Creatively Thinking

  Featured image: Backyard Birds I am truly honored that my painting Backyard Birds received the Bronze Medal Award at the 3 2nd Annual Red River Watercolor Society National Juried Watermedia Exhibition. This national exhibition, juried by the talented Kim Johnson Nechtman and held at the Diederich Art Gallery at Minnesota State University Moorhead, celebrates the power and beauty of watermedia in all its forms. I’m deeply grateful for this recognition and for the chance to share my work alongside so many inspiring artists. Thank you to the Red River Watercolor Society, the juror, and to everyone who continues to support and celebrate the arts. Moments like this remind me of the joy of creating and the connections art makes possible.

  Featured image:  Valleys Kissed by the Sun Sunlight Seeing Sunlight makes the leaves transparent

  Featured image: I Come to the Garden Alone When I lived in England, my home was a row house in the middle of a bunch of other row houses, with the saddest little plot of grass—at most 10x10—in the front and a brick-paved space in the back, allowing for a tiny backyard or front yard to play in. But I was fortunate. There was a huge English garden right across the street from our house, so when I was home from an English girls' boarding school, I could wander the very cultivated paths. There were places to play cricket, tennis, soccer, or simply sit and read. My favorite spot was two sitting benches, and in between them stood a large stone monument with a poem written in 1913 by Dorothy Frances Gurney , called God's Garden. I have always loved this poem. I used to sit on those benches and find peace there. I even have a plaque with this poem written on it in my own garden. “The kiss of the sun for pardon, The song of the birds for mirth, One is closer to God’s Heart in a...

Featured image: Sun, Tree, Water Even a day later, I can feel the rhythm of the water running through my body, making it one with the water, the earth, and the sky. Moving with all that is—this is the "isness" that I always talk about. A day later, reflecting on the wonderful experiences we had, I look at my hands and see, I still have the earth of the Northwest Territories under my nails. This earth, this tiny bit of earth and its totalness, represents the silence as the day ended far off on the horizon; the songs the wind and the trees sang; and the waves as they came crashing on the shore. The song of the line of forever, drawn between the water and the sky. The song of wholeness. The song of yes, yes, yes that I always talk about. The song of life, of connectedness, of naturalness, of possibilities—and the song of just being alive.

  I’ve just returned from an incredible trip to the Northwest Territories in Canada, and my heart is full. One of the highlights? Catching a massive 37-pound lake trout —all by myself! (Though in the photo it looks like Brad is helping me, I only asked him to hold it so we could safely release it. The lake is catch-and-release, and I didn’t want to risk harming such a beautiful fish.) It was a thrilling fight—the trout was deep, and it took a long time to bring it in on a jig. The moment I finally landed it, I was elated! Beyond that, we also caught grayling and pike, making it a full and unforgettable fishing adventure. Ten days of wild beauty, big fish, and endless wonder. Truly, my heart is filled.

  Featured image: What Lies Beneath Possibility is far more frightening, far more terrifying than any impossibility. Think about that one.

  Featured image: Flowing River Silver streaks   dancing    with the water, glorious—glorious—   movement.

  Featured image: Arizona Landscape Landscapes quietly absorb the tones, textures and rhythms of our living.

  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 ...

  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.

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.

  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!

  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.