Joyous holidays and best wishes for a peaceful and fulfilling new year!

May the light you seek surprise you often, as it shines forth to illuminate the way ahead.

The last few days, I was away in Tennessee, working on a portrait. It was a lot more than working on a portrait, however. I'm afraid words aren't the best vehicle to describe what can happen during a portrait sitting. Suffice it to say that if one is lucky, there is magic that gets somehow transmitted into and through the portrait. And so much more in between the artist, the sitter, the space and Spirit. Many thanks to Quentin and Annelle for sacred conversations, a most comfortable bed, wonderful foods and a wee dram or two in such a beautiful home.

Playing with fire...

Just playing around with the woodburner a bit as a markmaking tool... It smells terrible when it burns paint, but it's fun...

Cozy...

Well, we didn't get the snow that was predicted for today. In fact, once the clouds and drizzle moved on, it was a really beautiful, if cold, sunny day. It's been a while since I've seen the squirrels in their tree, and sometimes there are as many as four where you see two here. That maple tree makes a great home for their families. And the woodstove is a fine surrogate warm mommy for Sundew. She's the fist of the cats to think of getting up under it, and I wonder if she'll still squeeze in when she gets bigger....

Happy Thanksgiving!

It's a beautiful day here. A nice day to reflect on the many things I am thankful for in this very moment. I am blessed with so many wonderful friends, healthy, happy family, a safe, warm home, three crazy cats and the amazing good luck to be aware of so much beauty in the world. There was a lot of time in my life when I wasn't as lucky, and the contrast is amazing. To appreciate the simple things in life is such a gift. The squirrel that was sitting a few feet away from me yesterday morning, chewing on a mushroom, while Canada geese, honking, flew south overhead, obscured by the morning fog; the way the sun shines sideways into my studio all afternoon this time of year; the aroma of decaying leaves and hemlock needles, lifting from the duff; the rooster's crow in the distance; the swaying trees, even appearing self-conscious without their foliage; the sounds of squirrels' teeth scraping nuts; the rustle of the brown leaves, still clinging to branches, in the breeze; wordless walks with friends through the woods; and the anticipation of good times with friends over thanksgiving dinner.

Misty morning...

Sorry it's been a while. Busy with show and visiting family in warmer climes. I rose early this morning, before the roosters, and when the sun finally got 'round to rising, it was lovely in the mist.

The Artist's Path

Good friend, great poet-artist, fellow dreamer, and ongoing source of inspiration to me, Laurence Holden, now has a blog up and running, where you can see some of the wonderful poems he read at our recent gathering/show in Atlanta. He will also be reading next Friday up in Franklin at the Wilderness Society. I hope you can join us if you live nearby!

Here are the details for next week: