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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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. […]
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 […]
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 […]
