Have you ever almost run your car off of the road while driving because you are trying to sketch down a new idea for a painting?

Yeah, me too.

So I am back in South Carolina. There is nothing quite like seeing the first “Greenville” sign after a long road trip North and realizing you are near home.

“Home” is a funny word. I grew up near Pittsburgh and was a ‘burg girl all of my life until recently. It always felt like home to me.  When I went back to teach a Master workshop this month and also for the linked exhibition, I realized that “home” were my neighbors that came out for the show. “Home” were my best friends that I finally got to hug again and laugh with in person again. The house that I grew up in was only “home” because of who lived there with me. And I felt so at home with the family that hosted me while back there (long-time friends) because over the years we picked each other as family. Pittsburgh was energizing for me this trip. Because Home is where I make it. 

My kids are getting scattered now. One in Baltimore. One expecting my fIrst grandchild and living in Antigua permanently. And now the college applications will be going out soon for my son. So I guess I have many more road trips and travels in my future. And one fun thing that I have noticed about driving in the car is that my mind wanders. And wanders…and sometimes if I am lucky, it floats around new ideas, new stories and new images for future work. I always have a sketchbook in my car. Then I have to find a way to dictate notes on my phone or scribble down a sketch in the car. (at a red-light) I have had many of these “ah ha!” moments while driving, before falling asleep, (sketchbook at the bedside table) while cooking, in the shower or, weirdly, getting a massage. (I have often wondered if I can business expense massages… So many good ideas have come from getting naked with a stranger) 😜

So I am back. And I am creating some new work in a slightly different direction than I was originally planning and it feels great. Ever do that? Work and work and design and paint and find something lacking? Is it the idea? No. Is it the effort? No. It must be the OVER-thinking, the OVER-planning and perhaps putting too much effort into it?

I love the word “grace” when describing a painting that I love from another artist. For me, to say a person or painting has grace is my highest compliment. It means I see pure beauty without apparent effort. Without struggle. A natural, humanistic beauty.

Ah, but art is a struggle. How to create something that is graceful and beautiful and has an  interesting story and yet retains all the good art elements like balance and strong composition and be technically masterful and yet be engaging and sellable, and… and….

Whew! No wonder painting is “brain activity.”

Yeah, this stuff is hard. But sometimes if I listen there is a tiny “click” into the divine and I can find myself ready to download an image or a thought or even a whisper of what could be- I have to take myself out of it and then a painting may come together without those first 4 words—pain.

So anyway I am back to work. And lots of good stuff is happening. Next Friday the 13th I will be on the local news on Fox Carolina for Fine Art Fridays to demonstrate a portrait live on the air while giving an interview. I’ll send more info on that next week.

Then on Saturday and Sunday, September 14-15. I am running my first Master Series class in Greenville with a live model at the Greenville Center for Creative Arts and I would love to have you join me. Register here—— https://artcentergreenville.org/fullclasslisting/

Then after that I will be immersed in new large commissions in oil. Sun-lit children in antique, lace dresses. What is not to love about that? 

Next month I will be in Connecticut for a 3-day master class and in Sante Fe next May. Next year I am taking a group to Tuscany, Italy for a plein air workshop. (My son is going off  to college so I need to look forward to something for me!) More on all of that to come.

Until then I am slashing some new, huge Sennelier pastel sticks around on some new pastel work, (oh joy!) meeting with some new models and then I splurged and bought some new Rosemary brushes.

In the mornings I now I feel the crispness of Fall creeping in, but for me, it feels like a long-awaited, clear-headed reboot. 

Gotta keep the sketchbook handy. Especially in the car.