Happy belated New Year, though we’re only 61 days in, so I’m not THAT late ; )

After a rough end to 2018, I am happy to report that 2019 is off to a promising start. I’ve got some artwork in exhibits in Chicago (coming soon) and Evanston (an extended stay), a lot of work in progress, and as of later this month I will be starting a new job!

I will be working full-time as an art instructor for the residents of Misericordia! I was not looking but when I saw the posting for this job online I knew I had to pursue it wholeheartedly. My art and work life has always been cyclical, and for most of my professional life I have had a separate full-time or part-time job while maintaining my art practice in my studio. The last few years I worked in my studio full-time and taught at the Oak Park Art League, but after last year I felt big changes on the horizon, and here they are! I am so excited and honored to teach at Misericordia and eagerly look forward to getting started later this month!

Meanwhile, I’ve got a couple of artwork happenings around the area in March. First, my show, Lore, at Gather, has been extended through the end of the month. If you find yourself downtown Evanston stop by 602 Davis Street to check it out. It is mostly the same work I had in my show at the Oak Park Public Library last April, but with a couple of pieces I finished later in the year.

The second happening is for the launch party for an exciting new business a couple of my friends have started, called Curated Home + Office, in which they match businesses and individuals with regional and local art. Their launch party will be next Sunday at Relic Furniture Gallery in Chicago, from 3-5:00 pm. I will have a piece at the launch exhibition, among pieces by a dozen or so other artists.

I’ve also got quite a bit of work in progress; a huge painting (48″ x 36″) I started back in 2017 (here it is in every iteration since day one), and then four little paintings (8″ x 8″) in the begining of a series of ancestry-inspired work. I started them last January when I was visiting my parents in PA for a couple of weeks.

 I’m calling this one, “Forget Me Not.” It is acrylic, collage, image transfer, and oil pastel on canvas. 

Here are bits and pieces of the small family history pieces so far:

Lastly, though I’ve stopped teaching regular classes at the Oak Park Art League, I hope to offer workshops and private classes in mixed media and watercolor once I get settled in at Misericordia. THANK YOU to people who have taken my classes at OPAL over the years, and to those who supported the program there. I miss you already and hope to see you soon. XO

Watercolors: Part 1

Watercolors: Part 1

When I started planning for this residency back in August of last year I had some visions of what sort of materials I would use, such as certain colors of acrylic paint (Sepia! Naples Yellow! Turquoise!), my collection of wax crayons and oil pastels, a roll of paper,...

Teas and Home-Bakes!

Teas and Home-Bakes!

I mentioned the other day that I might write a post exclusively about the pastries and treats I came across in Shetland, and here we are! I can't help it, they are that good. And that abundant. But first I have to share photos from the going-away tea my friends here...

Unst

Unst

Back in Oak Park now for almost a week. It still feels unreal to be home and I cannot get over how quickly everything seemed to happen over the last six, now almost seven, weeks! It was a whirlwind, honestly. People asked me many times if I ever felt isolated or bored...

Opening Day at the Lighthouse

Opening Day at the Lighthouse

I have a feeling that I will be posting things about this residency for a few months, as it has gone by so quickly and I have been so focused it has been difficult to keep up with things as they have happened. There are a million things I'd like to share - okay, maybe...

How Is It Already Week 3?!

How Is It Already Week 3?!

A month-long residency is a long time, until suddenly it isn't. Next Friday I have an open house and pieces that will be installed in the cafe here at the lighthouse, coinciding with its opening to the public for the 2016 season. Next Friday! In eight days. Of course...

Art Excursions

Art Excursions

One of the great things about being here for six weeks is that I have had several opportunities to get out and about and visit museums, galleries, the textile archive of a museum, in addition to loads of nature. I've been fortunate to not only see new exhibitions but...

Week 1 of Living at the Lighthouse

Week 1 of Living at the Lighthouse

Yesterday I put all of the work I've done in the first week of my residency in the big panoramic room just to see what it all looked like together and to look for commonalities and any sort of themes/colors/threads emerging. Upon looking and then reflecting some, this...

Mirrie Dancers!

Mirrie Dancers!

I was afraid it might be too late in the season to see the Northern Lights (in Shetland referred to as the Mirrie Dancers) but there was a spectacular display last night and some of it was right here in front of me! Judging from photos it was far more dramatic further...

10 Days Later …

10 Days Later …

If you've visited my website before you may notice this is not how it normally looks. If you haven't, you might be wondering where the artwork is hiding or where information might be about classes or where to find my artwork. Well, after weeks of trying to figure out...

An Artist Residency in Shetland

An Artist Residency in Shetland

On Monday I am going to fly to Shetland, where I will be spending the month of March as the artist-in-residence at the Sumburgh Head Lighthouse! I can hardly believe myself that this actually happening, but I get to stay in the Keeper's Flat at the lighthouse — and...