Art Trek: Open Studio June 28-29

'Sometimes, you need the ocean light,
and colors you've never seen before
painted through an evening sky." ~David Whyte, excerpt from Second Sight

Open Studio Tour this month is getting closer; area artist studios will be on tour June 28-29, with a preview party/exhibit on June 27 from 5-8 p.m. at Upstairs Artspace (upstairsartspace.org). I'm still hard at work creating new paintings and sculpture for the event (see post below for more info)and haven't taken a break! With gold, peach, tangerine, aqua, green-golds, pink, lavender and delicate hues, this small oil painting is one that speaks to my heart and soul: it's the essence of the "Esto Perpetua" series I've worked on for over 12 years now: depicting how I see nature: her ethereal, changing spirit. Is it morning or evening? There is no answer, for somewhere it is morning, somewhere it is evening. I painted this one outside, on the front porch, June morning all around.

“In ordinary life we hardly realize that we receive a great deal more than we give, and that it is only with gratitude that life becomes rich.” ~ Dietrich Bonhoeffer

November brings scarlet, gold, saffron leaves to earth: a Turkish carpet beneath my feet on quiet walks with River dog, who greatly enjoys pouncing through those papery-thin leaves along the roadside. Dogs love simple things, and while I watch his utter joy in the moment, I realize there's a lesson for us all in this. To dance in the fall leaves with the heart of a child, to kick them back up into the sky, to see the saturated colors on the palette of wonder. Life. It's so fleeting, so short, too precious to be spent all day on cell phones, computers, inside. How grateful I am to be here, to have so many people be kind to me along the journey. To see those scarlet dancers, to love so much, to need less and less: to be imperfect and right here to make art, to write, to keep reminding others of all that is within our hand.

The Landscape in Autumn

"Those who dwell among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life. " ~ Rachel Carson ~ October is here in the mountains, leaves slowly changing to gold amid the emerald shades above: now and then a lone leaf drifts to earth. Fall tends to be a creative month for me: the temperatures cool from sultry summer, glorious crisp afternoons are meant to paint, to sculpt, to inhale...as if you could hold the moment forever. This is an "Esto Perpetua" landscape from the long-time series I've worked on for almost ten years now. It remains a perennial favorite, although I fall in love with them all, like children, and send them out into the world to create good energy wherever they may land! In the beginning, a golden fall afternoon is where it all started: I painted the first one. A leaf fell to earth, then another, and another. Open Studio at my Art House will be Saturdays throughout October, from 1-3 p.m. Drop by or by appointment at other times.

Esto Perpetua: The Landscape

July brings intensely hot weather to the mountains, and even hotter temperatures at lower elevations. Life slows a bit, although I take advantage of the heat to leaf through painting books, novels, and slow down a bit myself. Underfoot, the new puppy sleeps. My heart is full, in love. Rescue dogs rescue us, every time. A bouquet of fragrant lilies perfume the air; I found them just marked down from way-too-much to the take-me-home price of .99. All they needed was fresh water, stems trimmed, and an elegant crystal vase. Even the smallest things bring pleasure in this world. A puppy snoring, and lily sweetness. These aren't going to last forever, but live on in the heart. This landscape is one that recently sold out in Santa Fe at Patricia Carlisle Fine Art on Canyon Road. I hope it's in someone's home, bringing pleasure to another heart.

The Landscape

This is a commissioned oil painting that has gone to its new home in Charlotte, NC. Last Christmas, the client had spotted a smaller painting that appealed to him and asked if I'd do a piece for him...with warm golden colors. Otherwise, he had no huge demands, and didn't hover. Of course, during the process, I kept him updated: and was grateful and happy to be allowed to do my thing! I love it when people trust me: and let the flow happen. It's a matter of trust on both sides, I think. Besides, I love knowing the people who have my work--while sometimes I never know, there is a connection and an appreciation of when I do meet them or know something about them, and vice versa. A personal feel, perhaps. Art brings us together!

The Landscape: New Work

Do you love this world? Do you cherish your humble and silky life? Do you adore the green grass, with its terror beneath? ~ Mary Oliver

New Work: The Landscape

This small landscape hung in my study for the past year; I'd look at it and think about doing something else to it a number of times. Finally I took it down before the open studio weekend, added touches in fresh rich oil hues, then framed it in a plein air frame. With a few brush strokes, it transformed into a piece I loved. It sold, to someone else who loved it too! Thank you, K....and I hope to hear how you're enjoying the piece, when you come to a resting phase on your journeys. Ah, when a piece finds the 'right' home, I feel good about it! Sometimes paintings find the right person, and vice versa.

New Work: The Landscape

'The song of the brush.'
~Chinese saying

New Work

'I walk without flinching through the burning cathedral of the summer. My bank of wild grass is majestic and full of music. It is a fire that solitude presses against my lips.' ~Violette Leduc, Mad in Pursuit

Esto Perpetua: Night Spaces

As a recipient of a grant from the Regional Artist Project Grant made through The Arts Council of Henderson County, I wish to thank all who made it possible for me to purchase art supplies to further the “Esto Perpetua” landscape series I have worked on for several years. I wish to return the help I've been given in a concrete, meaningful way. My project was funded, in part, by a Regional Artist Project Grant from the North Carolina Arts Council, administered by the Arts Council of Henderson County.

As of April 2010, I have chosen to donate a percentage of each “Esto Perpetua” painting's proceeds to Saluda Community Land Trust which is a tax-exempt non-profit organization dedicated to preserving my town's rural small town character by protecting its unique natural heritage. 90% of private donations to SCLT are dedicated to land and easement acquisition.

About the Esto Perpetua series: started several years ago, the paintings are based around the Latin phrase of 'esto perpetua' (it is forever) which is written within the painting, worked into many transparent layers for the viewer to find and ponder. These canvases, both large and small, are always one of a kind, and depict nature and the sacredness of our earth. No trace of mankind is ever found in these landscapes: only mystery and peacefulness, quiet beauty, a sense of timelessness and spirituality. My belief is that nature is omnipresent, precious, powerful, and sacred. This series has become my language, my message to a world that needs to hear it. While a quiet, contemplative message, I hope it comes across loud and clear.

The Landscape

The Journey Home: Rising Dreams

The Journey Home series evolved from one initial painting depicting land, the tip of a canoe, and water...it evokes ancient Japanese and Chinese poetry: the poet and his lone boat on the sea under a moonlit sky. As a poet and a thinking artist, I'm reminded that we are on a journey...and to grow and find our way, turn from all we know, have known, being fearless...to a unknown sea in our metaphoric lone boat. Over the years, in my personal life, I've done that very thing. Lessons in all experiences! I've since done more of these paintings, and think they will continue to appear on my easel by magic. For me, the small boat symbolizes the soul traveling home. For you, the viewer, let it symbolize whatever you may find within.

Esto Perpetua: Blue Field

About my ongoing Esto Perpetua series: I began this series several years ago, based around the Latin phrase of 'esto perpetua' (it is forever) which is written within the painting, worked into many transparent layers for the viewer to find and ponder.These canvases, both large and small, are always one of a kind, and depict nature and the sacredness of our earth. No trace of mankind is ever found in these landscapes, only mystery and peacefulness, quiet beauty, a sense of timelessness and spirituality. My belief is that nature is omnipresent, precious, powerful, and sacred. This series has become my language, my message to a world that needs to hear it. While a quiet, contemplative message, I hope it comes across loud and clear.


Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing
and rightdoing there is a field.
I'll meet you there.
When the soul lies down in that grass
the world is too full to talk about. -Rumi

Art Trek Show

One of my paintings at the Upstairs Artspace...shown with Jim Cornell pottery.

A successful and busy "Art Trek Tryon: Foothills Open Studios Tour"! Thanks to all for making it a great event. More information can be found at the link to the right for the Upstairs. Art is work! And...life.

New Work: Esto Perpetua

Esto Perpetua: The landscape of the soul...

Artist Statement

Art, like writing and poetry, for me is an expression of the soul…the deepest self, where time and place do not matter…I am on a higher plane when creating. There is intense spirit and energy in my hands—often I do not know where I will take my painting—I am influenced by color, by thought, and by the natural world around us. I see nature as spiritual and symbolic—and seek to speak the unknown, to convey the unseen. My work is based on intuition, and what feeling I am attuned to at the moment. I feel the world intensely, both the ‘outer’ world, and most of all, the natural world: which is deeply connected to my inner world. The natural and inner world are more important to me.

New Work: Oranges & Thought

Thoughts: the harder times become, the more determined I feel to create something that transcends to another place, to create good energy and beauty in a world that desperately needs it. Art is life....life is art...have you heard that before? This is the first piece I've put cherries into, but all the symbols I use are intuitive.

The Landscape

Commissioned Work (sold)