Some of the most challenging and interesting compositions for me to paint are the ones I find in nature. I don’t tend to paint the sweeping landscapes but instead opt ..read more

In 2020, I painted a series of 3 miniatures celebrating one of my favourite things about visiting Italy: the coffee! Yes, I can find awe and wonder in a good ..read more

In one of my last posts, I shared 2 miniature paintings of mosaic floors that had captured my heart in Venice. Well that wasn’t the end of my preoccupation with ..read more

Firstly, if you are reading this, thank you for sticking with me through my extended blog silence! I appreciate that you are still here! My blogging silence has been a ..read more

Above the town of Gaiole in Chianti is a small hilltop hamlet called Vertine. Like most Italian hamlets, the stone dwellings were built around a grand building of some sort – in Vertine’s case, it is Castello Vertine with origins dating back to the early 11th century. Unlike many hamlets though, the imposing castle is completely in tact and very much habitable (and currently for sale if you fancy an Italian castle). The well-appointed stone homes of the 30+ inhabitants wind their way along narrow cobbled streets beneath the castle and along its fortification walls, with the little church of Sa ..read more

Can’t wait to see what you make from this trip! Looking forward to what inspiration you bring back to your art! I wonder what you’ll paint first when you get home. – friends, family, social media folks Enthusiastic comments like these were expressed a lot before and during my trip to Italy last fall and winter. It was really gratifying to learn that so many people were interested in my trip and my art process. I tried not to think too much about “being inspired” as I travelled because that can be a slippery slope into trying to force something that isn’t really there or being too selective ab ..read more

After years of travelling, I’ve learned that not every day abroad resembles the cruise line TV commercial or the travel brochure or someone’s gorgeous Instagram feed. In fact, most days do not. However… Sometimes we have a rare “perfect” day – a day where everything seen and done just seems to fit and flow together creating a wonderful experience and memory. This painting, “A Tuscan Village Beauty”, recalls one of those days. A Tuscan Village Beauty When my husband and I travel, we try not to stuff too many activities into one day’s itinerary because we have learned that we don’t “rush around ..read more

I’m often asked why I frequently paint very small. When I choose a subject that I’d like to paint, I will also choose a size to paint it. While some images I believe will be better captured in a larger size, some subjects intrigue me more in smaller formats. To date, my smallest works are 2.5″ x 2.5″ and what makes me choose this size for a subject? Many times the subject will be a close-up view of something in nature, a snippet from a bigger photo image. In these close-ups new intricate worlds reveal themselves – types of grasses that intertwine in complex patterns, flower stems that somehow ..read more

Brooklyn Blossoms Experiencing awe can come at any time. It’s highly likely when you’re standing in front of some extraordinary scene or place, like the Colosseum, Eiffel Tower or Grand Canyon. Your jaw drops, you are at a loss for words and you feel like you’re having a momentary out-of-body experience. It’s one of those states we hope we’ll frequently be in when we travel. I love experiencing awe when I don’t expect it, too. During the more “ordinary moments” in the day. And without any forewarning or expectations, the impact of everyday awe can be just as rewarding and transporting, and it ..read more

Selective memory is an odd phenomenon. My memory has recently selected to think I had last blogged to you all this past fall. Uh… no. Seems it was almost 7 months ago!! To say other things have been taking my attention away from writing is an understatement! To quickly catch you up: I have painted many works that I haven’t told you about, 11 to be exact, and I have been in a number of shows where some of these pieces happily found new owners. After show season, I headed over to Italy for a few months to explore new regions, partly to figure out if a future relocation might be in the cards – th ..read more