A Good Day To Set Intentions
In which I share some exciting upcoming events, revel in intentions, plus new art enroute to Gallery Wild in Jackson
First of all, Happy Imbolc, aka Saint Brigid’s Day (my patron saint!), a day halfway in between the winter solstice and the vernal equinox. It’s a good day to set intentions for the coming year, as it is generally considered the very start of new growth and life for the coming year - a good time to figure out what you are planting this next year, both literally and figuratively. It’s a good day for new beginnings - hell with January 1st. Let’s try February 1st instead.
Tomorrow, I am taking a car load full of new encaustic paintings up to Gallery Wild in Jackson, Wyoming. This is not an official show, but with 17 new works, it might as well be, and I’m excited to share what I have been working on for the last few months. In truth, these last few months have been some of the most creatively difficult in my artistic career to date. Now that I’ve been doing this for 15 years, my brain has gone a bit cattywampus (I had to look up how to spell that). I’ve had to question everything completely - what I like, how do I make that, can I make that, am I the person to say that, how do I want to spend my time? Is making art what I’m meant to do? And then, recommit to all my artistic dreams. Yes. Yes. Yes.
As I am slowly learning, going through a dark night of the soul (correction dark nights…) is often part of my process. I have historically railed against these times, trying to stuff down the emotions, hide them, and judge myself for having deep, dark thoughts. I have so very often thought I was broken. I have always been afraid to share that part of myself, because I was told so many times that I was too much, my emotions were out of control, I was too sensitive, that I was crazy, that I should be more logical, don’t care so much, let it go and move on.
The emotional waves are painful, but my dark moments are part of my process just as much as the light ones. Melancholic thoughts are even sometimes enjoyable for me, and I honestly revel in them sometimes, just like I am right now as I write about these difficult topics. As dark is to light, winter is just as critical as summer, sleep is imperative for being awake, jelly is necessary for peanut butter, sea salt is oh so good on a delicious cookie, and crying is often the sweetest relief. And while the dark times can be so difficult, I have gained my most profound realizations coming out from them. (Read more on these thoughts from Anna Brones’ Substack, which appeared before me this morning at such a critical moment to help coalesce my own thinking. Lady, you’re always SO on target.) Mostly, these last couple of months have shown me, I am meant to be an artist, and that fumbling around in the dark is challenging, but necessary.
All this to say, today is a good day to tell the universe how grateful I am to be an artist and to commit myself to that process again, and again. Life is messy and it will never be perfect, the great comes with bad, and truthfully that’s a good thing. No adult ever told me that it was ok to have bad days, that you’re not broken for having bad thoughts, or you’re somehow less than because you think dark, strange things about life. I’ve literally had people tell me that I should just change my attitude and only think about the positive. But it’s ok to have down days, tired days, unproductive days, lonely sad days, angry days. You are not bad or wrong because you’re not upbeat 365 days of the year. I’m telling you now that all of that is ok, and perhaps I’m just telling myself it’s ok, because I’ve tried desperately to will my attitude into submission, but beating myself up hasn’t worked for me. Maybe that’s why I’m drawn to these strange, atmospheric landscapes, with hidden depths, shadows and light, and an air of mystery that keeps you guessing about what is out there. We certainly don’t judge the mountains for having bad weather.
I hope you’ll check out the new work at Gallery Wild. If you’re up in Jackson skiing this winter, please do go check out the gallery and see what you think. If you have any questions about the new work, please contact the gallery by sending an email (info@gallerywild.com), calling (307.203.2322) or Instagram (@gallery.wild).
In Other News….
37th Annual Sears Invitational, at Utah Tech University
February 17th - March 31st, St George Utah
I have two paintings included in the 37th Annual Sears Art Invitational in St George, Utah this year. The opening gala is Friday, February 16th, which we’ll be attending. I am thrilled to have been asked to be part of this invitational, an art show that I have long admired. The paintings are both for sale and benefit the Sears Museum. More details will soon be available about how to make a purchase through the museum. But if you’re headed to the desert this spring, be sure to stop in for a look. The museum is free and open to the public (except for the night of the gala, but you can buy tickets for that if you want)
Watercolor Workshops in Yosemite National Park This Summer!
Every morning 9 am to noon June 24th to June 28th
I’m excited to announce that I will be volunteer teaching again this summer in Yosemite National Park for the Yosemite Conservancy. I first taught classes in the summer of 2022 and loved it so much I decided to return! Each days is the same class, which covers plein air watercolor painting and we get to do it in the shadows of Half Dome. The classes are really reasonably priced and you can rent supplies from the art center. You don’t need to have any experience, but if you do, I will be sure to help you in whatever way I can to achieve your painting goals. Sign up is directly through Yosemite Conservancy. If you’re visiting Yosemite this summer, but not during my scheduled week, check out one of the other amazing visiting artists and take one of their classes. See all classes here.
To hell with January 1st!!! And I love all of these pieces of course. ❤️
17 works is impressive, congratulations on pushing through your struggles and producing so much art.