After wracking my brain over my life and art for a considerable amount of time, I've finally chose a path at the crossroads. For those familiar with my art, you know that I've been predominately been painting portraits of women. Now, I'm changing my focus to expand and explore interior and exterior scenes as well as abstraction. Of course there may be people depicted within some of these scenes, too.

I spent a great deal of time in the woods growing up. There is something magical about being away from the sounds created by humans and sitting quietly in the forest and listening to nature. The sunlight leaving mottled shadows on the ground, the wind rustling and trees swaying, the birds flitting about, the various plant life, the sounds of animals scurrying. the meadows on the edges and more. There is contentment there. The woods have a meditative quality.

You may have seen some the street scenes I've painted in the past. While I've never lived directly in urban areas, I find them fascinating. There's a different vibe about them. I see older architecture as fascinating human ingenuity. I notice light fixtures, traffic lights, signage, cracks in sidewalks, curbs, manhole covers, drainage grates and road markings. I notice pedestrians, a variety of vehicles, solitary people and people in groups. I love seeing urban areas at night, the glow from artificial lighting emanating from windows and storefronts, neon signs, streetlamps, headlights, traffic lights, shadows casting about and more. Yes. Urban areas intrigue me.

I've played around with abstraction periodically in the past. I plan to explore that further, along with surrealism. It opens up an entire range of possibilities without boundaries. The interplay of colors, textures and symbolism captivate me. Playing with art is such a great way to learn. Letting go and embracing that freedom without expectation takes me back to a time when I didn't judge myself as much as I do as an adult. That's where creativity gets stuck when we grow up. As a kid, no matter what the marks looked like I had made, I never thought it was terrible or not good enough. I'd be happy to show anyone.

Being an adult isn't what I thought it would be when I was a kid. Regardless, I couldn't wait to get there. I wanted to drive, to decide what groceries to buy, to know what adults were talking about when I was ushered out of the room, watch whatever I wanted on TV, wear what I wanted, listen to whatever music I wanted to, etc. I had all of these ideas of how happy I'd be then.

The glee of reaching the adult pinnacle disappeared as the machinations of a child's immature mind was revealed.  Adulthood comes with discovering new responsibilities, expectations and work. I honestly thought that once I was an adult I would somehow have all of this wonderful freedom. Imagine my disappointment to realize that I actually had more freedom as a child.

I am here now, trying to recapture some of that freedom that was lost over time. It's both frightening and ecstatic simultaneously. Yet here I go... 

I've finished ONE painting this month. It's pictured below. It's 18x24" and is titled SACRED GEOMETRY. This a another mixed media piece. First I began painting, then I decided to collage it and attach hundreds of hand cut paper elements and finally, I drew geometric figures all over it. I spent an extraordinary amount of time with this piece while overthinking my direction forward creatively.  

Why did I only create ONE painting over the course of a month? If you've read my last post then you know I've been doing a lot of contemplating. I've had a lot on my mind and I posted some of that on my last Facebook post on May 9th, I've copied the post text below:

So that's it. If I post anything on Facebook going forward, it'll be a link to my journal here. At the very least I will test that idea out. <<< scratch THAT! >>> UPDATE: After reading Jim's comment below, I looked into it and I believe he's correct regarding the algorithm penalty regarding outside links - so, I'm done with Facebook.  Paying more attention to this website will be a good thing, and I realize that it'll be easier to keep things up to date if I work that way.

I believe I have finally figured out what direction my art is going in. I will let you in on the details in my next post.

April had my head spinning. One thing I've been tossing around in my head relates to the possibility of changing my direction artistically. There's also issues relating to social media I'm thinking about. Yes, I'm currently stuck in a rumination loop, with the expectation that I'll come to some conclusions over the coming months. That's generally how it goes for me. I drive myself crazy thinking. Then, one day the penny drops and decisions are made that I feel good about. 

My experience related to the Oliver Art Center, has opened up many new thoughts, too. Seeing the art there, meeting artists and experiencing my first Artists Talk was enlightening. Creatives are my tribe. I feel as though I am ready for a change, at least partly because of the experience.

I did finish 3 new paintings in April. They are all pictured below. The first two were both over heavily textured canvases, the third was on a flat canvas. YES, I was thinking a LOT while painting - especially while painting the panel titled CONTEMPLATION.

Where is my creativity is going? I don't have firm answers today, but I promise I'll keep you in the loop! 

On Friday, March 28th, 2025, I participated in my first Artists Talk at the Oliver Center in Frankfort, Michigan. I was invited to be a featured artist there and had 21 pieces in the SHE exhibition for Women's History Month. It was a big day and I wanted to write some of my thoughts about it. I’m sitting on the far left in the group of featured artists in the pics below.

The funniest thing for me about this is that when Julie White Pierce (the curator there who invited me to be a featured artist there) initially told me about the “Artists Talk,” she mentioned we’d be sitting around a table. So, I figured small group of artists talking. OK then. Cool. I’ve got this.

It’s a 3 hour drive there for me. The weather on Friday was better than the whiteout snow conditions encountered when delivering the artwork a month ago. Friday was an overcast day with some rainy places, thankfully without the harrowing white knuckle experience.

Upon entering the Arts Center I noticed 5 chairs in the gallery. Behind those chairs up front, I could see six pieces of my art on the wall. There were chairs being unfolded and placed for an audience. I didn’t see a table, nor did I google what exactly an Artists Talk is.

Well, well. Suddenly, I had to face my fear of public speaking. My head spun and I swallowed the lump in my throat as I wondered how I’d wipe that deer-in-the-headlights look off my face. I had a few minutes to walk around, met some new artists and greeted a few familiar faces before it got underway. I met featured artist Judy Jashinsky before we sat down, I really resonated with her vibe! Sitting next to her was perfect given the situation, even though I had just met her, it felt as though I had my emotional support artist sitting next to me as I was in uncharted territory with a crowd.

Guess what? My unprepared self was in that chair in front of the audience for two full hours. Much to my surprise, I did it. And… I didn’t die.

Granted, I can’t remember everything I said due to the blur induced by my internal stressing, but I jumped that hurdle. It was meant to happen that way. I’m glad it did since I couldn't avoid it. I’m proud to have been sitting there with the amazing women featured artists as well as the mix of wonderful artists in the room.

Thank you for the experience, Julie!
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NOTE: in the photos featuring the artists, I'm on the far left. Next to me is artist, Judy Jashinsky, Shelley Stevens, Rebecca Mott and Melissa Jones. Check out their work!