 


Featured image: Jewels

Divine jewel
you are a divine jewel
in harmony yet separate
divine
mystery
lift everywhere,
live it
connect with the 
natural flow

Art and Aristotle

 

Featured image: Adrift IV

“The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things but their inward significance."

Aristotle

Light

 

Featured image: New Life

Elegantly simple

light

gives life to

everything on

earth

His Pulse

 

Featured image: And He Walks with Me

solitude of nature

Soothe  my soul

unchained

the cage door is open

I live ……. unchained

free

I find Him there

I hear Him there

in

the woods

for the woods are

filled

with eternal

power and His

pulse

Rain

 

Featured image: Coffee in the Rain

Soaking up

raindrops

allowing the energy 

of the rain

Immerse my 

Soul

I take a deep breath

Art Must Be Fertile

 

Featured image: Sisyphus II

"The painting must be fertile. It has to give birth to a world… yours and mine… It doesn’t matter if you see a flower, figures, or horses, as long as it reveals a world—something living." – Miro

When I read this quote, I thought, "This is the foundation of what many people, including art teachers, often say: Art can be anything you want." However, Miro defines his understanding of art when he states, "Art must be fertile."

Miro uses organic, biomorphic forms that reflect his fascination with the natural world, celebrating growth and transformation in dynamic, interlocking arrangements."

Love, Love, Love

 

Featured image: Straight from the Heart

I find myself more than ever before filled with what I’m calling a bubble of love. I’m surrounding myself with it, and I’m not going to let it pop, no matter what. No one is going to pop it—no one.

I went into one of my favorite stores the other day, overflowing with my bubble of love, and I was talking to someone there about it. She said, "I wish you had been here a little while ago." I asked why, and she said that someone had just shared that her husband, after 40 years of marriage, had asked for a divorce.

My response? There is love in everything. While this is a terrible time for her, she needs to smile and realize that if he wants a divorce, she doesn’t want to live with him anyway. She now has her freedom—she is free. That should make her smile, and she can now fill her own life with love.

Love yourself first. Love yourself—that is what matters most. Don’t let him deflate her love balloon.

Love, love, love—because all you need is love.

So…

I wrote a poem about what I have always believed but somehow let slip away. I felt its loss for over a year. I’m going to make it into a Valentine’s card, my calling card, and hand it out freely to anyone who will take it.

And—I’ve stocked up on heart-covered sweaters and t-shirts, which I’ll wear every Valentine’s Day and beyond—to boldly declare: I am the LOVE lady.

I hope this bubble never, ever wears off.

Buried Treasure

 

Featured image: The Key II

There is a treasure
buried here.
There is a presence here—
unnamable,
indescribable,
ancient,
older.

There is the excitement of
discovery here.
I begin exploring, as an
overture
stirs in the breeze.

Its energy soothes me.
Unnamable presence
is present.

Supreme Earth

 

Featured image: Earth IV

earth

supreme

extreme

remote

enchanting

History

 

Featured image: Charting Pathways

With history, everything blends

into the delicacy of a curve—there are no straight lines.

With history, there are signs of life moving on.

With history, there is always a sense of renewal,

a sense of reflection,

a sense of play,

a sense of movement,

a sense of communion with the past,

the present, and the future.

With history, there is renewal, birth, creation.

With history, there is everything an artist needs

to be alive and create.

There is everything an artist needs to

tell stories about yesterday, today, and tomorrow’s possibilities.

History is all about storytelling, and

art is all about storytelling.

Starbucks

 

Featured image: Blackbird

Each morning, I walk into the woods and put seed out for the finches, blackbirds, and blue jays. Everything else disappears in the winter. Oh, some people get cardinals, but I don’t seem to. I’ve tried everything—their favorite food, calling them—but nothing seems to work.

Anyway, each morning, I walk into the woods and put seed out. About 50 finches gather at the table. Later, around 20 blackbirds arrive to eat the peanuts. I always marvel at the majestic beauty of their regal black, blue, and purple feathers—such a marvelous mix of colors.

Many confuse ravens with blackbirds, and both are often associated with Edgar Allan Poe’s poem The Raven. This haunting poem tells the story of a mysterious raven that visits a grieving narrator, repeating the word Nevermore.

Plot:
A distraught young man is visited by a raven that perches on a bust above his chamber door. The bird, named Nevermore, antagonizes the narrator by endlessly repeating its name.

Style:
The poem is known for its musicality, stylized language, and supernatural atmosphere. Poe incorporates references to folklore, mythology, religion, and classical literature, enhancing the eerie mood.

It is a beautiful poem about a beautiful bird.

But I digress.

I’ve been thinking—when those 20 or so blackbirds arrive at the platform feeder, I should put up a sign that says Starbucks. After all, this is where they gather for their morning coffee! It’s a hoot watching them. Some come early, bobbing around and waiting for the others. The rest meander in, and when they all gather, they honestly seem to share.

Soulmate

 

Featured image: Sacred Spirits

Do you think of your spirit as your soulmate? I do. I have loved it deeply my entire life, and I will always protect it.

Silence in the Woods

 

Featured image: Silence

the silence 

in the wilderness

a sense of

oneness

comes only when there is

stillness

silence

Quiet

 

Featured image: Winter River

Hush, deep and quiet breathing. Ice on the lakes has formed.  Days are short and a great silence settles down over the north.  Even the birds as they approach the feeders are quiet. You actually feel the winter quiet. 

End of Day Accepted into Exhibition

 

Featured image: End of Day

I'm thrilled and humbled to share that my work, "End of Day," has been accepted into Perspectives 2025—a juried statewide exhibition featuring 73 incredible Wisconsin Visual Artists. The show runs from March 28 to May 9, 2025, at the Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts, 51 Sheboygan Street in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

A huge thank you to the Perspectives 2025 jurors, Kate Mothes and Fred Stonehouse, for their thoughtful selections. I feel truly honored to be recognized alongside so many talented artists.

Green Dress in Exhibition

 

Featured image: Green Dress

I’m incredibly honored that my work, Green Dress, has been accepted into the 16th Annual International Signature Watercolor Exhibition! A huge thank you to our judge and juror, Frank Eber, for this opportunity.

This prestigious exhibition, hosted by the Fallbrook Art Center, showcases outstanding watercolor artists from around the world. I’m grateful to have my work included among such talented artists.

📅 Exhibition Dates: April 15 – May 17, 2025

📍 Fallbrook Art Center – A premier destination for art collectors and patrons across Southern California and beyond.

I Come in Peace

 

Featured image: Give Peace a Chance

I come in peace; I come in love. I am on a mission to bring more peace and joy into your life and into the world. I aim to rekindle your intrinsic bond with all life through love, creativity, and imagination. I aspire to inspire you and help you reclaim your connection to your spirit, life, and love through your creative spirit.

Abstraction

 

Featured image: Green Dress

Life and love are very abstract

life and love 

are

hard

should always be

unbound

unlimited in movement

free to

explore

hard to

find

exciting

enjoyable

ever ……

lasting

hard

Abstraction, especially in painting, embraces the unknown—there is something exhilarating about not knowing what will emerge. This uncertainty grants the artist a sense of freedom, an unbounded space for movement and exploration that is difficult to find elsewhere. Perhaps that is why so many abstract artists continue to create ever-larger works of art.

In abstract art, hidden corners of vibrant color await discovery, challenging the artist to explore, connect, and bring something exciting to life. The magic of the paintbrush gliding through paint becomes an act of discovery, much like navigating an uncharted wilderness.

When an artist feels one with her paintbrush, paint, paper, or canvas, she becomes part of something greater—immersed in the experience, fully present in the creative journey.

Love of Life

 

Featured image: Endless Sky

I cherish life

I cherish love

I come to bring

peace to be and love

to the world and to you

love of life to this little

part of the world

then I will be happy

I  come so you can

reclaim your personal 

connection

with the earth and with

your spirit

I come so that you

can deepen

your connection 

to benefit yourself

and to

others. So you can 

pass it on.

Shield

 

Featured image: Tree, Tree, Tree

the shield

the tallest of the 

highest tree tops

shields for us

shield from the

infinite blue above

do you ever wonder what

happens when we

break through that

protective

shield

try

it 

       glorious

Quietly

 

Featured image: The Tight Rope of Life – Searching For and Finding Life’s Tiny Treasures

Quietly

quietly they come

finches, nuthatches

chickadees 

ice moans

loudly

startled they leave

the crow calls some

where  south

the ice moans

loudly

quietly they come

finches, nuthatches

chickadees

like a rock i sat still

sat watching

listening

life in the woods

Love is a Canvas

 

"Love is a canvas furnished by nature and embroidered by imagination." - Voltaire,  French philosopher and writer

Honored to Share This Exciting Recognition

 

 

Featured image: She Flies

I am deeply honored to share that my work, SHE FLIES, has received an Honorable Mention at the Wisconsin Valley Art Association Memorial Exhibition at the Center for The Visual Arts. This acknowledgment means so much to me, and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have my art recognized in such a meaningful way.

The award comes from judge Andy Gambrell, an esteemed Assistant Professor of Painting & Drawing in the Art and Art History Area within the School of Design & Communication at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Beyond his role as an educator, Andy Gambrell is a remarkable American abstract painter whose work has been featured in over eighty exhibitions both in the U.S. and internationally. He has also made significant contributions to the art community by founding and directing galleries, leading arts advocacy projects, and writing critical reviews of exhibitions worldwide.

Having my work acknowledged by such a distinguished figure in the art world is truly humbling and inspiring. SHE FLIES is a piece that holds a special place in my heart, and I am thrilled it resonated with the exhibition's theme and received this recognition.

Thank you to the Wisconsin Valley Art Association, the Center for The Visual Arts, and Andy Gambrell for this incredible honor. Moments like these remind me why I pour my heart into creating and sharing my art.

Falling Waters V Accepted into Exhibition

 

Featured image: Falling Waters V

I am deeply honored that my painting, Falling Waters V, has been accepted into the 2025 WSA National Online Showcase. My heartfelt thanks to the Watercolor Society of Alabama and to Lana Privitera, our Selection and Awards Judge, for this incredible recognition. With such a tremendous response, I am humbled to have my work included in this prestigious exhibition. Mark your calendars for the online posting and awards announcement on February 3rd, 2025. Thank you for this unforgettable opportunity!

Listening Chair

 

Featured image: Under My Red Umbrella

When I sit in my Listening Chair, memories of our canoe trips flood back with vivid clarity. I recall the essence of what I cherished about those journeys, as well as what I now deeply miss. The quietude, the profound silence of the woods, and the gentle lapping of the water against the canoe’s hull. These moments were marked by the natural rhythms and the harmonious flow of a life unspoiled by the modern world.

It was a way of life that embraced the wilderness, a wildness that was pure and undisturbed. Simple, beautiful, and undeniably real. The wilderness provided a reality that grounded me, offering a profound sense of belonging. In those moments, I felt an intrinsic connection to the earth, a part of the intricate tapestry of nature.

Now, as I sit in my Listening Chair, I am transported back to that tranquil world. The chair itself becomes a vessel of  memory—a gateway to the past. It is here that I can once again experience the serenity of the woods, the stillness of the water, and the wild beauty of a life lived in harmony with nature.

My Listening Chair is more than just a place to sit—it is a space where I can reconnect with the simple, beautiful, and real. It reminds me of a wilderness that always offers a sense of belonging, a sanctuary in the midst of the chaos of modern life.

In this chair, I find peace. In this chair, I find myself.

Sacred Rock Accepted into Exhibition

 

Featured image: Sacred Rock

I am incredibly thankful that my work, Sacred Rock, has been accepted into the 12th Annual Abstract exhibition at Verum Ultimum Art Gallery! The theme invites artists to interpret and reflect on the essence of abstraction as a vital, expressive, and deeply personal medium.

I’m honored to have my piece featured among so many unique artistic visions that embody the spirit of this theme. Abstraction is one of the most elemental forms of expression, and I am proud to contribute to its ongoing exploration.

You can view the online exhibition here: https://www.verumultimumartgallery.com/12th-annual-abstract-sanctuary

Exciting News! Exhibition “Imagine...” at Susan B. Smith Art Gallery

 

Featured image: Green Dress

𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬! 𝐉𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐧𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 “𝐈𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐞...” 𝐞𝐱𝐡𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐭 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐚𝐧 𝐁. 𝐒𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐫𝐭 𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐲

I've invited my talented friend Jillayne Waite to join me in my solo exhibition space at the Susan gallery. “The works by Christine and Jillayne complement each other beautifully, creating a gallery experience that’s visually stunning,” said Sandy Madden, gallery coordinator. “Their unique approaches to art invite viewers to explore new perspectives and connect on a deeper level.”

I’m thrilled to announce my upcoming exhibition, "Imagine...", at the Susan B. Smith Art Gallery in the Campanile Art Center in Minocqua, WI! I warmly invite you to explore our work and join us in celebrating creativity on the following dates:

Saturday, January 25th
Sunday, February 2nd
Wednesday, February 5th (Artist Reception)
Saturday, February 8th
Sunday, February 23rd
Friday, February 28th
Saturday, March 22nd
Sunday, March 30th
Special Fundraiser Raffle!

I’m excited to raffle one of my Imagine books as part of a fundraiser for improvements to the Campanille Gallery. Tickets will be available for $5 each or 6 for $20, and all proceeds will go directly to the gallery.

Mark your calendars and don’t miss this opportunity to engage with art, connect with the community, and support a great cause! I can’t wait to see you there!

Piano Man's Spirit Accepted into Exhibition

 

Featured image: Piano Man's Spirit

I am deeply honored that my work, Piano Man's Spirit, has been accepted into the 46th National Juried Exhibition of the Georgia Watercolor Society. It’s a true privilege to have my piece displayed at the Morris Museum of Art in Augusta, GA, from March 6 to June 26. My heartfelt gratitude to the jurors and organizers for this incredible opportunity!

Thoreau

 

Featured image: New Life

"We should come home from afar, from adventures and perils and discoveries every day, with new experiences and character.”  Thoreau

Yellow Birds at the Feeder Accepted into Exhibition

 

Featured image: Yellow Birds at the Feeder

I am thrilled to share that my artwork, Yellow Birds at the Feeder, has been accepted into the 2025 Winter Solstice Art Show! It’s truly an honor to have my piece featured in this exceptional exhibition, which will be on display from January 21 to March 13 at The Paul Nigra Center for Creative Arts Gallery. I am incredibly excited to be part of an event that celebrates such inspiring and diverse creativity. 

Peace Overwhelms

 

Featured image: At Peace

I love the time I have to sit and think long thoughts, hearing the whispering of the gentle snow that has fallen overnight, and the quiet that comes with just sitting. A peace overwhelms me. I want this feeling to travel with me all day.

Life in the Woods

 

Featured image: Listen to the Music

There is so much life in the woods. You can hear the sounds and music there, bringing an awakening in my heart. I wonder who might have walked these woods before me and if the sounds I hear are echoes they left behind—their history, their time. There are so many specters here, their feet touching the ground and place.

Shooting Star

Featured image: Shooting Stars

Shooting Star

My life is like a 

     shooting star, 

     moving rapidly

      in all its glory,

going where it doesn’t know. 

shining, shining 

 oh so bright 

     then suddenly 

     the light fades 

I move on looking 

     for 

     another 

     shooting star.

Visions

 

Featured image: I Come to the Garden Alone

I had a vision today, as I was sitting quietly, breathing deeply, my mind at peace. My vision told me I am truly supposed to paint – for Him. I really am doing what I was called to do. I must paint. The vision was very clear and precise. "No ifs, ands, or buts about it." I pray I can honor this vision.

Thought

 

Featured image: Forward Thinking

independent thought

independent self

where oh where are you?

powerful

easily controlled

evasive

but definitely you

never let it go

Welcoming the New Year 2025

 

Featured image: Visions Are Like Maps

As we step into 2025, it’s a time to reflect, dream, and create. For me, the start of a new year feels like a blank canvas—wide open, full of possibilities, and waiting to be brought to life with bold strokes of creativity and inspiration.

This year, may you find beauty in the world around you, from the whisper of the wind to the song of the earth. May you carry the lessons of the past, live fully in the present, and move forward into the future with hope and wonder. Let's celebrate the art of living, together.