thinking backwards

I love planning things out, but once the plans are set, I feel tightly wound, waiting to uncoil. I’ve spent most of my life indulging the impulsive, passionate side of myself, the one ready to trade in something for nothing.

I always want to know what’s behind door number one. I also want to know what’s behind door number two and door number three. Will I end up with the goat or a new car? I hope for the goat, but it’s the knowing that I am after. Knowing comes with a price. As a kid, I spent much of my allowance on grab bags from the local junk store. Every single time, it was exciting, and I loved figuring out ways to be creative with the junk inside each bag. I am always trying to find my way back to that same joy that a single dollar could bring.

I learn through experience, resourcefulness, and discipline within set limits. I am fully hands-on. With everything we can imagine available to us, setting limits or trying to make do with what we already have is rather radical these days. It undermines the need for more, more, more. I straddle a desire for more and a discipline of less, not only in my art, but in all aspects of my life.

I question whether scarcity fuels creativity. Having too many options can be daunting. How does one remedy this? For myself, I want to build a stronger habit of thinking backwards, being more strategic, and having a sense of what I want to create before diving in headfirst. I’m going to try this during my eight-week clay class, which I started this month. It’s the first clay class I’ve taken since college, and as an independent study, it allows a lot of freedom. So far, I’ve only thrown a few pots, but Ideas are beginning to take shape :) …more soon…

btw, Happy 2026

“There are years that ask questions and years that answer.” ―Zora Neale Hurston

My partner and I started the year in New York City. It was bitterly cold, everything filmed over with salt in anticipation of snow, but it was New York. The freezing temps and heavy skies took me straight back to growing up in Pennsylvania, where winters are seriously unforgiving. It was comforting in an uncomfortable way.

We were art hungry and set out with a mission to visit as many museums as possible. We also fit in a little ice skating in Central Park, and walked over ten miles each day. I miss the time when everything wasn’t so easy to find, before phones took over our lives, when walking was the best way to discover what was to be found. I found a couple of great vintage books at the Strand, along with a few savory treats from the small grocers around town. My favorite part, like any good city, was the pigeons. I wanted nothing more than to bring one home and mother it.

Three works of art I loved the most were…

Portrait of a Woman by Rembrandt. Will you check out that Ruff!

The wonderful painting, Congo Queen, by Hector Hyppolite.

And Two Sisters, a favorite painting of mine by John D. Graham. It was even more incredible in person.

No matter how many art books I pore over or how many websites I scroll through, nothing can compare to seeing the work in person. Some of it quite literally takes my breath away. To stand in such proximity to the great artists of the past feels like an extraordinary privilege.

I am using all three as inspiration for this work in progress…

Below is a page from my current sketchbook. I have been enjoying looking through old sketchbooks at the Tate. I love this one by Jankel Adler, as well as this one.

Many, many thanks to all of you who have joined me for In Response! Your support is so appreciated.

Come, take a class with me!

I will be teaching four different workshops this spring!

Art + Soul in Portland!

The Art of Nouveau: a gouache workshop inspired by Art Nouveau

Brushstrokes of the Baroque: Oil painting inspired by the Baroque

Dream in Color - a two-day watercolor + gouache workshop

Ghost Ranch

I am so thrilled to announce that I will be returning to Ghost Ranch! I will be teaching the last week of April. This will be a five-day intensive in beautiful New Mexico. Drawn to Clay: Exploring the Threw & Through

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Thank you for being here. I hope you are well. ♡ To be continued…