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It never gets old; hearing compliments about one's work. Even after all these years, hearing someone say that they want to LIVE in one of my paintings brings me joy. There was a day, some years ago, when compliments, coming from artists to a woman who had never picked up a brush, may have changed how she saw herself. We were attending a workshop, held in a picturesque Rocky Mountain town. Our instructor would begin our day with a lesson, then we were on our own to explore, sketch and paint. In late afternoon, we would meet again for tea,...

When I have a "Ta-Dah!" moment, meaning that I've sketched or painted or sewed something, the first person who sees it is my dear friend Sandy. I send her images long before I add an item to my website or enter a show in a gallery. The email subject is always, "Show & Tell!" Despite being lucky enough to have many supportive people in my life, Sandy is the person I trust when I'm most vulnerable; before I've even determined if the item created is "good" or not. It's telling that in the years I've known her, I've never heard...

My practice of studying Japanese Kanji has taken me way beyond understanding how to create characters; it has given me a deep dive into Japanese philosophy, which is an immeasurable gift. Making the calligraphic marks is calming (and VERY difficult!), but the teachings behind each mark are changing my life and the way I embrace each day. The Japanese practice of "Machikado-bika" is one example. A regular part of life, the Japanese pick up trash on their walks. "Machikado" means "street corner" and "bika" means "beautification". The philosophy comes from the moral and spiritual duty that the Japanese people embrace....

In the 1940 film "Rebecca", the character played by Joan Fontaine (no relation), explains to Maxim de Winter, played by Laurence Olivier that her dear, late father was a painter. He painted trees; "at least it was one tree". The unnamed artist's theory was that if you should find one perfect thing or place you should, "Stick to it". If you read last month's blog, you know that for me, a perfect tree is a willow. I am challenged to capture in paint the emotion they evoke in my heart. One group of trees that I return to, time and...

A group of us were sitting on the grass in the shade of a maple tree, when the question came up, as it does with kids, "If you could be a tree, what kind of tree would you be?" Although we were only about 10 years old, there was already a girl who was the "popular" one; she chose the Mighty Oak, with the reasoning that as a Leo, a strong tree suited her personality. Another girl, brought up in a home surrounded with reminders of her Scottish heritage, chose the Canadian Maple, honouring her ancestors who had settled much...