{ PROSPERITY : Word of the Year } : Winter 2022

I have been making Vision Boards, setting goals (both personal and professional) and crafting a Word of the Year on the first of the year for over a decade now. I usually go through a plethora of words before founding the word that fits my feeling perfectly.

This year was no different. I vacillated back and forth with several other words that were not landing quite right. I kept cycling back to ‘Prosperity’ and felt that was exactly what I wanted 2022 to be for me.

While most of us our struggling with on ongoing pandemic, many of us our trying to reclaim some semblance of life before 2019. I know I am. I have not been feeling very creative or motivated to work on my art business. I took a break during 2019-2020. The rest was necessary but I started getting antsy. I wanted to get back to the studio and back to teaching.

Prosperity to means more than money. Prosperity to me comes in the form of creating unique, one-of-a-kind wall art and handmade artist books as well as developing dynamic and compelling art class for people of all ages. Prosperity means creating interesting content for this blog that brings people to living a more creative life. Prosperity means enhancing my amazing relationships with my partner, my daughter and my friends.

As the year goes on and I loose the motivation to keep creating, I always look back on my Word of the Year and revisit why I choose that word to guide my year.

How about you? Do you choose a Word of the Year? How do you stay connected and focus when you stray for your vision?

{ New Works : Personal Graffiti } Vol 2 //

I am continuing to experiment with personal graffiti, free form calligraphy and COLOR with my newest handmade book collection. And there are so many more to come!

I LOVE this one with the lime green and magenta color combo. I do not typically for for green but I think that may need to change…

‘Let It Go’ : 3.5 x 4.5” : Spine View

‘Let It Go’ : 3.5 x 4.5” : Spine View

‘Let It Go’ 3.5 x 4.5” (Front Cover View)

‘Let It Go’ 3.5 x 4.5” (Front Cover View)

‘Let It Go” : 3.5 x 4.5” : Back View

‘Let It Go” : 3.5 x 4.5” : Back View

‘Let It Go’ : 3.5 x 4.5” : Endcover View

‘Let It Go’ : 3.5 x 4.5” : Endcover View

‘Let It Go’ : 3.5 x 4.5” : Spine View 2

‘Let It Go’ : 3.5 x 4.5” : Spine View 2

Dreamy blues and purples will always be my fall back color combo. Can you blame me?

‘Moving On’ : 6.25 x 4” : Spine View

‘Moving On’ : 6.25 x 4” : Spine View

‘Moving On’ : 6.25 x 4” : Front Cover View

‘Moving On’ : 6.25 x 4” : Front Cover View

‘Moving On’ : 6.25 x 4” : Back Cover View

‘Moving On’ : 6.25 x 4” : Back Cover View

‘Moving On’ : 6.25 x 4” : Endcover View

‘Moving On’ : 6.25 x 4” : Endcover View

‘Moving On’ : 6.25 x 4” : Spine View 2

‘Moving On’ : 6.25 x 4” : Spine View 2

Thank you for checking our my newest work! My work is currently only available locally through the galleries that carry my work but that will change after the holidays when I fully update my Etsy shop! Happy Holidays!

{ Watercolor Meditations : Part One } : Circles // Inktober Challenge

I decided to jump in on the Inktober Challenge after I watched Traci Bautista’s online videos for her upcoming new Masterclass. I was SO inspired by the Bautista works with ink, I knew I had give it a try.

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Most of my work these days is in ink…both India ink and spray ink. I had never really explored wet on wet media and I truly loved the dreamy effects it gives my papers.

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Due to amount of work created during the first half of this monthly challenge, I decided to break my pieces down by type. I started off with circles that were created by using the droppers directly out of the India ink bottles on wet paper and Jane Davenport watercolor pens for detail.

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I work in many books at one time (anywhere from 4-6, which include Moleskine watercolor books, spiral bound journals and loose mixed media paper to create my own Idea or Challenge Books).

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Working on these loose pages and in my journals truly has been a meditative experience. I left my studio feeling relaxed, productive and clear headed which makes me a better mother, friend and employee. I am currently wrapping up TWO journals (that I will put in a video) on Instagram and will keep plugging away on Inktober.

{ NEW WORKS : Personal Graffiti } : October 2018 //

I was recently asked to participate in a group show for the holidays. I am completely honored to be a part of this group. I admire and respect the work they do, so I jumped on the chance to be included. But here’s the thing…I did not make ONE SINGLE BOOK in 2017. Not one.

‘Never Be’ 5.5 x 9 x 1” : (Binding View)

‘Never Be’ 5.5 x 9 x 1” : (Binding View)

I did this for several reasons. One was BURNOUT. I was just frustrated. My books were not selling at various local galleries…or on Etsy…or at art fairs. So I quit. I quit making books.

‘Never Be’ 5.5 x 9 x 1” : (Front Cover View)

‘Never Be’ 5.5 x 9 x 1” : (Front Cover View)

I realize now that this was not my best decision. To walk away from what I LOVE based on what the market told me? That is not me. That is not who I am as a Creative Person. I create because if I do not, I am do not feel Whole.

‘Never Be’ 5.5 x 9 x 1” : (Back Cover View)

‘Never Be’ 5.5 x 9 x 1” : (Back Cover View)

So I started making books again. And I love them. They are funky and grungy and messy and so, so, so BEAUTIFUL. Just like me.

‘Never Be’ 5.5 x 9 x 1” : (Endcover View)

‘Never Be’ 5.5 x 9 x 1” : (Endcover View)

‘Let Them Go’ 5 x 7 x 1” : (Binding View)

‘Let Them Go’ 5 x 7 x 1” : (Binding View)

‘Let Them Go’ 5 x 7 x 1” : (Front Cover View)

‘Let Them Go’ 5 x 7 x 1” : (Front Cover View)

‘Let Them Go’ 5 x 7 x 1” : (Back Cover View)

‘Let Them Go’ 5 x 7 x 1” : (Back Cover View)

‘Let Them Go’ 5 x 7 x 1” : (Endcover View)

‘Let Them Go’ 5 x 7 x 1” : (Endcover View)

My show with Ellen Braaten, Martha Sullivan and others will be on Saturday, December 1st from 10am-4pm at 702 York Street in breathtaking Blacksburg, Virginia.