Or, actually, in a peanut butter filled chocolate shell. I recently read about a grandson of the founder of Reese’s Cups who is suing Hershey Corporation. He claims the current owners of his grandfather’s brand have changed things and that now the treats are neither actual chocolate nor real peanut butter. As Reese’s Cups were […]

I know, I know – could it be more trite? And yet… There’s so much research demonstrating the importance of community, friendships, and loose social networks to health and happiness. Anybody who claims to have pulled themselves up by their bootstraps is forgetting all the kind words, second chances, mentoring and plain old good luck […]

Dorothy Parker, that famous doyenne of the literary Round Table and master of the pithy putdown, had a very challenging life. And personality. Reading a bio took some of the shine off her image, but she also had a brilliant way with words even when not being funny. This particular quote resonated strongly for me: […]

A friend described my paintings as juicy and exuberant, which I loved! The comment was about my use of color, cheerful and energetic almost to the point of being Fauvist in style. I like to describe my paintings as expressionistic because I want to show how it felt to be there, rather than simply copying […]

A psychology professor named Angela Duckworth wrote in the New York Times about a phenomenon she calls situational agency. She means that willpower is not what works to get yourself to resist temptation, or to do something you know you should. Instead, successful people create a structure around themselves that minimizes the need for willpower. […]

Turns out one of my favorite sayings actually has a name – Hanlon’s Razor. It says “never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.” An article in The Economist recently recommended using it to squelch the urge for revenge against annoying or deceitful colleagues. Having found that advice to be useful over […]

During our recent visit to New York City, we visited the new-to-us Poster House Museum. This little gem hosted three very impressive and well-explained exhibits of gorgeous old posters. The movie posters were interesting and the national park posters entertaining. The Italian posters were as chilling as they were graphically striking. That exhibit demonstrated how […]

Dick Van Dyke recently celebrated his 100th birthday and the flurry of publicity has been a bit annoying. Everything from mainstream media to people posting that they met him once, all trying to claim a piece of this beloved performer. Nonetheless, some of the insights from interviews with him are useful. Everyone asks, of course, […]

For several years now I have railed against the proliferation of touch screens in cars, as they grow ever larger and more complicated. That is part of the reason I prefer older cars and keep them forever. (My trusty mechanic knows me well, and shared his home and cell numbers.)  I find screens distracting, preferring […]

A recent Facebook post by a friend introduced me to the word meliorism. It’s defined as the belief that the world can be made better by human effort. She was feeling very discourage and, given recent events, was understandably no longer convinced this was true. Nonetheless, I prefer to remain optimistic. Perhaps foolishly so, but […]

Air travel is much less enjoyable lately – smaller seats, more delays, longer security lines, disgusting food, jets falling out of the sky… I used to love packing efficiently and strolling aboard to sit comfortably in my aisle seat, where I’d have my choice of meals after we left on time. No more. Now I […]

There are undeniably many sources of anxiety in our world today, and reasons to be depressed. It’s one of those laugh or cry situations, and I’d generally rather laugh. But how? A couple of recent articles provided some guidance. Psychology Today talks about purpose in terms of little p versus Big P. People often feel […]

Need a bit of uplifting? Perhaps some useful information about stress management, food, health, or how to focus?  Perhaps you’d like a brief diversion by way of travel memories? Or simply something colorful to cheer, soothe or distract you? My blog will do the trick. It’s ostensibly about art, and sometimes I do write about […]

A recent article in Barron’s cited research done by colleges in California and Italy on successful aging. Among the obvious bits of advice like eating well, exercising, and having strong social connections was an unexpected finding – be stubborn. Or, as I prefer to think of it, be resilient and determined. Scientists say genetics account […]

Some ideas seem to get recycled regularly, perhaps because they actually make a lot of sense. This one harked way back to my corporate days. The terminology was different, but the intent was the same – to help you focus on what really matters. A recent article in Entrepreneur talked about the idea of a […]

Frighteningly enough, the name that keeps coming to mind for me lately is Margaret Atwood. Her Handmaiden’s Tale and similar novels about not-to-distant, very scary futures have been running through my head, try as I might to ignore our dysfunctional and divisive politics. The notion that behavior for which we’d send a five-year-old to his […]

The tumultuous atmosphere around the U.S. election made me decide a getaway was needed to save my sanity, and the more distracting the better. Luckily, there are safe, easy places to travel where I can’t speak or read the language, saving me from constant “breaking news” that merely adds stress. Since romance languages are familiar […]

Remember school days when you’d be asked how you spent your summer vacation? Well, here’s the Cliff Notes version of how I spent my summer, by way of explaining the long delay between blog posts.  Happy hours on the deck overlooking the water and laughing at the shenanigans at the boat launch. Hosting book groups, […]

On rare occasions, I have created commissioned paintings – meaning somebody specifically asked me to paint a certain subject. It’s not something I do often, or seek out, as it’s far more stressful than simply painting what I feel like creating. When people request a specific painting, I feel a tremendous obligation to get it […]

Being a great believer in challenging myself to get out of my comfort zone and stretch my brain, I took a class in palette knife painting last month. It was apparently part of a self-improvement kick, as I also took a refresher class on perspective drawing. I figured it would be useful both for the […]

Turns out travel doesn’t have to be international to inspire me to paint. This lesson apparently had to be relearned from the last time we spent a month in New York City, pre-pandemic. That resulted in a series of cityscapes, from Radio City to the Village. This time, we rented an apartment for January and […]

A recent article in Psychology Today addressed so-called weak social ties and their surprising importance to our emotional and physical health. Turns out that chatting with the mailman, being recognized in a favorite store, or even laughing with a stranger in line can improve your well-being. And, of course, you can be the one who […]

Dorothy Parker and her sharp wit are well known, but here’s a quote I hadn’t heard before. “The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity.” This explains one of the main reasons for my travels. I have an unquenchable urge to see and experience new things, whether tapas and flamenco in […]

Travel always inspires me to paint, and I’m very grateful for the opportunity. The combination of new experiences and unusual sights (and, ultimately, the urge to be home) usually sends me into my studio. I get all pumped up, with hundreds of reference photos for inspiration. We just returned from a trip to Belgium and […]

Not long ago, I saw an interview with Range author David Epstein. He researched successful athletes, artists, musicians, inventors and scientists. He discovered that in complex and unpredictable arenas, generalists, not specialists, tend to excel. Generalists usually juggle multiple interests, rather than focusing, and often find their paths later in life. They are also likely […]

A very amusing column about jargon appeared in the Economist recently and introduced me to the concept of a “nub.” This acronym for non-useful body is apparently employed by submariners to describe a ride-along person who takes up space, air and food while performing no useful function. In other words, not a member of the […]

It’s been a challenging year and my energy for painting was in short supply, so I was thrilled when the urge hit me, strongly, this month. Here’s how it goes. First I sort through my photos thinking about what to paint. Next I have a phase where I try a few thumbnail sketches to test […]

A recent article in the New York Times explained how parts of Andalusia, in southern Spain, are using techniques from the Middle Ages to combat climate change. Known as acequias, the clever systems were designed by the Moors, who ruled southern Spain during a golden age of knowledge, culture, science and architecture. Their acequia irrigation […]

A friend’s email signature contained this quote from Eleanor Roosevelt, which I loved: “Learn from the mistakes of others. You can’t live long enough to make them all yourself.” Good advice, and there are certainly things I’ve watched others do that made me vow to never do the same; I call them negative role models. […]

Many people think of relaxation as involving lots of catch-up sleep on the weekend. Others relax by sitting in front of the tv, or playing games on their computers or phones. A recent article in Psychology Today sheds light on what really works. The research cited said what really helps people recover from work (or […]

According to John Steinbeck, quoted in the Economist, “Ideas are like rabbits. You get a couple and learn how to handle them, and pretty soon you have a dozen.” Steinbeck was talking about writing, while the Economist article discussed the concept in relation to technological advances building on each other. I believe it applies equally […]

For people who know Chicago, the Marina Towers condo on the river is instantly recognizable and popularly known as Corncob Towers, for its shape. For those who don’t, a photo or, in this case, a painting, could be confusing. Let me digress a bit and provide some background. While attending graduate school in Indiana, I […]

We are in an unusually politicized period of history where news is almost always bad and elected officials often sow divisiveness rather than solve problems. A recent editorial in the New York Times suggests that art can relieve some of this stress, offering beauty even in an ugly world. Thanks to my cousin Jonathan I […]

Research cited in Psychology Today suggests that how long you live is partly determined by how you think about aging. An interesting longitudinal study tracked adults for 23 years, measuring mortality and asking about their perceptions of aging. Turns out that people who had positive perceptions of aging lived longer than those who didn’t. This […]

Once upon a time, a long time ago, I was a junior in college who talked my way into a graduate seminar in environmental psychology. In my 20 year old brain, this was a great way to unite two loves, art and psych. More than my previous attempts – as an art major, then in […]

People often complain about overeating during the holiday season, but a couple of recent articles shed some light. According to Psychology Today there are four types of hunger, at least two of which feed into this phenomenon. The Economist expands that notion with an article about the new field of nutritional psychiatry. It seems physical […]

This year the holidays sort of snuck up on me. Or, more accurately, I was so busy ignoring the blizzard of commercialism, that I forgot to pay attention to the calendar. After I finished avoiding Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Giving Tuesday and Cyber Whatever, it was suddenly mid-December and my holiday spirit was in […]

It seems I have a thing for old cities with quaint, human-scaled buildings. As my husband would say, “you just love arches, lampposts and umbrellas.”  If we’re talking the cafe variety, not the rain variety, he’s right. And I’d add balconies. There’s something about those architectural features and streetscapes that feel inviting to me. Any […]

We tend to travel at off times. It’s not just to avoid crowds, though that’s a plus. It’s also because we enjoy being home most of the year, hating to miss spring blooms, summer sailing, autumn leaves, or snow-covered scenes. So our trips tend to be November and March, the only ugly times here, and […]

My friend Mark writes a very thoughtful, mostly data-driven blog about Hartford, regionalism, racism and more. He made this point recently, which resonated with me: “I’m okay with the outcomes being unequal. I’m not okay with the opportunities being unequal.” I couldn’t agree more. The fact is, some people have more or different abilities than […]

Most of us have heard the term Nimby – not in my back yard. And most of us would like to believe we are more open-minded and welcoming than it suggests, even though we often live in towns with restrictive zoning rules. What struck me as ironic is the realization that many of us seek […]

Albert Einstein once said “logic will get you from A to Z, imagination will get you everywhere.” This is a sentiment with which I wholeheartedly agree. Though he applied it to science, it applies equally well to art-making. (As it did to my consulting, for that matter, but that’s not today’s focus.) While mastering basic […]

Tom Petty’s “the waiting is the hardest part” was the intriguing lead-in to a Wall Street Journal article shared by the wonderful investment advisors at Reservoir Financial. Alison Gopnikit’s article cited a classic social psych experiment that measured the ability of toddlers to resist temptation – in the form of marshmallows. Relating it to investing, […]

You’ll be relieved to know this post isn’t about politics, current events, liars, or anything criminal. Instead, it was inspired by a quote from Albert Camus. He said “fiction is the lie through which we tell the truth.” My immediate thought was that his statement applies to painting, too. Think about it. A painting is […]

It’s been a challenging few weeks, both happy (an adorable and highly energetic seven year old’s visit) and sad. The latter included energy-draining, time-consuming rotator cuff muscle tendon tears, memorial events for a friend taken too young, scary health news about two other friends, and a funeral for a favorite aunt, who lived long and […]

The fraternal twins are finally ready to face the world! A few months back I began a series of two paintings (yes, with my boredom threshold, two constitutes a series) of sunsets, a favorite subject. A shoulder injury, a trip to Portugal and an art opening (you can see my travel paintings in the gallery […]

A recent article in Wine Spectator would have me surmise that my bout with COVID could be related to an inadequate consumption of red wine. LOL It appears wine drinkers in general, and red wine drinkers in particular (my favored winter drink) are less susceptible to COVID risks than drinkers of hard liquor or beer. […]

We finally took a vacation again, after nearly 2 1/2 years! As regular readers know, my painting inspiration usually comes from sunsets, water and travel. The latter has been in very short supply lately. As readers also know, we had bouts of COVID last month, fortunately mild since we are triple vaxxed. This means that, […]

Connecticut’s own Mark Twain is frequently cited for his witticisms. Even The Economist, in a recently published a special report on the future of travel, used a Twain quote: “travel is fatal to prejudices, bigotry and narrow mindedness.” I have certainly found this to be true. A perfect example was our trip to Andalusia in […]

Our recent bout with COVID had me realizing how lucky we are to rarely get sick, to have flexibility in our work, and to have healthy food readily available. I am grateful for the vaccines that made our cases relatively mild and for the masks that prevented my unknowingly infecting others. I’m especially thankful for […]

Numerous studies describe, define, test and/or debunk the concept of decision fatigue. The basic idea is that if you have to make too many decisions in too short a time your ability to do so becomes impaired. In a related vein, I have found my paintings work better if I remember to step back, or […]

Several weeks ago, I received an email from an acquaintance. We had worked together a few years back. I was a consultant for the CT State Office of the Arts when she headed a local arts agency and requested my help on a project. Turns out she now works for the University of Connecticut in […]

Like many of you, I’ve found the pandemic has clipped my wings. We used to travel internationally twice a year, gathering experiences, memories and inspiration for my paintings. We also enjoyed lots of cultural opportunities in Hartford – theater, art shows and concerts – when we weren’t relaxing at our shoreline home, where we’d sail, […]

Since we pronounced ourselves semi-retired – the transition is taking a few years, LOL – we’ve had more time to cook. The pandemic amplified that, since we’re spending much more time at home and not going to restaurants. We’ve graduated from joking about recipes for our “snowflakes” – one of a kind experiments with whatever […]

And what, you might ask, is cue-based planning? And why should I care? Well, it’s apparently a better way to make your dreams come true. Based on the Wall Street Journal’s summary of research by Wharton professor Katy Milkman, cue-based planning simply boils down to “if x, then y.” As an example, don’t just say […]

My exhibit at the local library includes limited edition prints and a group of my travel photos, works I hadn’t exhibited in quite a while. I enjoyed seeing Mexico, Bali and Miami’s Art Deco district again – vicarious traveling during a pandemic. The show was well-received and I was asked to extend it, which I […]

A wise woman, pastel instructor and good friend insists, rather vehemently, “ignore the photo.” She doesn’t mean photographs aren’t good for reference material; I use them all the time, and that’s how my travel paintings happen. What she means is don’t let the photo dictate what’s in the painting. Many artists try to reproduce a […]

You’ve heard it said. You’ve read the t-shirt or bumper sticker. Yet you probably haven’t really given much thought to “less is more.” Besides the obvious warning against conspicuous consumption, what does this mean? Research reported in The Economist explains we have a tendency to add, rather than subtract, when we try to improve things. […]

Our six year old granddaughter recently spent a week with us, and we learned a lot. Life lessons include don’t be afraid to get dirty, which I would normally do only in the garden or my painting studio. Also, never miss a chance to go on a boat. And always have a daily treat. See […]

Until we can travel widely and safely again, many of us have had to be satisfied with memories of Europe, Asia and Latin America. My current exhibit, at The Space Gallery in charming Chester, CT, recognizes this and is, for now, a great substitute for the real thing. It runs through the end of the […]

As we all try to “normalize” life in this partially-post-pandemic world, some adjustments are easier than others. I still find it difficult to trust strangers to do the right thing. Since they can’t tell if they’re carrying the virus, I can’t tell who’s vaccinated, and nobody can control sneezes with all this pollen around, I’ve […]

The latest pandemic-related trend among professionals is to consider going YOLO (you only live once.) Apparently many folks are apparently neither depressed, nor really happy, but are merely “languishing” after months of relative solitude. I’m fascinated by the terminology, though not sure I belong in either camp, having lived much of my life YOLO. In […]

I’m feeling ambivalent lately about a significant milestone, and this post is one way of coping. I lived in downtown Hartford for 40 years and loved it. The convenience and safety of walking to restaurants, museums, theater, ball games, concerts, stores and drinks with friends were wonderful. So was the energy; I loved having my […]

If you’re at all like me, you’ve had enough Zoom in the past year to last a decade. Yes, it’s better than nothing. Yes, we’re lucky to have it. And yes, it’s annoying as hell. Aside from the fact that I never aspired to be on Hollywood Squares, I find Zoom “get-togethers” stressful. Turns out […]

This unfortunate affliction tends to hit women. Men seem to be mostly immune, subscribing instead to the “fake it ’til you make it” school of thought. Some, based on my corporate experience, fake it forever, and never get called out on it. LOL Women, however, often seem to believe they have to be expert at […]

Certain words aren’t as clear as they could be, or should be. Defunding, of course, has been in the news recently. Some people understand it to mean abolish the police. The true intent, however, seems to be to focus police on protecting people and solving crimes. Some police funding would be used to allow other […]

On the bright side, I am no longer calling this shelter-in-place. The preferred term now is “artist-in-residence.” Of course, there are times when it would be nice to be in residence elsewhere, or to at least have the option. Plans for NYC and for Portugal were postponed, but with the vaccines we’re optimistic again. I’m […]

Our number finally came up to register for the vaccine. Sort of. Well, maybe. Somewhere. But possibly not for a week or two. The state announced we’re eligible. One major hospital system managed to incorporate that information into their sign-up process. The one with which our doctor is affiliated, however, did not. The doctor’s office […]

In an attempt at normalcy, I’m going to ignore pandemics, weather and politics to focus on a corny holiday instead, simply to make us all feel better. Whether or not you are in love, Valentine’s Day is an opportunity to let people who matter to you know that you care. Pre-pandemic, I would sometimes shop […]

All of us have been caught up lately in the fog of politics, made worse by COVID. After the trauma of a contested election, then the threat of armed mobs disrupting democracy’s peaceful transition of power, it’s been wonderful to go back to quiet, competent government. It seems like there is finally light at the […]

In the interests of a much happier 2021… Yes, we all know masks are uncomfortable, and that a ventilator would be even more so. Think of masks as a courtesy, akin to not sneezing in someone’s face, so that we can get COVID under control and not have another year like 2020. It’s just part […]

Easy for you to say, right? I’ve never pronounced it myself, but a friend recently sent an email about it that was quite intriguing. Anosognosia is a medical condition where brain damage hinders self-awareness, making people unable to perceive or accept the reality of their situation. While anosognosia is often related to severe mental illness […]

Yes indeed, let there be light! That’s possibly the only example I recall of an obscure tense learned in high school French, but it was sure working for me the other day. Sunshine, a long walk, plus the promise of being able to travel again with the election of someone who believes in science. (And […]

The subjects I feel the urge to paint most often, besides cityscapes from my travels – sadly, not this year – are seascapes, particularly sunsets over the water. Not enjoying plein air (painting on-site) due to sunburn, bugs and intrusive passers-by, I often work from photos taken near my studio on the Connecticut shore. One […]

It was a simple question, asked out of curiosity. It came from someone who has been a close friend since we served on a nonprofit board together 30 years ago. And it brought me up short. She asked “are there any brown people in your paintings?” Just like that, I was seeing yet another example […]

We’ve all heard the old saying “it’s better to give than to receive.” Most of us didn’t buy that as kids, and some folks never quite outgrow it. LOL  While I certainly enjoy well-chosen gifts that demonstrate someone cares enough to know my tastes, I don’t need more stuff and would mostly rather give. Recently […]

For those who remember the book, Catch 22 is a self-explanatory term for any situation that is basically an endless loop. These days, it’s frequently encountered when trying to deal with technology (which is why you haven’t seen a blog post in a while) and automated systems. I’ve found that painting, mystery novels, or chocolate […]

All of us are feeling frustrated during this pandemic, wearing masks, being cautious about public spaces, staying home more, avoiding group activities, missing friends and family in order to keep them safe…  For people whose jobs are gone, or whose jobs require putting themselves and loved ones at risk, this is terrifying. For black people, […]

Some of you may remember a popular book from several years back entitled Bowling Alone. It described the negative impact on society created by suburbs, automobiles and shopping malls, to the detriment of happy, random encounters with neighbors, or relationships with shop owners. The book also cited fewer people joining service clubs, leading to less […]

Milton Glaser, the graphic designer who created the iconic I Love NY image that uses a heart for the word love, died recently. Thanks to his passion, he was working until the end, well into his 90s. An interview shortly before his death included some insights about creativity and New York City that resonated for […]

My talented friend Beth Gibbs is a retired nonprofit and broadcast executive, turned author and yoga instructor. A recent post she wrote reminded me about the health value of laughter. Given the craziness and stress we are all dealing with this year, it seemed worth sharing some of those tidbits. The Mayo clinic lists several […]

Staying safely at home has given me time for long-envisioned projects. One of those is going through old scrapbooks and photo albums, my pandemic archeology project. Clearing them out will leave more room in my closet for shoes and hats – a noble cause, I thought. LOL These materials date back to my school years, […]

Nope, not a flying lesson. Though I did try that years ago and loved it, my budget and worries about poor depth perception were impediments to getting a pilot’s license. This title refers to the creative process and a brainstorm I had while trying to fall asleep (which is not my strong suit, being a […]

It’s always a wonderful feeling when my paintings find good homes, but sometimes the situation is extra special. A collector might tell me the piece is for a birthday or anniversary present, or it reminds them of a favorite vacation. A situation with a recent seascape was one such case. Our former neighbor became close […]

Many people believe that “right-brained” folks are more intuitive and creative, and “left-brained” are more analytic (they could probably fix my cut-off image here!) and logical. For years I bought into that, and proudly claimed to be both. Turns out everybody is. Both brain hemispheres are involved in language and perception, with different specialties like […]

Humans are wired to crave new experiences and sensations, but everybody has different degrees of tolerance. Some want to try the newest gadget or restaurant, while others need exotic travel or extreme sports. Sensation seeking is not the same as thrill seeking; it doesn’t always involve climbing skyscrapers or jumping out of planes. It’s actually […]

These times call for stress reduction! For me, some techniques are obvious: relive fun travel memories by sorting through photos to decide what to paint; immerse myself in “the zone” when I paint; enjoy knowing my paintings make collectors feel good. You can also get in the zone by working out, or reading a good […]

Way back when, I took a grad seminar in environmental psychology. At the time, the field was focused on how we found our way around in the world. Lately it has crossed into architecture and interior design, in recognition of the built environment’s impact on our health, thinking and socializing. Thousands of years ago, humans […]

For two months, I’d been thinking about a painting of Mont St. Michel. Our visit there last fall was inspiring. And funny, and challenging, but that comes later. First came the monumental presence out in the bay, the threatening skies, the deceptive marshes surrounding and protecting it from those foolish enough to attempt the crossing. […]

That doesn’t refer to current events, though it certainly could. It is a quote from an artist named Nicolas Roerich. He believed cultural heritage is a world treasure comprised of buildings, art, universities, libraries, concert halls and theaters.  He said they must all be “protected from the ravages of war and neglect, for without them […]

This wasn’t a term I’d heard before, but the often invisible effort of cognitive labor is also known as life admin, which is more intuitively obvious. The person in a family who’s generally in charge of things like household maintenance and social coordination is buried in cognitive labor. It’s often unacknowledged, but the time (or […]

Though not a fan of new year’s resolutions, I had a dream years ago about how my life could look. City place, beach place – it was that vague, and that specific. While neither a beach goer (I burn) nor a strong swimmer (bluffed my way through Girl Scout camp!) something about the ocean calls […]

When we stop and think, we know this season is really about being grateful. Never mind manufactured celebrations like Black Friday. This is a time to gather with people who matter to us, appreciate what we have, and give to those in need. OK, and it’s also about eating too much. LOL There is much […]

The Diderot effect says people purchase things that are generally complementary to one another and that relate to their sense of identity. When something new deviates, though, it can cause a domino effect of more consumption. Perhaps the new kitchen/car/shoes make existing possessions look shabby, and suddenly everything must be upgraded. Coined by anthropologist Grant […]

A recent visit to Chicago was a refresher and inspiration. If you’re remotely curious about pastel, here’s a formal explanation from their Art Institute. Which also happens to explain why I love pastels, and the Impressionists. “Pastel is a medium… made by combining dry pigment with a sticky binder. Once artists have applied the pastel […]

Maybe it makes me a troglodyte or something, but I am not super-enamored of all things digital. What reminded me was that my new(ish, used) car just rolled over to 70,000 miles. Except it didn’t. Being digital, it was disappointing. There was no excitement, no clicking of numbers actually rolling over. Unlike last time, when […]

This year, for the first time in about 40 years, I am not serving on a nonprofit board. Or on five of them simultaneously. Did that the year I left my corporate job to start my consulting firm. And nearly bankrupted myself, as I gave away more time and advice than I sold. Lesson learned. […]

Reviewing photos from opening receptions for my two recent exhibits, in Avon and Simsbury, CT, caused me to reflect. They reminded me how lucky I am to have a large circle of very creative friends whose energy reinforces and encourages mine. Included in the photos were graphic designers, a former dancer, an architect and a […]

We recently threw a party to mark our tenth wedding anniversary. Friends from many parts of our lives – former consulting clients and law partners, neighbors past and present, people with whom I’d painted, practiced Pilates, or served on nonprofit boards – celebrated with us. It reminded me how very lucky we are, and how grateful. […]

A recent article from the Washington Post brought back memories, and made me realize why I love painting. Not all the memories were good; the article cited research that found humor is appreciated in male leaders, but is often held against female leaders. Since I enjoy dry, witty humor (ok, which is sometimes sarcastic) the […]

Hartford neighbors have a social media site dedicated to all things positive about downtown, where I’ve lived for decades. Recently someone posted an article pointing out that when people say Hartford isn’t safe, they usually aren’t citing crime statistics. Often they are simply reacting to sensational news stories or, more likely, confusing safety with comfort. […]

Discussing Kentucky Derby parties we planned to attend, an old friend told me about her outfit and, in particular, the bling she intended to add to it. A very creative person, she anticipated the party might be on the traditional side, so her stated goal was to be slightly unacceptable. The phrase instantly grabbed me. […]

It turns out I’m not crazy after all. Or at least not in a cranky old woman kind of way. Yet.  Apparently other people also hate the beeping from modern appliances, so “beep rage” has become a thing. There’s also “second-hand beep rage” from having to hear other people’s toys beeping – seat belts, phones, […]

Usually a trip to another country is required to refill my creative well, inspiring me to capture the energy and scenery of a new place that I can share in paintings. Sometimes, though, inspiration is closer to home, in sunsets over the water near my studio. And once in a while I need reminding about […]

My paintings are more expressive than realistic, since I’m most interested in showing how it felt to be there. Enhanced reality is another way to describe it. I use more intense colors in an almost Fauvist way to help the viewer understand whatever it was that stopped me in my tracks and made me go […]

Some months ago I read an article about proven methods to reduce stress. Apparently I’ve been intuitively utilizing several of them – coloring (so to speak), changes in spending, and reduced screen time. Research has shown increased screen time to be a major risk factor for mood disorders among U.S. adults. One key recommendation was to […]

Our recent trip to Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Montevideo, Uruguay, had beautiful architecture and great weather. We found it a bit more “faded glory” than anticipated, but one real high spot was the amazing energy of the carnival parade in Montevideo’s old city. Uruguay’s carnival celebration is more family oriented than those in New Orleans […]

A boating magazine is not where I’d normally look for psychological insight or painting inspiration. Nonetheless, a recent article entitled “This Is Your Brain on a Boat,” from BoatU.S., offered both. It reminded me that research studies support what is intuitively obvious to me – we feel better around water. There’s evidence for it, based on […]

Last month I realized I was in the middle of reading five different books.  They range from fun fiction, to an award-winning literary novel, to compelling nonfiction accounts of the flood in New Orleans, girls raised as boys in Afghanistan, and the criminally insane murderer who helped create the Oxford English dictionary. Apparently, my thirst […]

It is always a challenge to give presents once people reach a certain age. While I hope you are enjoying the holidays, they do tend to exacerbate the issue. People have what they need, or they have very particular tastes, or you don’t know what they really want. Plus it’s often awkward to calibrate the […]

You may recall earlier versions of this painting from previous posts about my painting process. I’ve described how I usually work from photos, do thumbnail sketches to test ideas, block-in the large shapes, then start painting. I blogged about this particular painting at the stage when I was fine tuning it, studying the dark and […]

For several years I’ve been eager to experience southern Spain’s offerings, including its tasty tapas and Granada’s Alhambra palace. We just returned, and the sights were every bit as spectacular as expected. I’m inspired to paint again; the challenge will be deciding where to start. There are too many choices, such as this famous gorge […]

Claude Monet reportedly said “color is my day-long obsession, joy and torment.” With all due respect, I’d leave out the torment part. My love affair with color is absolute. Many artists struggle to use color more freely. Not me. Part of the reason I love painting with pastels is they are so robust. I paint […]

Did the image in that last post look familiar? Here’s what you were supposed to see! It may sound odd, but cooking, interior design and gardening – even getting dressed – and, yes, painting, are all similar to me. What I mean is they flow from the same creative process. In all cases, I’m dreaming […]

A long time collector of my art visited recently, and paid me what I consider to be quite a compliment. He told me he describes my paintings to his friends as “luxurious.” While I’m not into what most people consider luxuries – brand name clothes, new cars and such – that struck me as a […]

Much of my painting success is owed to Frank Federico, a friend who died recently. He was a brilliant colorist, inspiring artist and wonderful instructor. Frank was also instrumental in founding the CT Pastel Society, urging me and other artist friends into board meetings, early CPS exhibits and Pastel Journal subscriptions. Watching Frank transform even […]

A recent article got me thinking about why I love travel, and talking to people who travel, and painting scenes from my travels – like this one of Chania harbor, on the Greek island of Crete. According to Psychology Today, there’s actually a scientific basis for it. Whatever people rate as important, their friends tend […]

It’s always been apparent that having water views makes me feel better. Conversely, being cooped up inside without views, as in my corporate days, depresses me. Before I earned a promotion and a window, I used to joke that it was like living inside a Band-Aid box – beige, bland and boring. Turns out there’s […]

This is the rough block-in for the composition of a new painting. It’s also art therapy. It’s based on a favorite photo from my first trip to Venice, and I unearthed it at an opportune time. It reminded me what some people have to go through to do laundry. At least my clothes aren’t hanging […]

Years ago I bought a funky, colorful raincoat at a craft show. I wasn’t long past my corporate days, when beige (which is not a color! at least in my world) trench coats were the only acceptable choice over my pin-striped suits. So I hesitated, and was egged on by the woman who’d made the coat. She […]

When conducting market research interviews, I understand that open-ended questions solicit richer, more detailed information. Answering with your own experience, or rebutting people’s comments, can shut down the conversation. However, I hadn’t thought about how this principle applies to my art life. Most people want to know their concerns and interests have been given consideration. […]

Nope, not that F word. This F word is flexible, from a running gag with a friend who shared a Balinese adventure with me years ago. The erstwhile leader of our trip was not a strong manager, to put it mildly, and kept telling the group to “be flexible” whenever she didn’t keep to the […]

As in last year’s post about fidgeting and health, it appears there is solid research to support my notion that wandering helps creativity. Regular readers know my habit when traveling is to walk for hours, taking photos that later serve as reference material in my painting studio. And when I paint, my habit is to […]

Contrary to popular belief, getting emotional is not a bad thing. Which emotion, and, more importantly, what label you put on it when your brain decides what you are feeling, is what matters.  The ability to identify, harness and express those feelings at the appropriate time, in the appropriate amount, to the appropriate person, constitutes […]

There are arenas where creativity is welcome, even necessary. Cooking, gardening and teaching come to mind, and, of course, painting. Nobody needs me to do a completely realistic painting of a scene when everybody has cameras in their phones. A touch of creativity is needed to recapture the energy and wonder I felt. Other areas […]

Whether on a baseball diamond, in a courtroom, or with slights from someone, you know that three strikes indicates a line has been crossed. Quite probably repercussions will follow, and hopefully a lesson has been learned. What does that have to do with pastel painting, you might ask? Well, for me it’s about my preferred approach […]

Some people travel to relax on a beach, to try famous restaurants, or to ski and hike. I travel for inspiration. The best trips stimulate both my brain and my creative juices. It seems I need this kind of travel to be able to paint. This past year, we experienced Havana, London and the Greek island […]

My paintings are normally quite vivid, in keeping with my preference for a high energy, colorful life and my desire to share that with others. Sometimes, however, a place to rest the eye, and a sense of wonder about life's smaller gems, is needed. That's perhaps particularly true in these turbulent, stressful times. So I found myself […]

Recently returned from Greece, I'd like to offer a few reflections. This will help clarify my thoughts while sifting through hundreds of reference photos and deciding what to paint. If forced to summarize, I'd say the ruins were spectacular and the number of smokers was appalling. The Acropolis Museum in Athens is a jewel, well-designed to […]

Every once in a while I really struggle with painting and am reminded that it a) requires intense concentration, b) is hard work, and c) makes me very hungry! That was true of a recent painting in my Havana series, when I was under a deadline for my current exhibit, so I decided to share its evolution. […]

People often ask what style my paintings are and I sometimes stumble to explain. Expressionistic colorscapes is the phrase I've coined, but it usually requires clarification. In a nutshell, I try to show how a particular experience or place felt, versus simply showing what my camera saw. Expressionism ls a style of art, like Impressionism or Realism. Impressionism uses […]

This year's trip to Havana, Cuba, introduced us to a beautiful (though deteriorated) city, filled with color, music and creativity. We had the opportunity to visit artists' studios and learn about the gallery scene, exhibit opportunities and their challenges in obtaining supplies. One artist's Seattle-raised fiancee explained her "Walgreens Rule" to us: if you can […]

Besides the obvious benefits – fascinating cultures, scenery, architecture, history, art, and novel experiences with story telling rights – travel can also be good for you in the food department. Who knew? It's a bit counter-intuitive, but an article in my MD's newsletter convinced me I can vouch for at least Europe and South America – no diet needed! Got […]

Painting is certainly therapeutic for me. The news today seems consistently negative, from name calling, bullying and threats, to innocent people mowed down, shot, or blown up. Art provides a counterpoint to all that, a reminder that there is beauty in the world to which we can choose to pay attention, vs. all the nastiness. […]

Art does not reproduce the visible, it makes visible. When my husband and I were dating, he gave me that quote from artist Paul Klee to hang on my wall because I am adamant about not trying to copy from my photographs when I paint. The fact is that our eyes can discern much more color […]

Color, cars, Cuba! I recently spent a long weekend in Havana, satisfying an urge that's been itching me for years. My hope was to immerse myself in a colorful, energizing place that would inspire a new series of paintings, and it did. What an experience! Nothing really adequately prepared me, though I read guide books and […]

Preparing for the opening reception of an art exhibit requires basic project management skills. You have to consider lead times for production (postcard invitations, flyers and ads, the actual paintings), logistics (photographing, framing and schlepping the art) and supplies (labels, picture hooks or putty, brochures, cocktail napkins.)  You have to address human resources (help with hors d'oeuvres, bar-tending, […]

It seems I paint the way I cook, decorate and garden, which makes sense in that they are all creative endeavors. To my mind, they all require imagination, which sometimes works and is sometimes less successful, but you learn from it. While you can do those activities without creativity – follow a recipe exactly, plant what somebody […]

If you think you're not a poetry fan, you haven't read Billy Collins. Whether waxing eloquent about jazz, old age, travel, Three Blind Mice, or the annoying linguistic mannerisms of teenage girls, he points out the humor in everyday situations. This quote from a recent interview with him struck me as painfully true: "Once a pleasurable activity […]

Witnessing the recent bizarre attack on a multimillion dollar Gainsborough painting in London's National Gallery has haunted my thoughts. You may have missed the story, as it was overshadowed a few days later by the terrorist attack down the street, near Parliament. My first inkling was the shouting, though my husband insists he heard a slashing sound. […]

Playing with pure pigment is, for me, the best part of pastel painting. It's me and a soft stick of vibrant color, no brush or turpentine to interfere. Pastel sticks allow me to work in broad strokes, avoiding too much realistic detail. Instead, I show how it felt to be there. I'm not a camera, I'm […]

Painting is surprisingly hard work, much as I love it. Of course, I am standing the whole time – I simply can't paint while sitting. And I'm waving my arms around the easel and my pastel box, trying to decide which colors to pick up next. Then I'll choose a color, apply it, stand back […]

Painting makes me hungry. Really hungry. Almost as much as heavy duty yard work or aerobic exercise does. Which I found kind of surprising. While it takes a lot of concentration to think about next steps in a painting, expending mental energy normally doesn't build a large appetite. I can run a meeting, write a […]

Patience is most assuredly not my strong suit. Clients who are glad I accomplish tasks quickly describe me as goal oriented. A friend pleased with my pushing for action termed me "a force" and asked me to join his board of directors. I can guess what people who fail to meet promises or deadlines call me, LOL. Anyway, I'll admit to […]

Accept my apologies for even using a trendy word like locavore, but please bear with me while I broaden its appeal. It occurred to me recently that it's basically just another way of saying "put your money where your mouth is." Save your health, our farmers, the economy – and maybe some starving artists, too! People bemoan […]

Apples to oranges, you might say? Book clubs have nothing to do with painting? Not true for someone like me, who loves reading as much as she does art and who never seems to have an idle hour. Fortunately, both activities can serve similar purposes. Reading a novel puts me into another world. I get […]

Nope, this isn't a philosophical discussion about race, but a brief explanation of why I never use those colors in my paintings. Mostly because they aren't really colors. Black is the absence of color or light. This is the opposite of what I hope to convey in my art, where I want to show energy through […]

Most everybody has their "what I want to be/do/have when I grow up" thing. Some are lucky enough to live it from the start, many come to it much later, and a few poor souls can't or won't dream. I wanted to be an artist, but settled initially for being very connected to the art world […]

Irony is a wonderful thing, and for those who know me well, the following announcement fits the bill. I'm someone who loves to quote "so many books, so little time" in response to whether I've watched a particular TV show. Therefore, the fact that I was interviewed on TV about my art is beyond ironic. […]

Sane people were horrified by the recent carnage in Nice, when a murderer deliberately drove a truck through a crowd. My mental image of the French Riviera city of Nice, and specifically of the Promenade des Anglais, is far more pleasant. Completing some paintings of southern France became art therapy for me, helping to erase the news stories from my […]

Some of the simplest and most fun things to paint are fruit, vegetables and nudes. They're actually very similar. All are rounded shapes that challenge me to show volume, that are pleasing to the eye and that appeal to people on a primal level. My "still-ish life paintings" – because everything I paint has energy and doesn't really sit still […]

Painting workshops are an awful lot like corporate training seminars, which always comes as an unpleasant surprise to me. Yet it seems I have to learn this lesson every couple of years, when a workshop sounds too tempting to pass up. Having attended – and managed – many seminars in my previous life, I wasn't expecting the similarities. It's hard […]

Light and color can change mood, soothe and heal. A recent article in Pastel Journal reminded me of the documented therapeutic effects of visual art. It can change brain wave activity, improve immune response, or shift you from fear and stress to calm and relaxation. That, in turn, made me recall a consulting client who had developed […]

The Canal du Midi, a UNESCO World Heritage site, crosses southern France to connect the Atlantic Ocean with the Mediterranean Sea. Commissioned by Louis XIV, it is an amazing engineering and architectural feat comprising 300+ year old stone bridges and locks. The small villages alongside it are pretty, the baguettes were fresh, and I got hundreds of photos to paint from. Miles […]

Last week's vacation cruising Canal du Midi in southern France started with two days in Barcelona before taking a train to find our boat. That proved challenging, given the rail strike in France – more on that in blogs to come. Since we spent our honeymoon in Spain, we were excited about getting back to Barcelona. Its architecture is […]

There are several questions people usually ask about my pastel paintings. If the questioner is standing in front of a painting while talking to me, question #1 is "how do you work with pastels?" If not, it's "where can I see your paintings?" They also ask about the scenes depicted, which usually leads to a discussion about travel. Since […]

Birds of a feather is a trite way to say it, but I am truly blessed to have some amazingly creative, community-minded, high energy friends. Better yet, they are willing to share their skills, connections, time and knowledge with me, inspiring me to greater heights. Recently, I had dinner with a friend who has a corporate […]

Maybe it's because artists tend to look more carefully than others do, or maybe it's because my art is about sharing how exciting it felt to be somewhere. For whatever reason, I seem to play tour guide and economic development booster more than most people (unless they get paid to do it.) It would be […]

Not to sound too New Age-y, but sometimes you just have to put the intention out there and then watch carefully for the universe to respond with an opportunity. After devoting a lot of time in the last few years to volunteer board work, I recently decided to focus on my art business. At a farmers market in March, I noticed […]

An article about awe, citing everyone from a therapist, to a theoretical physicist (whatever that is!) to a UNICEF exec, got me thinking about what inspires and soothes us. For some, it's the immensity of the universe. For others, it's a cathedral, a spectacular sunset, a hundred voices lifted in song, an ancient tree, or a piece of art. […]

One thing I love almost as much as art is social psychology. I'll spare you details of how I invented a major in consumer psych so I'd be allowed to take college courses in art, marketing, psych, design, advertising, architecture and communications from six departments in four different schools of the university. Suffice it to say I'm fascinated by how colors and shapes […]

On the muggiest August days I remind myself to enjoy it, because we'll soon have February's cold. Now it's time for vice-versa – winter has its pleasures, too. There's sipping Scotch or a warming Malbec in front of the fire, and enjoying a novel when snowy roads mean no guilt about missing events. Not to mention making stew, […]

People often say the secret to doing something well is having the right tools. For an artist, besides training and quiet time to focus, that includes quality materials and an appropriate work space. So I was thrilled when the holidays brought a surprise gift of an easel. It was the impetus needed to finish several paintings that have been sitting […]

People often ask how I can give up my paintings and whether it feels like giving up a child. Well, never having had that sad experience I can't say for sure, but I'm guessing it's quite a bit less traumatic. In fact, it's a relief when my work goes to a good home, with someone who loves it. […]

This isn’t a New Year’s resolution about eating better, but take it that way if you prefer. My “produce aisle” paintings are very popular – fruits, veggies, wine bottles, etc. They’re often purchased in multiples for collectors’ kitchens or bathrooms. This doesn’t bother me in the least. In fact, I find it flattering that people want to see my […]

Air travel offers hideous food, ache-inducing seats, bad air directed at your head, and people who don’t cover their mouths for sneezes and coughs. We braved it all for wonderful Thanksgiving visits in CA, returning with airplane-caught colds just as the holiday season kicked into gear. Missing a few events to spare friends, I finally attended a holiday luncheon with some fascinating, accomplished women. […]

The medieval hill town of Roussillon, in Provence, was known as a major production center for ochre, a pigment used in paints, dyes and pastels. Of course I was thrilled to visit a factory museum there to learn about – and see the old equipment used for – the production of pastels. What I didn't […]

Fresh inspiration struck this month during a wonderful visit to France! I’m now reviewing literally hundreds of photos to determine where to begin a new series of paintings. It will be a tough call because we covered a lot of territory. Starting in Paris – my favorite place in the world! – a trip to L’Orangerie reminded […]

Many people have commented on my use of vivid color, and a very observant few have also noticed certain elements that show up regularly in my paintings. Besides city scenes and street fairs (the energy!) and sunsets over water (the colorful energy!) I seem to have a bias for interesting architectural elements. These include impressive arched doorways, ornate […]

No need to choose just one, and I don’t say this simply because of a sign at a recent dinner party saying “silver is the new blond!” Older has given me time and resources to travel more. Better is because I’m healthier (thanks to our CSA farm share) and more fit (thanks to Pilates) than when I […]

First of all, Portugal actually makes Rome look flat. Once I understood that, the challenges became clear for a dedicated walker who wants to photograph and paint the spectacular views. Famously built on seven hills, Rome is filled with staircases and winding streets. Its relatively gradual inclines are nothing compared to Portugal’s hills, which rise almost straight up. Portuguese […]

There is something intriguing about the Latin-derived languages.  I love traveling to places where they are spoken, like France, Spain, Portugal, Chile, Argentina and Italy.  I usually find great food and architecture, friendly people, and inspiration galore for paintings. Perhaps you share my fascination with the places, sounds and tastes of what are called the romance languages. […]

This week a friend created a beautiful quilt and cited my paintings as her inspiration when she posted it on Facebook. I was surprised and honored to learn my seascape paintings – like this one – had provided the impetus for a stunning work of art by a very talented woman.  She’s someone I worked with […]

It may seem odd to consider those subjects together, but humor me for a minute by following an admittedly convoluted train of thought.  Last weekend we went kayaking under less than ideal conditions, into a strong current, with high winds.  It would've been great for sailing, but we didn't have enough time, so kayaking it was – good exercise […]

The term curated has been appropriated recently by trendy shop owners, restauranteurs and others so that every collection of clothing, jewelry, furniture or food is now “curated” just for you. Professional curators have degrees in art history to help them select art and determine how best to preserve, store and display objects. They can spend years putting together exhibits that involve […]

People visiting my exhibits often ask how I happen to be showing there. Research I did as a consultant revealed many artists sit in their studios hoping a curator or gallery owner will knock on their doors. Not very likely, for most of us, so I try to make my own luck rather than hope for a fairy godmother. This […]

People often ask how I create my paintings.  Usually I take dozens of photos to soak up a feeling for a place and help me notice details.  Then I work from multiple photos when I’m back in my studio, not copying one, but trying to remember and to show how it felt to be there.  Every once […]

Welcome to my new website and blog.  Collectors often ask what new images are available from my travels and where I’m exhibiting next. This will make it easier to share that information.  You can also sign up to receive my blog posts, making you among the first to see new paintings and giving you first dibs on them! […]