Parts of Art

 Drawing and Painting is a four session class that will provide lively instruction, in-house art demos, and ample studio time for the making of art. We will be doing art pieces that involve pencils, markers, wax resist, watercolor and acrylic paint. The class is geared to jump start your creative process and develop your artistic abilities.  Students must be at least 16 years of age. No previous experience is necessary.  All materials will be provided; however, you may bring your own supplies as well.  When: The class will take place over 4 Tuesdays, January 3rd- 24th from 12-2. Where: All sessions will take place in my peaceful country studio. Directions and details will be given upon registration. Interested? To get more details and to register, go here:                            Drawing and Painting

                                               Here's the latest art on the easel "Of the Woods  mini- series" and by mini series I mean 8 x 10"each.       I combine paint, papers, ink, wax resist, linocut printing, fabric, colored pencils and canvas. My aim is to combine these various materials to express life in its untamed tangle of exuberant growth. I want to offer a visual place of solace where,  like the tallest  trees,  one can reach up  to the heavens. These pieces and more are  in my shop here

   It's November, and every morning now there is frost on the ground. Even so, t his yucca plant is thriving in the middle of my herb garden. Although not an herb itself, it is surrounded by bee balm, lavender, spearmint, peppermint and catnip in the spring and summer months.  It's a robust perennial, so it stays put long after all the herbs around it have died with the frosty November air.         I love the view looking straight down from the top of the plant. I am also fascinated with the silvery white threads that swirl out playfully from the stalks. The tall stems that radiate from the center shoot out stately spikes of white flowers in the summer.        The yuccas are such a beautiful part of my herb garden that I decided to do some paintings of them. Here they are, along with some photos from my actual plants and a video of the painting process. See those cool white threads?! The paintings and more are  available in my Etsy store here. 

   When my husband and I visited Bavaria a few years ago, I was delighted to discover a patch of fragrant, blossoming bushes that were alive with butterflies. I so wanted to plant whatever that white showy bush was  in my garden, but figured it is something only native to Germany. I took pictures of it and did an illustration in my illustrated travel journal.  The next year I visited my local plant nursery and was helped by a very knowledgeable gardener who was showing me around the nursery and painting a picture of how all the new plants would look in my garden. I pulled out my phone, showed him the picture from Germany and said, "Do you know what this is?"  "Of course!" he said immediately, "That's a butterfly bush, and we have them right over here." So much for me thinking it was a Bavaria only bush! So now I am the proud owner and illustrator of my own very prolific and alive with butterflies bush! To see the collection of butterfly paintings visit

 It happened again today. I’m at an art show with my Parts of Art jewelry. Now mind you, my inventory is pretty extensive, since last year we went into pause mode on shows and I spent extra time making wearable art. Still though, sometimes at the end of the day of making jewelry I look at the work and think “Oh. My. God. What was I thinking? Who would wear this?” So on and so on. That inner dialogue can just go like a runaway train. But then, I go to a show and put out my wares, and sooner or later here she comes.        We had a wonderful time sharing our love for wearable art as well as a few laughs. She had spotted it right away in my display case, and although I showed her a few other pieces, this was clearly the one I made for her before we met. And we both knew it. There were earrings that matched the bracelet, but she said that in her opinion “matching” is for older women. Then she added that “When I turn 70, which is soon, I might come back for those!”  Another delightful momen

    I wrote a few months ago about my series of mixed media collages entitled "Of the Woods".  I was originally inspired to do this series in 2015, when I began going out to the woods to paint, draw, think and pray. Of that time period, I wrote the following, which is almost prophetic as I read it now.  “I am personally drawn to the place like a hungry person is to a good meal. It feeds my soul to spend time out here. I have already formulated a plan for a body of work. Not jewelry, but mixed media woodland paintings. Being in the woods is reminiscent of childhood, where I spent hours in the woods next door and across the street. In my imagination I lived out there. That is, after all, where I would go as a child to talk to God. So once again I have come full circle to the cabin in the woods.”      By 2018 I had developed several paintings that were, by their very nature, "of the woods". The colors and textures were very muted and neutral, just like the colors of t

 Here are some of my new series “Soft Florida”.  They were inspired by a recent trip I made to Florida, the Land of Flowers, and the abundant sunlight that immerses everything in its soft light. For more information or to purchase,    visit my store here

 So I’m back in the woods, and here’s what I mean by that:       It all started when we moved back to Indiana from Florida eight years ago. We moved here to help my in-laws in their last season of life. It was a decision that had been bathed in prayer and much discussion over a long period of time. Finally, the timing became clear and right. So we moved here, to my husbands boyhood home in rural Indiana, in late summer, 2013. Not because it was convenient (it wasn’t) but because there was a need and we were the best choice to fill the need.        It took awhile but we adjusted to our new home and new responsibilities. David’s dad’s health was declining rapidly by the time we moved here, but he was gracious and thankful to the end, and I am so glad to have had the time with him that we had.       Once he passed, life and routine changed, especially in regards to my mother in law. David became increasingly wrapped up in her care, and she became increasingly difficult to live with. Witho