An Artist’s Blog

Seeing Eye to Eye. Growing up with eight siblings I often didn't see eye to eye with them. We spent enough time arguing with one another. Most of the time over inconsequential things. But sometimes it was about important things, like who was going to get the last chocolate chip cookie. That's why it was useful to play games like 'Spoons', so one could become efficient at the quick grab, or slight of hand. In all seriousness we had to learn how to fight fare, and give consideration to one … [Read more...] about Getting Along

Drawing in the open air. I've done some plein air work in the past, but usually in the warmer weather. I've painted in parks, famous public places, and on street corners in Italy, but the other day on a morning after a heavy snow, the moon set was so beautiful I just had to do some sort of sketch to remind me of how lovely and peaceful it was. I knew I would never be able to stand the cold long enough to do a color piece so I simply grabbed a pen and a scrap of paper, and stood on my deck … [Read more...] about Out In Nature

Washed Up. Not by a long shot. Thank goodness I don't have a dog to wash up, as it would be another thing to add to the long list of things I need to keep up on. Even as a youngster living on the farm we didn't have the task of washing the dog. We simply had him tag along when we went to jump in the pond down in the pasture, or the creek running through our property. But with all the other jobs we had to do as kids it helped us build a strong work ethic. That work ethic has helped me get … [Read more...] about Washing Your Dog

Too Early. It's been challenging to get back into my groove over the past few years. I've missed posting here the last two months. Part of it has been because I just acquired a new granddaughter. She came too early. Way too early. It's been a struggle for her to make all the gains she would have made in the womb. But she's doing great now and it will soon be time for her to leave the NICU and go home. In her growing time while in the NICU I did lots of praying. Some cleaning. Reorganizing. … [Read more...] about Perfect Timing

Delicate steps. The Holidays were difficult. We're still dancing around the protocols for living through a pandemic. There's living, and there's thriving. It is hard to thrive when the dance requires delicate steps so as not to impose on another dancer's space. But if the ensemble is to have an air of gracefulness, great care must be given when individual dancers weave between and amongst each other. It is a delicate balance indeed. Rowdy Steps. Balance always requires … [Read more...] about Dancing