“Vulnerability is the birthplace of creativity.”Brené Brown Every year, there’s something sweet about Rocklin’s Art Studio Trek, and I’m not just talking about the chocolate. As a working artist (and full-time caregiver), much of my creative life happens quietly in the … Read More
Friday, I carefully wrapped up one of my most personal paintings, tucked it securely into its protective sleeve, and shipped it across the ocean to the Netherlands. My piece, “Safe Harbor,” is now on its way to be included in … Read More
Yesterday started with a bad dream—the kind that clings. I woke up sad, heavy, and I was convinced that I didn’t have it in me to paint. I went into the studio anyway. I had several works in progress, but … Read More
Maybe it’s because I’m a March baby. Maybe it’s because spring has always felt like a quiet promise to me — a season where everything is stretching, waking up, becoming. What I love most about spring is how it reminds … Read More
“Don’t be afraid to give up the good to go for the great.” John D. Rockefeller As I was wrapping up the final episodes of Season 1’s Painterly Life Podcast, I had a realization: the name of my podcast, Painterly … Read More
“It does not matter how slowly you goas long as you do not stop.”Confucius The past two months have been full in the best way. I wrapped up a meaningful commission and recorded four podcast conversations—each one leaving me inspired, … Read More
Every now and then, a project comes along that feels like pure creative magic from start to finish. My recent commission for Phil Drews of Quicksilver Financial Group of Wells Fargo Advisors was exactly that kind of experience — a … Read More
“It’s not that I’m so smart,it’s just that I stay with problems longer.” Albert Einstein When I launched my podcast, I knew it would take effort, but what I didn’t know was just how many people quit before they even get … Read More
Not long ago, I stood in my studio feeling completely burned out—creatively drained and frustrated. In a moment of raw emotion, I threw out six of my paintings. Six! I gotta tell ya, it felt great to let them go. … Read More
Spoiler: Bissell Stomp ‘N Go Pads are not just for pets. I got oil paint out of carpet and blood out of jeans using these! Here’s how. Note: As an Amazon associate, I may earn a commission from qualified purchases. … Read More
“The creative process is a process of surrender, not control.”Julia Cameron Sometimes, I pick a fight with my creativity. Other times, I allow it to flow. I was working on a very controlled commissioned piece. Suddenly, I felt a compelling … Read More
This month’s challenge from my Art Inspiration Group was to create an art piece using a set palette. I chose this warm palette as the colors made me happy. (By the way, I can’t think of a better reason to … Read More
This song is a note to self: “Look for the Good” They say to write what you know. But what if you don’t want to talk about it? So what’s going on? My husband has several health challenges, and caregiving … Read More
I recently had the wonderful opportunity to create a painting for patrons Rick and Robin Brown. They wanted a scene from Almaden Quicksilver Park, a favorite park from my childhood. The park holds a special place in my heart, as … Read More
The shed in our backyard was in dire need of a makeover! The paint scheme needed to be more cohesive, and the door was too far right, throwing the whole visual out of balance. As my Italian Grandmother would often … Read More
I am happy to announce that my series of Painterly 2-Minute Tips is now airing on Chabot College TV, Comcast 28, in the East Bay. It is also available on Roku, with the Chabot TV Plus app, Fire, and Apple … Read More
Have you ever noticed that creativity is not linear? It’s different from a straight line, where you can easily follow a path from point A to point B. Instead, creativity is more like a web of interconnected ideas and concepts … Read More