A Collective Journey Through Art
"Blue Skies Ahead" is more than a painting—it’s a collective expression of hope and renewal. Created during the Philadelphia Open Studio Tours 2024, this piece emerged from marks made by visitors, each reflecting their personal take on the phrase "blue skies ahead." Discover how these unseen contributions inspired the vibrant layers and emotional depth of this collaborative artwork.
A Testament to the Power of Shared Hope
“Leave your mark expressing hope on the canvas and we will create a collaborative original artwork together,” I said. Many marks were made on the canvas that night. Every mark included a contribution to the cause of The Penn Memory Center.
The Rejection Dance
Unlike sales, the artist process of applying to juried exhibitions doesn’t come with a feedback loop, unless you get the acceptance. When you get a “no” that is all you get. No insight, no reason. You just learn you were rejected.
Play a Little
When was the last time you took time to play? As a mom, I find myself lucky to be surrounded by the energy of my boys that naturally brings play to the forefront. But I feel like as grown ups, we truly forget the joy that comes when you play and do it without inhibition.
Unexpected Knots
“As a knot appears unexpectedly in a thread, so disappointment blocks the smoothness of life. If a few deft strokes can untangle the skein, life continues evenly, but if it cannot be corrected, then it must be quietly woven into the design. Thus, the finished piece can still be beautiful - even though not as perfect as planned.” ~Anonymous
Always Just Beneath the Surface
Around the time I started to develop into a woman an eating disorder consumed me. I don’t know that I’ll ever truly understand how or why, but my life was never the same. My idea of being a woman was very wrapped up in an idea of beauty that was the farthest thing from healthy. I wanted to be seen in a way that when I looked at myself I couldn’t see anywhere. I felt ugly. I felt insufficient. I felt unwanted.
Moving through Sadness
We all experience sadness. I’ve been exploring how I can use my art to express sadness that evolves to a better mindset therefore providing healing to me and the viewer.
Bubbling with Excitement
I reflect on the process of telling a story visually in original painting, I am Worthy. The piece is meant to represent the story of The Wizard of Oz.
Finding a Healing Space
I reflect on the creation of Voice of an Angel, a piece I created expressing a healing space for me and hopefully the viewer as well. I explain what inspired the piece and discuss the importance of empathy in the time in which we are living.
Life Lessons Learned from the Canvas
I reflect on the creation of Happiness Rising, a new original painting. The journey of how it unfolded held a strong lesson about how as humans our individuality and inner beauty comes from our unique path.
The Perfection Paradox
There is beauty that lies in imperfection. It is easy to see it when you step back and think about your favorite pair of jeans. For me, I see the beauty in the imperfections that present as I work on a piece of art and how this creates emotion and meaning that otherwise would be lost.
Navigating the Complexity of Emotions in Life with Art
To appreciate the good times, you have to have bad times. Emotions are beautiful and complex. In exploring emotion and truly experiencing it, we can learn to see beauty in a wide range of emotions.
Expanding my Creativity with the Power of AI
As I continue my experiment of leveraging the power of AI to take my art to new heights, I am excited at how I keep finding myself exploring more and taking risks I never would have taken. Leaning into what technology can do is truly empowering my personal artistic journey in ways I never could have imagined.
Ignite Creativity with a 100 Day Project
Discover the power of the 100 Day Project, a creative endeavor that involves working on a chosen project every day for 100 consecutive days. Explore the value of sustained progress, the transformative nature of the process, and gain inspiration from various examples. Join a supportive community or embark on your own journey to witness personal growth and the beauty of cumulative creation.
The Power of Art in Your Living Space
Your home can be transformed with art that resonates with you. If you haven’t taken the time to experience the power that art can bring to your energy by having it in your space, stop waiting! The time is now! Learn about the many benefits art in your living space can have for you.
The Power of Creativity
Discover the transformative power of creativity in our lives and work. Learn how nurturing creativity through regular practice can enhance professional performance, reduce stress, and improve emotional well-being.
The Special Value of Giving an Art Gift
An art gift is special in that it provides the recipient something given with deep thought and meaning as art itself carries a unique message to each recipient in terms of how they view and receive the art. If you haven’t considered giving the gift of art the time is now.
Prompt Engineering & Art
As I continue my exploration into how as an artist I can use ChatGPT to enhance my creative process, I took to better understanding prompt engineering. What is it and how can it be helpful to me?