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Recent Posts
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Tag Archives: Beginnings
Memorials and planting seeds
Here in New Hampshire it is common wisdom that certain garden crops should not be planted until Memorial Day weekend. In the past it was because there was still a chance of a killing frost, even up until the end … Continue reading
Posted in Musings on Life
Tagged Beginnings, Creativity, Habits, Inspiration, Integrity, Looking, Perseverance
2 Comments
Have you ever taken a nap with your eyes open?
That’s pretty much what sketching felt like today. I was gently focused on what I was doing and at some point I thought, “Yeah, I think I’m done.” ( I wish you could hear how I enunciated that ‘yeah’—it was more like ‘yehhhhh-aaaaaah”—it had about four syllables.) When I finished, I took a picture of […]
The Perfect Time to Travel is…Right Now
I boarded a plane on April 1st, 2020, heading to the UK for a month, thanks to the inspiration of Roz Stendahl. “Are you mad? There is a global pandemic going on!” No worries, it is perfectly safe to travel … Continue reading
Posted in 2022 Fake Journal - "My Wales Tale", Pen & Ink, Sketchbooks, Watercolor
Tagged Beginnings, Creative Habit, Creativity, Inspiration
6 Comments
Musical chairs anyone?
Does anyone else feel like they landed in the middle of a bizarre game of musical chairs, where you had no idea the music was ever going to stop, and then suddenly it did? The dark side of this pandemic … Continue reading
Posted in 3- Magic: Art Epiphanies, Musings on Life, Pen & Ink, Watercolor
Tagged Beginnings, Creative Habit, Inspiration, Looking
5 Comments
Rationing everything but joy
In these early days of pandemic response, we need to ground ourselves in a clear sense of “First Things First.” Here are some of my recent thoughts. Food: It is easy to snack/overeat when you are stressed or bored and … Continue reading
Paper-free Sketching
I went for a walk this morning (despite the wind chill of 18°F), because it was sunny and I am eager. Spring Fever has hit me early this year, and nothing says springtime like getting outside again with my sketchbook … Continue reading
Let’s sketch together!
Not everyone has that essential itch that leads to compulsively purchasing art supplies and doodling their life away. And even those that have the itch don’t always have it forever; many will be sketchbook artists for a while, then see … Continue reading
“Onward Through the Fog!”
As I said in my last post, sometimes you have to be willing to close one door before you can open another, even if that means standing in the dark hallway alone for a while. The hallway’s not so bad … Continue reading
Posted in Musings on Life, Pencil sketching, Sketchbooks, Watercolor
Tagged Beginnings, Creative Habit, Looking
5 Comments
Knowing when to quit
My intention when I wrote that title was to simply talk about watercolor painting: specifically, how do you know when to stop fiddling with your painting and call it good. As soon as I typed the title, though, I realized … Continue reading
Posted in Musings on Life, Watercolor
Tagged Beginnings, Creative Habit, Inspiration, Perseverance
5 Comments
Who Inspires You?
Ah, the best laid plans, even if written with care and a calligraphy pen in a leather-bound journal, are sometimes no match for distractions no bigger than a bug. Sunday afternoon blog posts every single week? Good idea, great intentions, … Continue reading
Posted in Musings on Life, Sketchbooks, Watercolor
Tagged Beginnings, Inspiration, Mentors, Perseverance
4 Comments