Inspiration – it's the lifeblood of any creative. We crave it, chase it, and sometimes feel frustrated when it seems to vanish into thin air. But where does this elusive spark come from, and how can we cultivate it on demand?

Remember the last time you felt completely overwhelmed? For me, it was during the challenges of COVID and being unable to see friends or family or have any kind of normal. I felt lost, frustrated, and on the verge of exploding. Then, a friend introduced me to the unexpected practice of a "rage walk" in nature.

As a painter of the invisible through abstraction, I am often affected emotionally by nature and the mystical connections that tie all beings together. I try to capture the essence of this interdependence between us, animals, and the environment whether man-made or natural

How your Surroundings Influence Motivation :

With a background in design, I have always been sensitive to my environment…not only the physical surroundings but also the people within it. Environment can have significant impact on your motivation levels and productivity and even the peace and comfort you feel while working. In this blog post, we will explore the ways in which your environment can either fuel or hinder motivation, and provide actionable tips on creating an inspiring and motivation boosting space. Everyone has different thresholds for disturbance. So take what makes sense for you and leave the rest

When inspiration doesn't come and resistance rears its ugly head, creating art can feel impossible. But as artist Anna Deavere Smith once wrote, “Inspiration is for amateurs. The rest of us just show up and get to work.” 

Life Is An Art Form : Excavating Emotions

Emotions are an integral part of our human experience. So, let us embrace them and our memories, be they positive or negative, for they hold the keys to unlocking the depths of our inner life and through that connect with others on a profound level. Abstract painting is like improvisational jazz. Each has its own language and is created and woven from our lives in ways we don’t understand.

The human experience is a remarkable canvas that showcases the intricacies of emotion, identity, and individuality, not only for human beings, but for all nature. The world itself and its beauty lies not only in its physicality but also in the wealth of the non physical experience it can convey. From sparkling eyes that shimmer with joy to the gentle curve of a smile that radiates warmth, to the touch of a hand, the beauty of a sunset or the amazing life of a simple single tree, there is a wealth of sensation, emotions and stories waiting to be explored and experienced.

Going down a rabbit hole these days, in my life and in my work. I have gotten lost a bit in figuring out whether or not I want to live in my rabbit hole and take the blue pill, or come back out on top and go back to normal preprogrammed life. A friend of mine, who is always, always challenging me, reminded me of this concept the other day while we were watching a video he had chosen and it mentioned the idea of wabi sabi.

Since books are such a big part of my life, I thought I would share one that I am slogging through right now. I say slogging because it’s not an easy read. It isn’t one of those books you grab on a dreary day or an afternoon at the beach and read from cover to cover falling in love with characters and stories.

My melancholy side is seduced by the darker side of things…beauty in decay or in marked up concrete or the shadows of things rather than the sublime photo of something expected to be conventionally beautiful. There have been times in my life when I’ve been forced to look down, for safety’s sake or protection from even worse hurt or loss, rather than upwards toward heaven for illumination or benediction. A captivating turn about is that I’ve been finding lovely patterns and markings and colors in unexpected places and forms.

I always take my phone with me when I walk, using it as a camera to capture some of those notes of color that momma nature so willingly puts on display for us all. Her palette changes season to season and yes, California has seasons. Not as much of a swing as you might see in other places, but definite color and temperature changes that are noticeable. I can’t help but use my collection of all those photos for color reference should I need some advice for a painting. Especially when challenged to add that one last color that would make a piece really sing. Momma Nature tells me what to do.

Been thinking about this little guy for a while now and finally thought I would finally share. I walk every day in my neighborhood. Five miles. Since I’ve been really ill, it was the only way I could begin to get my strength back. I came to know my neighbors better and it helped not only physically but emotionally and mentally too. One day I was on my usual route and spotted this older gentleman walking his little dog.

Been thinking about the words to that song lately for some strange reason. Funny that that simple childhood song could be so meaningful to an adult, if we would only think about those words.