jan '25 favorites
Small things that made my January just a little bit better.
experimenting
Plywood + Plaster Gauze + Acrylic Paint + Ephemera + Encaustic = Unconventional & New. These 8X8 boards have been biding their time for years, mocking me when I tripped over them. In a rush to begin making art for an upcoming show, the scent of wood called out to me. Next thing I know I am messing around, trying new things, adding layer after layer. Thankfully I did not sabotage myself but embraced the unknown. Much of my latest art has this muted, textural vibe. It’s funny when I look at my recent work I understand why my husband noted that I was going to fully embrace the Pantone Color of the Year.
simmering
Winter is the time for soup. Warm, comforting, and as my friend Sherie would say, “Nummy”. This Shrimp Corn Chowder is a popular choice at my house. If I’m lucky there will be enough leftovers for lunch for days. Sadly I witnessed this recipe abruptly cut in line ahead of my dear Ina Garten’s Corn Chowder. What can I say? Everything tastes better with shrimp.
Don’t be afraid of silly ideas.
—Paul Arden
reading
I’m going to be honest, I was a bit disappointed by Imagination in Action. Creativity is a topic I enjoy reading about but this book felt a little too textbook-y for me. That probably says more about me than the book itself so you might want to give it a read regardless of my opinion. And if you do let me know your thoughts.
The book I wanted to share about (but forgot to take a photo of) was Fellowship Point by Alice Elliott Dark, recommended by my friend Cassandra (who advises me well on what to read next). This book is a long, winding tale about friendship, family, and feeling protective of the land where you live.
surprising
Let’s be honest, January is one of the most dismal months of the year. After the merriment of the holiday season, no one is in the mood for more festivities. Diets are renewed, Dry January is enacted, and credit card bills are a somber reminder of too much frivolity. Each year, in the midst of this my birthday quietly, although startlingly arrives. This year was no exception. I find 63 sitting on my shoulder reminding me to be grateful for another year. A Mary Oliver poem whispers, “Instructions for living a life. Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it.”
Age, like numbers on a scale and letters on a report card, tells us very little of who we are.
You decide every year exactly how young and how old you want to be.
—Shauna Niequist
following
YouTube: Cathy Mevik is a new-to-me artist but I have found inspiration in her abstract painting process.
Pinterest: Rebecca Green is an illustrator that I have followed for years. Her boards are beautifully curated.
Instagram: Janet Hill’s art is an illustrative style and I enjoy her use of color and her fresh and playful approach.
inspiring
Maybe it’s because I have no aptitude for singing or maybe it’s because I love a heartwarming young teen but Jaukeem Fortson’s performance of this song on the Voice made me teary-eyed. Although I didn’t watch the show I read that he was knocked out in the finals. At 14 I’d say that is still quite an accomplishment. What in the world will he achieve in high school? Did I mention that he had the audacity to blind audition with this song by Adele.
Art is how we decorate space, music is how we decorate time.
—Jean-Michel Basquiat
blooming
Am I the only one who is amazed by nature? How does this Camellia have the wherewithal to bloom in the dead of winter? I swear I have never witnessed such a thing. And yet, here it is blooming smack-dab in my backyard. I am smitten. After the fawning and gushing, alarm bells ring reminding me that, yes this is indeed the dead of winter. In a panic, I rush outside to capture a photo of these sweet cotton candy blooms proof that it wasn’t just a dream.
reflecting
Although I am not one for New Year’s resolutions I do look at January as an opportunity to evaluate and reset. Here are a few things on my mind…
1. After Christmas is packed away I approach redecorating with fresh eyes. For now, I’m going with a less is more approach.
2. I’ll soon have two new grandbabies and I’ve been considering how I can best love and support my kids as their families expand.
3. I’m reducing the YouTube videos I post from weekly to every other week. My hope is this will allow for more flexibility and as a result more authentic creativity that I share.
4. After successfully completing a 5K last month I’ve decided to continue running and am looking ahead to another race this spring.
What’s on your mind?
A home with fewer possessions is more spacious, more calming, and more focused on the people who live inside it.
—Joshua Becker
I’m curious, what’s on your list of favorites?
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