What goes on when I'm not in front of the easel

Many of you have followed my long journey as an artist, with many twists and turns, providing inspiration and encouragement at every phase. For that I am eternally grateful. I shared this exciting studio news in a recent installment of my Behind the Easel newsletter, so I thought I would also post it here in my Behind the Easel blog.

Time in the studio perfecting my craft is a precious thing which I am able to do with greater regularity these days. And it has certainly paid off.

My recent painting Variations en Bleu was selected as a Semi-Finalist in the prestigious Art Renewal Center 15th International Salon in the Still Life Category. Almost 5,000 works from 83 countries were entered this year, and I am thrilled that my work is included with other master artists selected for this honor.

It's especially gratifying that I was able to complete this work following a particularly unexpected twist and turn. After a fall that broke my shoulder in July, I found myself in a sling painfully contemplating the complete ridiculousness of 2020. Now I was in a double lockdown! I toyed with the idea of feeling defeated, but something stirred in me. The same determination I've come to rely on in the past few years came back, and I decided to turn the situation around.

Picking up a paintbrush, I one-armed it and completed a painting I had only begun a few weeks earlier. It was therapeutic and a joy to finish this work, and a few days later I submitted an entry to the ARC Salon. And I'm very glad I did.

Having this affirmation of my work has given me a needed boost to tackle other projects with renewed inspiration. So I'm back in the studio, creating new works and loving my clients for the opportunity.

I hope this adds a little brightness to your day. Let's stay connected and enjoy the beauty of art!