Yesterday was hard, I won’t lie.  I’ve been listening a lot, and bearing witness to what my loved ones have been holding.  And today, I intend to do more of the same.

With love, I give you painting 28 of 30:

Watching Christine Blasey-Ford’s testimony, I’m feeling inspired by her composure and bravery. As a fellow Holton-Arms alumnae (and survivor), today’s painting is in our school colors of blue & white.

Inveniam Viam Aut Faciam ~ I will find a way, or make one.

Here is painting 27 of 30:

One of the greatest gifts of the digital age is the removal of barriers between artists/creators and their audience.  No longer is there a singular path to (or definition of) “success”, with gatekeepers at every milestone.  The floodgates are wide open — and while not always to my liking, I think we ultimately benefit from seeing the breadth and depth of work being created around the world every day.

So chart your own course.  And be smart about what/who you give your time, attention and energy to. Focusing on the people right in front of you who are moved by your work will open more doors than banging on that One Door that refuses to let you in.

Go Where the Energy Is.

Here is painting 26 of 30:

Show up.
Pay attention.
Speak your truth.
Let go of the consequences.
And tomorrow, begin again.

That is what this practice of art calls me to do.

Here is painting 25 of 30:

As I get ready to return to the lecture circuit, I have been thinking about how to articulate why making art that is deeply personal feels so politically charged.

Even if the themes in my art aren’t overtly political, daring to believe that my perspective — as a queer, mixed-race, black-skinned daughter of immigrants, as a rape survivor and a middle-aged mother — would matter to anyone but me is a revolutionary act.

Daring to believe that the world through my eyes is relevant and beautiful and worthy of consideration, of being framed and beautifully lit, hung on gallery walls or in people’s homes is an act of defiance, especially at a time when social/cultural/political forces are hell bent on eradicating all that I embody and love. This ‘daring to believe’ is precisely why I create art…

Here is painting 24 of 30:

My heart is full after the COCA Auction yesterday. My artist community grew exponentially, literally overnight. And friendships that started at the Art Marathon deepened last night as we got to appreciate, with fresh eyes, the stunning array of work we collectively produced in 24 hours.

I had the pleasure of meeting collectors who loved my work, and people who have been following my creative journey online. Who knew??! And both my paintings found new homes. Imagining my works living in spaces where they are loved fills me with so much joy!

While I relish the solitude of my studio practice, this event was a welcome reminder of how interdependent our lives are. My ability to thrive is inextricably linked to you living your best and fullest life. My work needs your love to exist. Feeling this truth deeply today…

Here is painting 23 of 30:

I am relishing the rigor of my experiences this month — the Art Market, the 24hr Art Marathon, daily blogging, and the “30 paintings in 30 days” challenge.  Having numerous opportunities to present myself and my work prompted me to find a way to introduce myself that doesn’t conflate ‘who I am’ with ‘what I do’.

I know from experience that it takes a lot of energy to change people’s perceptions of who/what you are once it’s fixed in their mind. So I’m grateful to have finally found a more expansive, inclusive way to describe who I am and why I do what I do:

I am a creative storyteller who will learn whatever medium it takes to tell the story that is emerging.

Here is painting 22 of 30:

Just got home from the 24 hour art marathon — so much fun and incredibly hard.  I definitely make my best art when I can lose myself in the process.  Creativity, for me, comes from being fully present in the moment.  And as an introvert, that’s harder for me to do in the company of others.

But the joy of being immersed in so much creative brilliance was a rush–and I’m grateful to have been invited to participate.  And I would do it again in a heartbeat–especially now that I know what to expect…

At least I made one piece I was happy with…although I really wanted to be making more of these Solo pieces!

Here is painting 21 of 30:

Two-thirds of the way through this challenge, I’m noticing a distinct shift in how I approach my work.

By paying attention to what draws my eye, what feels right, the distance between what I picture in my mind and what I actually create is lessening. I am getting better at being present, listening to myself, and trusting my intuition. As a result, the work I’m producing feels completely aligned with who I am in this moment…

Here is painting 20 of 30:

The COCA 24 hour Art Marathon kicks off tomorrow at 10am–and the prep is getting real! So sadly, I don’t have time to write today.  But I do have time to paint 😉

I love how this piece turned out…especially the remnants of left over paint from earlier pieces (those traces of turquoise and orange).

Here is painting 19 of 30: