It’s all about perspective. I could say 2016 was a pretty crappy year all around. Idols too numerous to count died, England seceded from the EU, war and terrorism atrocities abounded, wildfires raged, the refugee crisis took hold, the
Bridging the Gap
Intent versus action. This is a tough one when it comes to facing our own biases and deciding to act on our ideas. The election debates this year brought some subject matter out of the shadows related to this complicated
ARTY-FACTS: Origami
Welcome to today’s story of ARTY-FACTS- a collection of obscure and wonderful facts about different art forms. This week’s focus is on ORIGAMI Origami: The word origami was coined from the Japanese words oru (to fold) and kami (paper). As the
Accidents Happen
Recently, I sold out of balancing wine holders on my Etsy site. These are great gifts and, since it’s almost Christmas/holiday time, I wanted to quickly restock them. That involves a lot of woodworking. Now normally, my husband helps me
Moments of Truth
To preserve my paintings, I seal them with some form of varnish. When using a brushed varnish, acrylic paints require applying an isolation coat. An isolation coat acts like a buffer between the paint and the varnish, so that if
How to be Happy- BE CREATIVE!
According to a new study published in The Journal of Positive Psychology, getting creative- just once a day- can help us to create our own happiness. Researchers Tamlin Conner, Colin DeYoung, and Paul Silvia found that spending time on creative
Painting with Music
The other day I stumbled upon the music of Andra Day. I was blown away by her beautiful voice. So strong yet soft. It was a perfect complement to my studio session of painting a jazz player. There was attention
A Thanksgiving Gift- Free Marketing Tips
3 Golden Rules of Marketing It’s Thanksgiving week. It’s a time to reflect on all the people and things in our lives for which we are truly grateful. It is also a time to give back for all that we have
I Should Be Doing This…
I’m happy to announce that my website is officially up and running. I’m starting a blog to give updates on works in progress, thoughts on making art, and general comments that include my terrible sense of humor. After years of
Vote for Gerda- Our Giraffe Mailbox is in a Contest
House projects are usually never-ending. The classic honey-do list can seem like an exercise in chipping away at a mountain with a spoon. But occasionally, a project is so fun it doesn’t seem like work at all. This was one