I’m a tap dancer in a world of ballerinas.

Growing up I was always encouraged to explore my interests. One of them was tap dancing. Did you know this about me? Maybe you’re a tap dancer too- maybe you watched the same old movies that I did and marveled at how much personality could be conveyed from the ankles down. I share this little fact with you because maybe it explains a little bit about why I paint what I do. If others are painting pastoral landscapes, I’m going to go a different direction, for better or worse.

I find inspiration everywhere- but most of all I’m inspired by individuals- the quirky, the passionate, the original. Funny that we call our art “original” isn’t it? That’s what I want for my work- that you would see it and know me better and hopefully see something of yourself in it. Because painting is more than ankles down- it’s a physical act but it’s also brain and heart and quirk.

Eating my vegetables

Well, all the painting I did this summer has finally caught up to me. I had not been doing a good job of adding new work to my website. Painting is so fun and I could do it all day everyday, but the admin tasks are just as important. So- I spent many hours over fall break having a photographer come and take pictures of my work, and then I started the process of taking those pics and uploading, cataloging, adding hanging hardware and all the bits that go with finishing getting each canvas ready to sell. I have another day’s worth of work to do with cataloging the still life’s and smaller works, but I am thrilled to have made so much progress.

Never empty the well

As some of you may know, I read Ernest Hemingway’s A Moveable Feast this summer. It is dog-eared and underlined and I thoroughly read it to pieces. One of my underlined portions was his tip for writer’s block.

“I had learned already never to empty the well of my writing; but always to stop when there was still something there in the deep part of the well, and let it refill at night from the springs that fed it.”

I am using this in my work- to leave something for the next day. I love how it allows me to start work right away- to walk down the stairs and pick up my brush to finish what was begun the day before. I share this quote with you in case you’re feeling that it takes a bit to get going in your work- leave a little in the well at the end of each day.

A New Venture

I am not a woman of many words. But have you noticed that the social media platforms are favoring the use of fewer and fewer words these days? I love being spare and cutting to the chase as much as the next person, but in a world where I need to promote my work but also share the inspiration behind it, I’m at a bit of a loss. With this in mind, I am going to be using this blog for that purpose. To share a more behind the scenes look at what is happening in my business and with my art practice will be my aim.

When I was a young mom and staying at home with my boys, I read a LOT of blogs. I loved the little peeks into someone’s world and looked at the writers of said blogs as friends. I didn’t often comment on their posts, the dialog was pretty one-sided, but I felt a connection in a way to them. I hope as I share about my world that you will feel permission to share in kind. It is, after all, what we artists crave- connection with the people with whom we share our work.

Until next time-

My messy palette