Hanna is a Cover Girl

I have been fortunate to have one of my favorite paintings grace the cover of a local magazine, Sasee. This is a wonderful opportunity for me to share this artwork, which is so dear to my heart, with my community and beyond. Thank you Sasse!

When will we ever learn?

Art is a strange bedfellow, and I mean that literally. It hovers in your dreams, haunts your days and at times tries your patience. There is always something to learn, something new to try, a novel way to attack a painting, this is what keeps me going, this is what keeps it fresh for me. There is always a challenge, it can be overwhelming, when we think we have reached a level of competence to realize how much we don't know, and this is what I adore - the ever unfolding challenge.

Fighting the Obstacles of an Artistic Life

Lack of sleep. Interruptions. Old cold house. Pending bills. Unfinished work: these are on the top of the list. The emotional and physical energy required to continue creating art is boundless. The work ethic is brutal! Creating a piece of art, totally born from an inner vision, is a step of faith. These are truths! Every thing is open ended, a finished "product" is a miracle. The courage it takes to be an artist is overlooked by many. Your soul is opened to the world, your spirit is opened to the masses, The truth is revealed. There is nothing to hide behind, there is no buck passing! To be this vulnerable is not for the faint of heart.

Look closely. Listen to us, do not just observe; we have something to say! We have no choice! We were created to live this life, we choose it!

When we touch someone, deliver beauty, enhance a day, month, year, we have accomplished our goal.

Reconnecting With Long Lost Friends

Well, here we go, we finish school, marry, start our careers, and life just happens. We lose touch with people, and we really do lose touch! We don't know where they are, are they still on this Earth, are they well, are they happy? Then comes Facebook! Last week I began reuniting with high school buddies and it is wonderful. Now we are able to look into each life via online photo albums and do some virtual catching up!

I know, you can't go back in time and recreate the glory years, but people don't change that much! If anything, we are refined and better than we were when that first zest of life was motivating us, and the world was an open book. Now we have pages to share in that book, heck, we have chapters, maybe even novels.

Alright my good friends, now there is no excuse, let's create a new era of friendship! I can't wait to reconnect with all of you face to face.

A Question for the Property Tax Assessor $$$$

If in recent years, my property value has in fact plummeted, I ask you, in all fairness, why did my Property Tax increase this year? This does not make sense to me! Who are you people??? What are you spending my money on??? Get a grip people, quit creating more county and city jobs, that don't improve my life, and take money out of my savings! Stop it!

I bet they start a Rooster Round Up Squad! Num Nuts!

Roosters

The rooster population has now grown to four. One hen has chimed in. They are out and about every morning, not as vocal in the winter, as in the summer. They cross the busy street without fear, they crow, they strut, they are beautiful.

Digging Out of the Frozen South

Atypical weather for South Carolina. We have had some extremely long bouts of cold temps. This challenge in my studio, which according to my standards was a deep freeze, made me all the more appreciative of the issues of my forerunners. I am spoiled by central air, and automatic heat. While the paint was hardening on the palette due to the cold, I thought, how did they do it? How did they paint without heat, how did they keep their focus? I am in awe of them! I bow down to them! They are my heroes! If they could create beauty in those conditions, I can do it!