Artist Ruth / Art Is Truth
Nefelibata: Cloudwalker
The word Nefelibata has drawn my attention recently. The word originates in Portugese, derived from 'nephele' (cloud) and 'batha' (a place to walk.) It refers to one who lives in their own imagination or dreams, or one who does not abide by the precepts of society,...
Colors of France – A Dream Come True
How does a painter capture the colors of France? 13 lucky artists will have a chance to find out when they travel with me next June to the Dordogne and Lot Valley and Domaine du Haut Baran. It will be a dream come true- painting the colors of France together! When?...
Top 12 Titles for Creatives
My Top 12 Titles for Creatives - Thought Provoking work on Creativity I find myself sharing many of the gems of wisdom found within these books with students, and thought that having a reading list resource for creatives would be a good addition to my blog. I hope you...
Painting and Golf – 3 Similarities – New Workshop Announcements
In last week's plein air workshop I kept thinking about the similarities between Painting and Golf. I like to make analogies when I teach, to help students keep perspective on the creative process. By comparing painting to other activities like music or golf, the...
12 Binge-Worthy Summer Art Films
It's so easy these days to access top-quality Art Films, and summer is the perfect time to sit back and relax. You'll beat the heat and absorb inspiration and information at the same time! I've started a good list with these titles, but please be sure to add your own...
Pareidolia in Abstract Art
Pareidolia is a psychological phenomenon in which the mind responds to a stimulus, usually an image or a sound, by perceiving a familiar pattern where none exists. Classic examples might be seeing a face in the full moon, or imagining that cloud shapes represent a...
I Became a Maker
I became a maker by following the example of my mother. She is well-known for making beauty out of what is on hand. Her friends marvel over her knitting, sewing, cooking, gardening and decorating. I love the following quote, because it exemplifies what I think most...
Avoiding Fear: Painting with Digital Exploration
Fear can derail our creativity. One way I work at avoiding fear is using digital exploration in my painting process. Using my IPad to try out changes before I make them in paint removes the fear of failure that I see many students encounter. If you're reading this...
Kick These 5 Bad Painting Habits
You may find yourself frustrated if you don’t kick these habits asap! I’ve just spent the last month taking and teaching art classes, and it is surprising how often I see artists hampered by these bad habits.
Art is Gathering – Workshop Announcement
Gathering - “What matters is the gathering, the pockets filled with remnants of the day evaporated.” -Nina Bagley I’ve decided to start a new series of posts called “Art Is.” As a kid I loved the comic strip “Love Is...” It was corny, but so true. So each post in...
Spring Workshops and New Artwork
This past few weeks I've been busy creating new artwork in several workshops. First, I took part in a wonderful workshop held in Santa Barbara with Skip Lawrence. Some of my new artwork Skip Lawrence has been a mentor for many years and has seen me through quite a few...
Celebration of Creativity and Nature Perceived
I have two shows coming up: Celebration of Creativity and Nature Perceived. "No man has the right to dictate what other men should perceive, create or produce, but all should be encouraged to reveal themselves, their perceptions and emotions, and to build confidence...
Wax Workshop Confidential
See why Cold Wax Medium has captured the fancy of many contemporary artists. Join me for a hands on, interactive workshop that meets you where you stand on the journey of discovery in this sensuous medium. Painting in Oil & Cold Wax: March 28, 29 & 30, 2018 -...
Bring Spring Inside with an Abstracted Floral
Yesterday was "Groundhog Day" in the United States, and those who are enduring a long harsh winter may be wanting to get a jump on Spring. There's not a finer way to do that than to experiment with an Abstracted Floral! My painting above "Wild Daffodil" was inspired...
Are You Saying All New Things?
When I teach repeat students, I'm often asked if I'm saying all new things from previous workshops. Often I'm repeating something that I've said earlier, but the student did not internalize the information. It's always surprising how we don't hear advice until we are...
Avoiding Ungapatchka in Your Artwork
ungapatchka: Yiddish word to describe something ridiculously overdecorated, excessively ornamented or kitsch. This summer I learned a new word from one of my students. Ungapatchka caught my ear for two reasons: firstly, it is so much fun to say, and secondly, the word...
Procrastinators Unite and a New Strange Creature
As procrastinators go, I would rate my ability to ‘do it later’ as above average. That doesn’t mean that I don’t aspire to become a better procrastinator. This trait is vital to my success as an artist. You may be wondering: ‘Is she serious?!’ Yes! Let me explain....
Solstice Giveaway
Happy Solstice! Thank you for being a loyal visitor to my site. I've been reviewing how my blog and website have grown since I began in 2007. This month my site had almost 80,000 visitors. That's a far cry from my humble beginning when I had a modest 371 visitors - my...
The Seduction of Praise
Praise and success are a tricky thing for the artist. While everyone wants to be successful and praise is seductive, the nature of art is so subjective that there are many definitions of success
Flower Power
When we were kids in the 70’s, Flower Power was all the rage. Even though we grew up in a farmhouse from the 1800’s, my mom made one of our bedrooms into a brilliant, day-glo, funky room. The painting is a bit subdued compared to the riot of color that our bedroom contained.
