This Christmastide all festivities took on a quiet celebration when several of us in our household came down with sickness. The large family doings were postponed and we were allowed to stay all snuggled in our beds. In this post I’ll share the things I worked on while I was sick: A little story that … More Once Upon a Sickness

The winter solstice has happened, Light has entered the world, and slowly our days become longer. A lot of time has passed since the last post. So much for the weekly habit! My inward critic would have me give up and not show up any more here. My optimistic convictor is urging me to get … More Warmth in the Darkness

So sang my head as my eyes drifted over my newest pride and joy: A slightly romanticized cityscape of our small town on a dark winter night. Come see and enjoy the full view of a small American midwest town on a quiet Christmas night.

The depths of Autumn are leading us to the beginning of winter. Leaves are falling, the days are shorter, and our spirits tend to go as dark as the nights are long. And the mood can change as quickly as the equinoctial weather. But in the darkness of all this change, while all seems to … More In the Darkness

It’s autumn here in the Northern Hemisphere. The trees are beginning to turn into flaming pyres, whose ruddy leaves flutter all over the ground. One such tree who litters our nice clean lawns with great crunchy leaves and little funny balls is the Sycamore tree. If you’re familiar with the Bible, you may have heard … More The Short Man’s Tree

Are you hungry, lonely, helpless? Do you feel overwhelmed, weary, unable to carry your burden. Do you crave to fling yourself into someone’s arms and be comforted? “Come to me all that are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble … More Heart Aflame

Do you ever have little gut voices whispering to you? Mine has kept whispering to me: “You know the source of your best work happens when you’re outside, on the scene.” Or “You need to get outside to do your painting, not stuck inside behind a desk all morning!” And the rest of all of … More Little Gut Voices

Odd combo, wouldn’t you think? There is a connection, I assure you! The last couple of months have been a muddle for me. Well, a muddle AND a relief. I stepped down from teaching for a noble institution after ten years in order to get some headspace to explore the art world more. I’ve had … More Chickens, The Critic, and a Train

When darkness is all around, sometimes, that’s when another person can be the greatest light. Not long after the fountain pen discovery (in the previous post), after the IAMPETH conferences, I was feeling very low. I felt like I was leaving an artist incubator was going back to a no man’s land or a limbo … More Words in Darkness

When a pen cleaner takes your Lamy pens and cleans them, sometimes you discover some neat things about your own life. Greg Minushkin took my Lamy pens and cleaned them, he let me see the build-up I had caused by unknowingly abusing them through neglect over the years. With “Slow down, Evelyn Wood!” still echoing … More Fountain Pen Men