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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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. […]
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 […]
