Recently, I learned many lessons from a gecko. I have loved them ever since first setting eyes on them in the 1980s. I was visiting my mother and father in their Florida home. We were sitting at the pool, and a gecko started to climb up the leg of my chair. He quickly realized that a human was in the chair (me), and froze. Then, he turned his head from one side to the other, tilted his head upward, and then made his getaway to a “safe” location. I was enamored. In describing the initial gecko … [Read more...] about Accepting What Is: Lessons from a Gecko
Process
Welcome to Florida: Acclimating
Snippets of life since moving to Florida... June 29 - Hello Florida! We arrived safe and sound in Naples late this afternoon! As I write this, I am feeling exhausted but happy. It was a long journey (4 days), taking us through areas of the eastern seaboard neither of us had ever seen. Much of the landscape was quite beautiful. The Shenandoah Valley was really lovely. Food (made by many of you), good music, and good conversation was the standard for each day. The clouds … [Read more...] about Welcome to Florida: Acclimating
Shedding
My partner and I are moving to Florida in 2 weeks. I've lived in the Boston area my entire life, so this is a huge change for me. It's the longest distance I've ever covered in a move. The company we hired to transport our furniture and goods to our new home bases their fee on weight. The general rule of thumb is if it costs you more to move something than to buy it new, don't take it with you. Plus, we don't have as much storage in Florida. There is no basement, although we do have several … [Read more...] about Shedding
Why Does It Take So Long to Finish a Painting?
People ask me all the time, "How long does it take you to do a painting?" It depends. I rarely finish a painting the same day I start it. Usually, it takes 2-3 sittings before I experience that definitive moment of "it's done." Each sitting is approximately 3 hours. If the painting is small, I may be able to finish within 2 hours. Larger paintings take me longer. But, size isn't the only factor. Started a Painting 4 Years Ago I'm thinking about all of this right now, because I finished a … [Read more...] about Why Does It Take So Long to Finish a Painting?
Louise: Boston 1944 (In Memory of My Mother)
A couple of years ago, I assisted Linda Novick when she taught a program at Kripalu called Unmasking Your Soul. The mixed media piece I created in memory of my mother, shown on the left, was done at the end of that program. I had brought xeroxes of several family pictures with me in hopes that I would use them in some artwork. This particular photograph of my mother is one of my favorites. She's a young woman, recently graduated from high school, and probably working at her first job. That … [Read more...] about Louise: Boston 1944 (In Memory of My Mother)
Filling the Blank Canvas
Last week, I sat down in my backyard to begin my first painting of the season. While I experience some level of anxiety when starting a painting, it's mild compared to what I feel when starting a design project. With art, I'm not trying to solve any communication problem; I'm simply expressing a sentiment or emotion or vision. Excitement tempers most of the unease. I think this year's harsh winter enhanced my joy about finally getting outside to paint again. I usually have more than enough ideas … [Read more...] about Filling the Blank Canvas
The Blank Page
The blank page stares at me when I begin a new design project. I always experience some level of anxiety with this challenge of transforming emptiness into an attractive piece that communicates a clear message. You can't just put ANYTHING into the empty space. The design has to have a concept, an idea, a plan. When I was first in school learning graphic design, I wanted to hurry through the planning stage and get to the implementation phase as soon as I could. Why? Because I was comfortable … [Read more...] about The Blank Page
Self-Publishing Adventures
This past year, my partner, Peggy, wrote her second book, Lose Your Mind, Open Your Heart. She's a terrific writer, and it was inspiring to see her so focused and determined. She wanted my artwork in the book, and I was thrilled about that. What a great opportunity to get my art out to the world! She also asked me to design the book and I was excited about the idea. I came to love book design when I worked as an art director at Houghton Mifflin Company. With Peggy's clear vision of the book's … [Read more...] about Self-Publishing Adventures