This week Minnesota has been the bullseye for another April Blizzard. Snow, wind, sleet, thunderstorms and hail have all been predicted for a three day monster storm. We all groan, head to the grocery store, fill the bird feeders and plan how the days inside might be spent.

I do not know where the time goes when we stay in Florida. Next week at this time we will probably be home. I just hope I can keep some of the last 8 weeks of painting practice and mental peacefulness continuing. The past weeks have been full of bliss.

“Art helps us identify with one another and expands our notion of we—from the local to the global.”

                                                                -Olafur Eliasson

We have been in Florida for the past month. Although I am away from my studio, I still have found so many opportunities for continuing to paint,

I usually do not make “cute” images. When everyone in grade school and on up could draw cartoons, silly people with wonky eyes and rubbery limbs, the best I could do was copy the cute image from the ad in a magazine or the inside of matchbook cover that challenged me with the question “Can you Draw?’

Valentines need to be held to be appreciated. An e-valentine just isn’t the same. I love creating valentines and although I need to make many for my family, the production never looses it appeal.

As I was retiring from my position as a program specialist for arts integration, our team was doing professional development on the topic of growth mindset. Classroom practice was focusing on this concept for student learning and assessment of learning. Today, I find myself again appreciating the role of growth mindset as I teach adults and they learn new skills.

I addressed two questions in the blog last week. The first question was, “Why do I draw?” The second question was “Why do I paint?” I ended with, “It is a gift to spend time working through problems and eventually watching as something takes shape.

A new year and new work! It is undiscovered and unknown to me right now. Thinking about this is exciting and engages my imagination. What will I be drawing, painting, collaging this next year? Will I move into a different medium? Discover a new technique in the mediums I am working in now?

Theodor Seuss Geisel was an American children’s author, political cartoonist, and animator, best known for his work writing and illustrating more than 60 books under the pen name Doctor Seuss.

The story behind the writing of this book is that Dr.

December is barely at the half way point and I am looking forward to time for being in a state of boredom. This is an odd thing to write, but boredom would be a wonderful gift! After three weekend art shows and sales and weeks of preparation for each one – 

Christmas and Art

The calendar page has turned to December. The month will be about shopping, baking, decorating, holiday concerts, and social gatherings.

I was curious about how artists have interpreted Christmas through art. So in my usual way of diving down the proverbial rabbit hole I found some wonderful images to make my plunge interesting.