". . . a brush with nature"

“Don't worry if people think you're crazy. You are crazy. You have that kind of intoxicating insanity that lets other people dream outside of the lines and become who they're destined to be."
- Jennifer Elisabeth, Born Ready: Unleash Your Inner Dream Girl

 As artists this is something we can give to others through our work. It is the power to imagine. It is the power to dream. And that is something very special. It can be subtle or it can be huge. It might be as simple as transporting someone away from their daily life, if only for a minute, or it could be a turning point for somebody to change their life long term. You could become the inspiration for a child to become an artist themself or cause an adult to discover a hobby that soon becomes a passion that brings them joy throughout a lifetime.

No matter how you do it, being able to help someone else realize a dream is an amazing thing. 

“I dream a lot. I do more painting when I’m not painting. It’s in the subconscious..” ~Andrew Wyeth

When I read this quote, after pondering it a few moments, I realized it was absolutely true for me. I cannot say how many times, when asked about where my idea or inspiration for a painting came from, my reply has been, “Oh, it came to me in a dream.”

Often when that happens, I wake up with the painting completed in my mind. That’s terribly handy, by the way. It really simplifies things and streamlines the actual painting process. The key, of course, is to remember the details from the dream until you get to your studio to start work on your piece. That’s why I try to take extensive, detailed notes when I wake up . . . while everything is still very fresh in my mind. 

My dreams are vivid and numerous on any given night. I’m not only referring to my art related dreams, but dreams of any type or subject. I see all the colors, feel the temperature of the place or experience the freezing coldness of rising water as it surrounds me in a submerged car I can’t escape. As you might imagine, such intensity can be either good or disturbing. In the case of creating art, the detailed dreams are a definite bonus.

Comprehensive notes become invaluable, too. Although I often don’t need them at all, it’s nice to know they are there . . . just in case.

Having a fully composed painting in my mind upon waking up in the morning is really quite amazing. When it happens I never take it for granted. I have always suspected that other artists have this experience, too. Now I know that even Andrew Wyeth did.

***As a side note, the painting, “Looking In, Looking Out”, is a perfect example of my blog topic today. It is a whimsical look at a woodland bunny who spies a snow globe through a window at a cabin in the woods. Pure magic! I believe it is a good example of what I like to call a storytelling piece. It is also a great example of how dreams can work for me as an artist. This painting came to me one night in late January 2026. I dreamt it in its entirety and painted it a few months later.***

What if it fails? Yes, what if it does? Is anything in art ever really a failure, or is it simply another opportunity to learn more? More about your subject, your medium of choice or even your “style” (the one you already have or the one that is still evolving.) Is the “failed” piece your chance to sort out what you might enjoy trying again or to realize that, “Well, I’m glad I’ve gotten that out of my system! Now I am dying to try fill in the blank here.”

You might even consider saving your “failed” piece to be revisited and repurposed at a later time either in its entirety or by selectively cutting it down. I have done that myself many times through the years and with great success.

Recently I decided to embrace experimentation to the max. Although I was using art tools already in my studio, I had never combined them all together and in such a visible way before. Many had been relegated as underpainting choices only for years and I loved them for that, but now was an opportunity for me to see if I could let them shine as individuals or, at least, as part of a very visible ensemble cast.

Here is “Finch Filigree,” a painting that could have gone so wrong, becoming yet another “failure”, but didn’t. I’m very happy with the detail and depth I was able to achieve. It turned out just as I envisioned it.

Although it might look deceptively like “just another pastel painting”, it’s anything but. It is actually mixed media to the nth degree, combining watercolor with graphite, colored pencils, watercolor pencils and pastel pencils, as well as soft pastels to create the overall effect I desired.

While working on this, at any point in time, it was (in my mind) either a dismal failure or raging success. I’m so thankful that I continued through the discouraging “down” times turning this potential failure into a successful learning experience AND a painting I can be proud of.

I recently read this quote in an article by Dan McCaw.
“It is really up to each of us which we focus on. Whether positive or negative, thoughts can ultimately become our reality if that is what we constantly focus on. We are who we think and perceive we are.”
These words are true in all aspects of our lives . . . certainly professionally, but perhaps even more importantly, on a personal level, as well.

Two valuable messages to remember here - neither of which are easy to do. Both have the potential to significantly impact your life if you can only convince yourself to embrace them. It isn’t easy. Trust me… it is not. But, if mastered, I believe these changes can be life changing. 

On a personal level, I must remind myself daily to work towards achieving them. I don’t understand why, but it seems easier for negative thinking about myself or my work to creep inside my head than for positive thoughts. And then those thoughts have the audacity to stay longer! It’s seems somehow easier to remain hurt or even “crushed” over a negativity for a long period of time than to remain on the “high” of a positive thought. Have you ever wondered why? I don’t know the answer, but I do know that it is true for me. 

I know that you do begin to believe what you’re told over and over. Examples of that are people who have been held captive for years and come back to the “real world” to say they believe only what their captor told them, not the actual reality of things. Or children that have been told repeatedly that they have no worth. Soon they believe it even though it isn’t true. The same is true for what we tell ourselves, whether negative or positive. And who do we hear more from than ourselves? 

You can certainly begin to understand why telling ourselves positive thoughts is so much more important here than letting negativity begin to seep in. Again, easier said than done, but practice does make perfect and each day of practicing makes it become more natural to you. Soon the practice will pay off and what was once something that had to be thought about and worked towards will actually become a habit for you. A habit of thinking positive.

The second important message in this quote is, “We are who we think and perceive we are.”
Again, SO true, and dovetails perfectly with what we have already been thinking about. Think in positive terms about yourself here and you will be happy and successful in the ways you choose to be. If you “see” yourself as a successful artist, for example, believe in yourself and work toward your goals, you can achieve them. Remember, these are your dreams and ideas of success, not the goals someone else sets for you. Only you choose how you work to achieve the vision you see for yourself. It will not always be simple, easy or without challenges, but it will always be the perception you have of yourself. Tell yourself what you want to do and who you want to be. Speak it over and over, silently to yourself, as well as out loud.
Eventually, you will begin to believe in yourself and become the “you” that you want to be. 

Of late it seems that I have been painting a lot of ravens. They are fascinating to me and they are beautiful, too. Fortunately, ravens frequent the woods surrounding my studio, so I have many opportunities to enjoy them in their natural surroundings. Most of my paintings are portraits of them, depict them in forest settings or are my dreams recreated. But one piece is quite different in both the inspiration and unusual  setting.

The movie, “The Birds”, was on my mind the entire time I worked on this painting. I have always enjoyed Alfred Hitchcock movies and “The Birds” is most certainly one of his best, in my opinion. 

I hope I was able to capture some of the same sense of unease that Hitchcock did in his 1963 classic movie. A touch of film noir, perhaps. 

“Nothing great has ever been achieved without enthusiasm.”

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

And boy, am I enthusiastic about my art! 

Enthusiasm is a great thing and I am enthusiastic about what I do. I feel I have to be enthusiastic about that or there will be a sense of something missing. My work won’t ring true either to me or to a viewer. I need to look forward to going into my studio each day feeling motivated, as well as dedicated, to doing my best work.

I also need to feel passionate about the subject I’ve chosen. When I am passionate about it I will be eager to paint it. When that happens, there is a joy in the act of creation itself. I want to be connected with it. When I experience my own deep sense of connection with my subject I am better able to translate that relationship onto my canvas. Then, I can, hopefully, bring my subject to life with its own distinctive set of traits, unique feelings and a soulfulness within the eyes.

When I am genuinely engaged I feel joy as I work. I want others to experience that joy, too. I want them to “know” my subject . . . to be moved by it . . . perhaps, even feel an emotional tie to it. I can only hope to achieve these goals if I am emotionally connected myself. Then, my passion, my enthusiasm, will truly be felt in my art.

Monet once said he …”would like to paint the way a bird sings.” Me, too.

Full of joy and unashamed . . . unapologetic for just being myself. I want to be able to express myself and share my feelings with others through my art. I want my paintings to have a positive impact on people. I want to uplift people, evoke memories and create a sense of  joie de vivre. I want to be able to achieve that while still doing what comes naturally to me. 

I believe a bird is happy when it sings and I know that I am happy when I hear it. I want to bring that same sense of happiness to others when they see my paintings. It’s what I want to achieve . . . and I like the simplicity of it. 

Me being me and hoping that I can make your life a little bit brighter in the process.

I recently read that “with less frustration comes less waste.” I took that to mean less waste of things such as time, materials and even effort.

I can say with certainty, and from my own first hand experience, that with less frustration comes less waste of that sort. But, I can also say that with less frustration comes . . . well, nothing comes from it.

Let’s consider that.

I know, from my many years as an artist, that every piece I work on has its ups and downs . . . its highs and lows. I experience a love-hate relationship with every painting from day to day, or sometimes even minute to minute. Sometimes I feel elated with a single brushstroke or a choice of color. Sometimes I am awash with a feeling of great frustration. Often I feel as if things can never be put right again with this particular painting or any other. And then I make another mark.

What if I did let frustration win the day? What if I gave in to it and never went back to my studio again? What if I never approached my drawing table or easel one more time? I would certainly experience less frustration, but there would also be no creation at all. To me, it doesn’t seem to be a good trade.

To try to live a creative life totally free of frustration would mean to never grow artistically. Nothing good would come from it.

I guess Robert Henri would agree. “Behind every great painting is a trace of a magnificent struggle.” 

My daily routine is filled with good intentions about eating healthier. So, our kitchen is filled with good intentions, too.  I am a vegetarian and have been for many, many years, so we always have healthy choices like vegetables there.  But, I REALLY look forward to a great cup of coffee (or two) each day and can certainly be tempted by sweets now and then. Candy isn’t around our house often (my husband can’t eat it either), but it can still serve as the inspiration for a painting now and again.

Brightly wrapped candy kisses paired nicely with the coffee drinks I love, and were the inspiration for this painting. But wait! Is that really coffee or a “healthier” smoothie? I then decided to have even a bit more fun with it and fill the candies with "good intentions", too. It might be difficult to see/read in the photo, but a healthy choice such as “kale”, “carrots “, or something similar is inscribed on those tiny papers that stick out of the tops of the kisses. What’s really inside…chocolate or a special surprise?

I’ll leave it up to you to decide. 

As an artist we all experience rejection of one kind or another during our artistic journey. It can feel devastating . . . often threatening to stop us in our tracks. Don’t have a knee jerk reaction to it.

Give yourself a chance to breathe. In fact, after experiencing a rejection give it a day or two before even reacting at all. No matter how bad you feel now, things will look different (most likely better) in a couple of days. 

Don’t make rash decisions that you can’t take back following too quickly on the heels of disappointment. Don’t quit painting. Don’t quit showing your work. Don’t doubt yourself or your value as an artist. Just give yourself a little time. And remember that you are actually hurting yourself more with the negativity brought on by your own self doubts.

Even though you have probably heard all of this before, it may be the most valuable advice you ever receive as an artist. Sometimes we all just need to be reminded again and again.

My husband reminds me of it when I most need to hear it. Rejection is only one opinion and doesn’t reflect on my abilities as an artist or the success of my work. 

I am in charge of that.