How to get through that hard middle stage

by | Feb 17, 2019 | Art Practice

You start off great and everything seems to be looking good. But, then you hit that middle part of your art and are not quite sure what to do next.. You’re stuck. So how do you move forward? Click on the image below and I’ll tell you what works for me.   Guess what?...

My mother, Audrey’s Memorial

by | Feb 10, 2019 | Art Practice

Last Sunday was my Mother’s memorial. It was a beautiful day filled with beautiful stories of my mother, the warmth of friends and family and of course her blackberry fruit pies for everyone to try. All around the room were hung photos that till my mother had passed...

A new way to make your art better AND faster

by | Feb 3, 2019 | Art Practice

Do you spend way too long working on your art all the while not liking it so much? I did too. There is always going to be struggle in making art, but this approach I am going to share with you today really helped my process. It is all about when and what to focus on...

Can Play Improve Your Art?

by | Jan 27, 2019 | Art Practice

Hi everyone I just finished exhibiting my art at Julie Nester Gallery. And now my studio is empty. Starting again feels daunting. There are just blank walls and all the paintings are gone. When I feel this way, I remember the one thing I need to do in my art. I need...

Is This Missing In Your Art?

by | Jan 20, 2019 | Art Practice

Hi everyone, I want to thank so many of you for the kind, thoughtful comments regarding the passing of my mother, Audrey. The past week has been made so much more bearable because of all the support this community has given me. It literally has moved me to tears. I...

My Mother Audrey

by | Jan 13, 2019 | Art Practice

On Friday morning, after having cancer for over 10 years, my mother Audrey, passed. I normally make art during my week which then generates what I share on this vlog. However this week, especially today, all I can think about is my mother. And so I thought I would...

2019: A New Beginning

by | Jan 6, 2019 | Art Practice

Hi everyone, I hope your Holidays and your New Year were enjoyable! I had the chance to relax, to to connect with family and friends, and to reflect on all that happened in 2018.. Now I am back in the studio, looking at the freshly painted walls, and I have to ask...

The Exhibition and a Thank You

by | Dec 30, 2018 | Art Practice

Hi everyone, This past Friday I had the pleasure of attending the opening of my show, “Orchestrated Moments”, at the beautiful Julie Nester Gallery in Park City, Utah. You can learn more about the exhibition by clicking here. It is incredibly gratifying to...

The Power of Play

by | Dec 23, 2018 | Art Practice

Hi everyone, I just returned from my workshop in Mexico and I started looking at all the little 12″ x 12″ pieces I was demonstrating on while there. As I was looking at these panels, I was struck by just how fun and open they are. None of them are...

Breaking the Mold

by | Dec 16, 2018 | Art Practice

Hi everyone, I’m currently teaching a workshop in Mexico. There are people from all over the world here, a wonderful mix of creative people, all sharing our approaches to art making and learning from one another. This is always one of my favorite things when it...

Perspective After the Marathon

by | Dec 9, 2018 | Art Practice

Hi everyone, I’ve reached that special place in time where my newest body of work is all done and ready to be shipped off to the gallery. The feeling of completion is incredibly gratifying. A key component of that feeling is getting to see all of the work...

Making Your Mark

by | Dec 2, 2018 | Art Practice

Hi everyone, It’s incredibly gratifying to finish a painting. Seeing everything completed and in the right place – it’s like coming home at the end of a long journey. There’s just one thing left to do: the signature. Now, not every artist signs...

The Visual Hierarchy

by | Nov 25, 2018 | Art Practice

Hi Everyone, When I start a painting, I rarely do so with any particular goal in mind. It is more about simply putting marks down on the panel, seeing what develops and going from there. In a very real sense you could say the painting tells me where to go next. At a...

The Space Between

by | Nov 18, 2018 | Art Practice

Hi Everyone, The best paintings are like your favorite songs; there is a rhythm, a sense of pushing your ear from one beat to the next, all the while providing enough space for the listener to savor each sonic peak and valley. It is this interplay between spaces and...

The Conversation of Your Composition

by | Nov 11, 2018 | Art Practice

Hi Everyone, When working on a piece, I am always trying to make sure as much of the surface as possible is activated, that there is enough movement to guide the viewer’s eye throughout the entire painting. One effective way to do this is to use color. I’m...

Remove to Reveal

by | Nov 4, 2018 | Art Practice

Hi Everyone, A key part of my practice is building up layers, and then removing them partially to reveal what is underneath. Case in point: I recently decided to make a piece that was predominantly red. But rather than just cover the surface entirely in red paint, I...

The Secret to Making Interesting Art

by | Oct 21, 2018 | Art Practice

Hi Everyone, As I’m getting ready for my upcoming show I’m trying to make sure every piece is being developed at the same level. What this means however, is that the pieces that are not as strong really stand out from the others. The question then becomes,...

Differences in All Things

by | Oct 14, 2018 | Art Practice

Hi Everyone, In last week’s Sunday blog I discussed the importance of differences, and how to bring them into your work. This week, I wanted to continue that discussion, but from a broader view. Specifically, I wanted to share with you how inviting differences...

The Loud and the Quiet Conversation

by | Oct 7, 2018 | Art Practice

Hi Everyone, If there is one word I could use to describe the most important idea behind what I teach, that word would be differences. Now of course, everyone knows what that word means, but in the context of how I teach, the best way to demonstrate just how crucial...

Be Bold and Begin

by | Sep 30, 2018 | Art Practice

  Hi Everyone, Starting a new piece can be a bit like traveling to someplace new without a map – you may know a little about where you’re going, but without directions it will take you longer than it should to arrive. With that in mind, when I begin a...

The 30,0000 foot view

by | Sep 23, 2018 | Art Practice

Hi Everyone, It’s no secret that in order to grow we must be willing to try new things, to open ourselves to different and unfamiliar experiences. That is how we become better people. Art is no different – if you want to become a better artist, you must be...