feb '26 favorites
Small things that made my February just a little bit better.
creating
One of the things I have been working on is becoming less rigid and constrained in my portraits. More abstracted. The practice of continuous line sketches is helping me move in that direction. It’s a 1-2 minute, no-pressure approach using a pencil or charcoal. If you are interested in learning more, you can watch the video here.
following
YouTube: Julie Fei-Fan Balzer is a mixed media artist who experiments with all types of art forms. I have followed her for years.
Pinterest: Adele Sypesteyn’s boards are filled with creative ideas for many categories of art making.
Instagram: Louise Fletcher is a mixed media artist and teacher. Through the years, I have learned much from her and would highly recommend following her.
Does it really matter if I make my art?
Yes. It matters because you matter. And your creativity matters.
—David Limrite
inspiring (artist)
Etel Adnan was a poet and writer before becoming a visual artist. Born in Beirut, Lebanon, in 1925, she lived much of her adult life in Northern California after attending U.C. Berkeley. She drew inspiration from the local landscape and her memory of home. Adnan used vivid colors and geometric shapes to create abstract paintings strongly influenced by Paul Klee. Adnan died in 2021 at the age of 96.
Many of Adnan’s paintings are Untitled, and this one I copied is no exception. Her 2013 original oil on canvas painting hangs in New York at the Whitney Museum of Art.
reading
I recently finished All the Beauty in the World by Patrick Bringley. He writes about the ten years he worked as a guard at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. His perspective is uniquely intimate, given the opportunity he had to study and ponder art for long stretches of time. Bringley’s detailed experience stirred in me a desire to book the next flight to JFK. I’m not saying it will do that for you, but I would recommend this book, particularly if you love art.
PS…The storyline is not merely about art but also his personal journey through grief and loss, ultimately leading back to love.
A work of art tends to speak of things that are at once too large and too intimate to be summed up, and they speak of them by not speaking at all.
—Patrick Bringley
growing
In our damp climate, moss grows easily, drifting here and there. With no true root system, it grows in the tiniest of cracks and is capable of carpeting dead logs, trees, bricks, and even concrete barriers in shady areas. The jigsaw shapes it has created between our slate slabs was literally a dream come true for me.
Moss generally gets a bad rap. Without getting too sciency, moss benefits our environment like many plants by improving air quality and creating an environment for microorganisms. So next time you see a mossy patch, maybe think twice before pulling it up. Or maybe do pull it up and tuck it somewhere else.
sipping
I took zero photos of food this month. Of the million soups I made, it did not occur to me to take a photo to share. But I did think to take a photo of the lovely Blackberry Bramble cocktail my son, Blake (at the recommendation of our youngest, Mikhail), made for our family gathering. Not technically considered an exotic drink, it felt that way with its purple streaks and refreshing taste.
Hearts that beat to the tune of kindness can change the rhythm of the world.
—CJ Peterson
arranging
These hydrangeas were clipped and promptly tucked into a vase last fall with explicit instructions to “dry yourself.'‘ I realize there are proper techniques for drying hydrangeas, but I prefer the ‘let’s see what happens’ (read: lazy) approach. It generally works out okay.
In general, I’m not the biggest fan of dried flowers, but I like the rustic look and long-lasting nature of hydrangeas. Perched high, they sit undisturbed as one wrong move might crush their brittle petals.
Read more ‘official’ dried floral techniques here.
capturing common
After writing about embracing the ordinary last month, it got me thinking. Why not capture the commonplace? Why am I seeking photos with grand sweeping gestures when the small and familiar is right in front of me? And honestly, it's more my vibe. So today I bring you this month’s ordinary.
I have thrown the door wide open to the 1970’s and am ‘all in’ on burning incense. I’m not sure why, and I can’t remember how, but the combination of wispy smoke and earthy scent is pure pleasure. My husband, Rick, calls it “a pleasing aroma to the Lord,” whereas my daughter Asia describes it as ‘disgusting’. I guess you can decide for yourself.
The art of being happy lies in the power of extracting happiness from common things.
—Henry Ward Beecher
wine tasting
If Rick had his way, this photo would depict me dressed as Elton John playing a keyboard. Instead, I find myself in a Disney princess get-up, reading a monologue as if hosting the Oscars. I have mentioned before my desire to be funny, a wannabe comedian of sorts, but this is on Rick. I believe his desire to be funny supercedes my own, which is saying a lot.
Where is the wine tasting in all this? Look carefully at the table, and you will see covered wine bottles standing upon mini podiums. This dramatic comedy routine was all for the sake of announcing the gold medal winner. Generally, the unveiling involves edge-of-your-seat anticipation but nothing quite so over the top.
To make matters worse, it was a homer. And by that I mean we hosted, and our wine won. Not good when we not only chose the wine varietal (Tannat) but were in charge of calculating the winner (2023 Left of Ordinary). Rumor has it that there is a secret vote to have our wine group membership revoked. I’ll keep you posted.
celebrating
Rick and I arrived early at Lumen Field to celebrate our beloved Seattle Seahawks Super Bowl win with 40,000 of our best friends. The collective excitement was infectious and the energy boisterous. Although I have been singing and dancing to We are the Champions since high school, the roar of the crowd to this tune was electric. So yes, it was fun!
More incredible than the win (almost) was the blue sky and the unbelievably warm weather, an anomaly this time of year.
Wish me courage and strength and a sense of humor—I will need them all.
—Anne Morrow Lindbergh
dog sitting
Our camel brown Boston Terrier, Coco (fondly known as Cokey), is basking in the sun with our son’s black Boston Terrier, Beverly Maureen. As my grandson Liam says, “they look comfy cozy.” I would agree. The epitome of contentment. To put it simply, they are winning at life.
An old proverb sums it up, “The dog that dreams of the chase runs a thousand miles without leaving the rug.”
One easy way to show you care about others is to ask them questions about their life. Simply asking the question and listening thoughtfully is an act of generosity.
—James Clear
I’m curious, what’s on your list of favorites?
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