I have a new obsession: commonplace books! source I accidentally stumbled upon them while researching Morning Pages. And I'm in love! What are commonplace books? I'm so happy that you asked! source A commonplace book is a personal compilation of knowledge, ideas, quotations, and observations collected by an individual. It is a notebook or journal where one gathers and organizes information from various sources for future reference and reflection. They are more like a database than a diary. In the past many people used commonplace books as a way to order their ideas and make them easy to refer back... Read more →

There's an awkward space between the stairs and the wall in my art studio. After some thought, I decided to turn it into a cozy little nook for my son. I've filled the space with pillows and hanging baskets with toys, books, snacks, and more. It's a place that he can call his own when he comes up to the attic. IMHO, decorating a special kid-dedicated space is about nurturing -- providing him with a sense of ownership, independence, and confidence. He knows that Mommy has rules about her space and art supplies, but this is a little nook where... Read more →

May has been a notable month. Let's talk about it: Notable Family Event We took, not one, but TWO family road trips this month. I'd love to share all 12,000 photos with you, but instead I'll share this sweet snap of me and my three-year-old at his first bar mitzvah: Due to COVID, this little guy has barely been anywhere. We are finally taking him out in the world and I love it! He's super social and loves to dance all night! Who knew?! Notable Personal Event I attended my twenty-fifth college reunion. I was feeling nervous about the whole... Read more →

It's no secret that I loooooove my gull wing drying rack. It's such an efficient way to air-dry my collage papers. It offers great value for the money, folds up flat, and means that I'm not constantly elbow deep in wet papers. I put together a short video all about it. Plus, take a peek through my collage papers and hear my thoughts on them: You'll note that in the video I chat a bit about the kinds of collage papers I like to make. This is something that I'm currently covering extensively in my Collage Faces class. In essentials,... Read more →

Can you believe that it has been three months since we started The Artist's Way journey?! Speaking frankly, I'm delighted to be done with the book. If not for Book Club, I would have chucked the book ages ago. But, I'm glad I kept up. Here are the final three chapters of the book and a wrap-up: And after three months I can say...I don't feel like a better artist. I do feel a bit burned out by the book. Julia Cameron asks for a 1-2 hour commitment every day for twelve weeks. That's a lot. And I didn't fulfill... Read more →

This weekend I spent a wonderful four hours with a lovely group of artists in my Collage Faces class. I would say half the class is attending live and half are watching the replay. That's the wonderful thing about Zoom. It's so flexible! As I'm sure you know, the process of creating a painted paper collage begins with the application of paint onto different types of paper, such as tissue paper, handmade paper, or even recycled materials. Once the painted papers have dried, they are cut into shapes and sizes, often using scissors or craft knives, and then carefully arranged... Read more →

Collagraphy is a printmaking technique that involves creating a collaged plate from various materials and then using it to make prints. Here is the basic how-to: Gather materials: Start by collecting materials for your collagraph plate. You can use a variety of items such as cardboard, textured papers, fabric scraps, string, leaves, or any other materials that have interesting textures or patterns. Choose a base: Select a sturdy base material for your collagraph plate. A thick piece of cardboard or mat board works well. Make sure it is large enough to accommodate the size of print you want to create.... Read more →

Spring is in full bloom, and so are the flowers at the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) here in Boston. The museum's annual Art in Bloom event returned at the end of April, inviting art enthusiasts and nature lovers alike to experience the lovely juxtaposition of art and floral displays. This is always one of my favorite events of the year. This year I went with my Mom and my three-year-old. In case you don't know what Art in Bloom is: It's a weekend festival that transforms the MFA's galleries into a stunning floral wonderland, with floral designers and garden... Read more →

I recently ran through the new exhibit, Hokusai: Inspiration and Influence at the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) here in Boston. I was with my three-year-old and he was mostly interested in the display of LEGOs. If you don't know Hokusai's name, you probably still know his artwork. Few works of art have achieved the same level of recognition and cultural significance as "The Great Wave off Kanagawa." This iconic woodblock print, part of his renowned series "Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji," has captured the hearts and imaginations of viewers for centuries. It's also in the public domain, so you... Read more →

Saturday was World Collage Day and I taught a live online class all about how to create a collage from a printable kit. It was tons of fun. Here are a few of the things that students made during class: And here are a few things that people said about class: "Excellent! Great to find someone who knows what it means to teach art vs showing art. And, thanks for your comment clarifying what it means to work “intuitively” – it’s an easy thing to toss out that doesn’t mean a thing. Intuition isn’t magical – it’s cultivated. Love your... Read more →