Excited to be a part of this group show!   See you at the opening reception on September 6th!

"Be happy.  It's one way of being wise." - Colette

Happy...summer fun, paddling, horse back riding, biking, grilling out, and YES painting!  What does summer fun and Happy mean to you?

I hope you have enjoyed your summer and as I prepare to send two (yes, two) of my children off to college this weekend, I reflect on my many, many years in my studio and feel so lucky to have been able to be surrounded by my home, business, art and children...all in one place at one time!  Some may call that crazy (some days it was) but I call it perfect!   My youngest son is 13 and he will keep our household interesting for the next few years while my other two children are off to discover new and exciting adventures in their life!
I have a ritual every 'end of the summer'....my open studio...Labor Day Weekend Open House...August 30, 31, Sept 1, 9am-4pm  with a wine and cheese reception on Friday, August 29, 5-7 pm.  If you are in the area, please join me for art, wine, cheese and conversation!  This year's show will feature my recent paintings as well as sculpture by Pasqua Warstler, jewelry by Laura Hornick, sculpture by Nancy Neumann, jewelry by Jennifer Larrabee, glass by Alysa Diebolt, and jewelry by Kathy Vincent.  I am always so excited to share with you the talents and creations of area artists.
I look forward to seeing you soon!
I PROMISE....to have the studio cleaned up a little bit...well maybe...sure, I can find time to do that....hmmm.....

"We are all far more gifted and far more variously gifted than we imagine" - Julia Cameron, from page 322 of her book The Vein of Gold.

Often times I refer to quotes or thoughts from this book that I keep close at hand in my studio.  Re-reading and contemplating almost every page sometimes fills idle moments in the studio.  Today I opened the book to page 322 and the chapter titled CEILINGS.   Without even reading the whole chapter, many thoughts came to my mind.
Do we create 'ceilings' or 'limits' on our creativity, our passions, our dreams?  Do our radiant energies sometimes get pushed to the side?  Are we too harsh on ourselves?  Are we too limiting of ourselves?

So many thoughts to ponder on this beautiful Sunday.  There is something about a summer sunday...whether at the beach (taking my paddle board and REMEMBERING my paddle this time!)  or working away in the studio...I always have to remind myself that LIFE IS GOOD!
                     "Intentions"  48x48", oil on wood panel at LaFontsee Galleries, Grand Rapids, MI