Art Time-Traveler

Slow and steady progress on this picture makes me feel good. While I'd like to finish pictures more quickly, it's just satisfying to be working on something I love. She's now about halfway to the finish, but needs to go on the hiatus pile while I work on Christmas gifts. One of the ways I keep the seasonal depression at bay is to utilize bright, warm, and saturated colour palettes during the late autumn and winter. We have incredibly long, dark, oh-so-cold winters here in the northwoods, and the Aurora Borealis are the most colour we see until spring. https://www.instagram.com/p/B5ks8zCFzSB/?igshid=ytospxje2stk

Progress. You can tell things are getting serious now that the picture has been taped to a work board. 🙃. As she's developed and I've learned more about the Great Coral Reef, I've fallen more in love. Extra excited about where this picture is going. So back to work! Hope your day is as soft, gentle, and reassuring as the patter of rain on leaves. #wip #greatcoralreef #guardian #thatsalotofcolour #prismacolor #polychromos https://www.instagram.com/p/B5IgeRBlQqN/?igshid=xxc8pmuhh71x

Slow and steady progress. Wasn't sure what to expect when I started into this piece and wasn't sure it would work. But I'm happy with how it's coming along ... which is good because there's a loooot of time into blending those colours. Hope your weekend was grand and that you got to spend most of it doing what you love most. https://www.instagram.com/p/B5AzQlLl2PM/?igshid=16pk1kuw8r9cy

I'm the kind of person who cares deeply about the health of our world. I try to be as responsible as possible about the size of my footprint, live mostly by a waste-not-want-not code, and absolutely loathe toxically mass-produced, made to become obsolete landfill. I find most trends and fads to be ridiculous, and am never impressed by designer brands and names. What I do like and appreciate are the rare utilitarian objects that are made in love, have an interesting story behind them, as well as thoughtful curation of materials to produce an item that is not only beautiful but well-made, highly functional, and enduring. Quality is everything to me, and I am seldom impressed or satisfied. One such well-crafted item I am impressed by came to me as a generous act of friendship. It was intended to be used as an iPod case and was ideal for that. However, I liked it so well I wanted it to be with me more, so it rather quickly became my wallet. Not only is it exquisitely crafted, beautiful, and functional, it has a warmth of character that very few objects carry and actually gives me a sense of comfort. I have used it every day for almost 6 years ~ that's over 2000 days! And all the seams and the snap are intact, holding strong. Very impressed. Thank you so much, Catherine @maytreeark for this kindness and your continued friendship. https://www.instagram.com/p/B45LM5KlocJ/?igshid=vk3bpsom39k8

We took our good boy for a bit of snowy forest bathing. It's his favourite season and I'm hoping he's still got several more to enjoy. Hard to believe he's almost 14 already. #greatestchum #bestfriend #goodestboy #love https://www.instagram.com/p/B4umcePlWOB/?igshid=13z1t7iwe0z09

This work in progress is called Reef Guardian and takes its inspiration from the diverse and lush aquatic life of our oceans, as well as from my alarm over the rapidly declining health of them. All of my works are explorations of our world and our relationship with it, and I always hope to help bring awareness to its need for more respect and protection. Maybe I care too much, because I actually do lose sleep and experience a high level of stress and depression based on these concerns for the health of our planet, environment, and home. I also want to thank my friend Daniel Kinkade for the incredible photos from his recent visit to the Great Barrier Reef, which were deeply helpful and inspiring. #greatbarrierreef #coloredpencil #uppermichiganartist #waterislife #thankyou https://www.instagram.com/p/B4h1bEJl8cH/?igshid=ii2tm83ofhlr

This Halloween, I'd just come home from dropping Trinity off at her morning illustration class and upon entering the house, was met by a distinct floral fragrance. It was similar to the way a flower shop smells, but lighter and fresher. My first thought was, "That smells like my Mom!" After a thorough investigation, I discovered that the fragrance was only in the kitchen and studio (the two rooms I spend the most time in), and that there was nothing that could account for it. So I chalked it up as just another strange thing and went about my morning routine enjoying the smell of flowers. The fragrance lingered unchanging until into the afternoon, and I knew it wasn't my imagination when Trin came home from class and could also smell the fresh but non-existent flowers. We agreed that the fragrance reminded us of my Mom. It ended as mysteriously as it originated around three o'clock and hasn't occurred again in the days since. It is said that during the days around Halloween, the veils between worlds are thin and passable. This belief is where such holidays as Dia de Los Muertes originate. And this year, it may be that I had a visitation from my Mom, who passed away in 2012. Life is always so interesting and peculiar. https://www.instagram.com/p/B4dQEDwlSu0hYb-hHEt7Bhp7jZMwR5jHNFOSkk0/?igshid=15qdsvz6vbnju

I see you. Work in progress making progress. It's very good to be back to the daily studio practise. Hope your weekend is all kinds of wonderful satisfactions. https://www.instagram.com/p/B4XzLcrlvWwzi_bdwEp2pFCq5tlbJWPRiXk_D80/?igshid=1g544ksf8wrt2

A pretty little ocean spirit in progress. Haven't used the Prismacolor in a while ~ forgot how smooth and luscious they are to work with. https://www.instagram.com/p/B4NPnh4l4sXKhq8Osa_7QWdmFONv7QoEoicTF00/?igshid=1rcnwf7t30w1w

First snow is always lovely. It's the last four months that aren't. https://www.instagram.com/p/B4NHRv3F7us28dg7XnvXiBnOlluD6rcUNdqrR00/?igshid=1ctl7f2ozi26t

That's snow, but it almost looks like cotton. Hello, winter. https://www.instagram.com/p/B4NG8NGF8KsPRLkxmAMJj-vUYnT7r0XAcECQ5A0/?igshid=1i38z35oa0chp

That's snow, but it almost looks like cotton. Hello, winter. https://www.instagram.com/p/B4NG8NGF8KsPRLkxmAMJj-vUYnT7r0XAcECQ5A0/?igshid=1i38z35oa0chp

That's snow, but it almost looks like cotton. Hello, winter. https://www.instagram.com/p/B4NG8NGF8KsPRLkxmAMJj-vUYnT7r0XAcECQ5A0/?igshid=1i38z35oa0chp

Expanding my graphite skills with an idea for a Poseidon. Practice, practice! Hope you are enjoying a lovely, peaceful, and productive day. 💚🐝 https://www.instagram.com/p/B4ARP5HFZZBHY16AVJKZrGEND6w0eFGWS0njjw0/?igshid=hdpftcu8aklg

So much has happened in the last two years and I have struggled with deep depression over the chaos and major changes in my personal life. Isolating myself didn't help, but some things you just can't air publicly. But it all resulted in my having a little (thankfully!) heart attack two weeks ago. For now, I am healing, getting stronger, and finding my bearings again, incredibly grateful to have been given a new chance in life. Life as a person is so complicated and challenging, but I'm glad we're here. 💚🐝 https://www.instagram.com/p/B3mqY39FT_zQqoBq0bXhWmShSieh-lkyGikOw80/?igshid=1mtfpqumbhs2r

Sketchbook moods. https://www.instagram.com/p/By2-gSBFs--RegxhOvx5hd8v-ANGUGyDkIjqOk0/?igshid=u3gku1axsg22

Trees. Atmosphere. Breath of Life. https://www.instagram.com/p/By2-WefFRa3NhUH2REpWO9_vzgHZ8QyYlevydE0/?igshid=1kckz0vu8ggcg