COMMUNICATION
1.  the importing or exchanging of information and news.
2.  means of connection between people or places
3.  a verbal or written message
4.  art

Communication is a very important tool to human relationships and the exciting and sometimes challenging part of communication is that we are all different in our preferred method of communication.  Patience and understanding is probably just as important as communication skills.

With the new technology age that we are in, many tend to communicate via texting, facebook messenger, emails, blogs, etc.  And these are all wonderful and easy ways to communicate but we must be careful to not lose that person-to-person communication.  I am sometimes guilty of that.

I find that often times my 'communication' skills or thoughts are often blogged about (here), written about in my journals, or expressed through my painting and process of working in the studio.  We all have different ways of communicating and it is important to respect and understand each others ways.  Remember it is all our differences that make this world so interesting.

I was chatting art with an artist friend of mine whose work I admire and she was calling herself a 'storyteller' as much as an 'artist' because each of her paintings have a 'story' behind them which isn't always shared with anyone other than the artist.  This is true art, when a painting is created with thoughts, feelings, stories, I feel it becomes 'real' - not just a pretty picture.

As in life, it is the differences in art that make the art world so wonderful!  Soon I will be opening my new gallery CAPPAERT CONTEMPORARY GALLERY in the Midwest art mecca of Door County!  As I selected artists in all mediums to represent at the gallery, I was thrilled to have so many talented artists each working in a specific medium and on 'their own artistic path' which makes their art so unique.

I look forward to sharing and communicating the unspoken messages of creating art with the collectors that visit my gallery.

"Seek Balance.  Alternate work with play."

Sometimes a difficult thing to do, but ultimately what we should all strive for.  For me, routine helps me to keep some sort of 'balance' going in my life, and saving time to play is very important.

We as a culture, more than ever, seem to be striving for balance in our lives.  We are realizing how important it is to a happy, joyful life.  We seem to want to start realizing what the 'important things in life are' and taking time for them.

As women, as artists, as business owners, we put many demands on ourselves, much pressure, but those of us that succeed realize how important balance is.  I, as an artist, realize that my most creative, energy filled time is in the morning.  That is why I make sure I do some exercise, yoga or meditation before my day in the studio truly  begins.  Then as I settle in with a cup of tea and my journal I am ready to proceed to some serious studio time for the rest of the morning.  This is most days.  As the afternoon approaches, I feel my focus and energy declining and realize that it is the perfect time for me to switch gears to the 'business side' of my life.

That is how I keep things balanced.  I hope that you also find balance in your life, you are worth the play time, the relaxing time, the yoga, the exercise, the horse ride, the fresh air....just do it!