NCMA Tour with Friends

I had a blast leading this engaged and thoughtful group of friends from church. I love sharing my passion for art but I love it when the group I’m with is courageous enough to actively contribute to the conversation about art and how we experience it. It is always so rewarding when someone in the group says, “I’m so glad I came! I’m learning so much but I’ve never experienced art like this before!”

WIP : Halfway There Series

Been painting away. Exploring ideas of halves; half point in life (mid-life), half white, half Asian. Using half my face and half the canvas.

Little Bride

Haven’t been in the studio much since spring but just finished this little 12” x 16” piece for a friend. (Guess I’m not finished with painting flowers like I thought!)

Bride, 2023
Oil on canvas, 12” x 16”

March Challenge :: 30 days off social media

Social media is both a blessing and a curse. I probably don’t need to explain it to anyone out there using it. I am often inspired by other artist and its a wonderful platform to connect with artists around the world and my the community. Its a great place to access info for calls for art and to engage with venues, galleries, and various other spaces that promote the visual arts. BUT . . . . social media can also be a place to incorrectly compare yourself and your art to others. It can be a good thing gone bad as a lot of wasted time gets sucked up and before you know it, you’re watching videos that have nothing to do with art!

I found myself doing those negative things and it was demotivating me from my art practice and discouraging me from focusing on my personal art journey. So, my challenge and experiment is to get off social media and instead be intentional with that time and clearer head space to daily practice my art making —- not daily practice my masterpiece art making, but being committed to doing activity more regularly no matter how mundane.

Things included in my art making practice are: sketching in a sketchbook (how original!) for the sole purpose of improving my seeing/drawing skills, watching instructional videos on YouTube about things I’m not clear on (what are the different techniques for colored pencils? How do you really use Liquin?), applying for art calls (which is basically admin work), and of course actual painting painting!

I found that my goal to do an art practice DAILY became unrealistic because I couldn’t seem to do it on the weekends as ……. well, my weekends are my weekends to do whatever! So I changed my challenge to Mon thru Fri and that has also been a challenge. My ultimate goal is to force a habit into my life that makes my art practice a priority on a regular basis. Easier said then done.

Great Crowd at Rooted Show!

The beginning of 2023 with the first First Friday in Raleigh had great weather and large crowds out and about in the city! Was so fun to be apart of the large turn out to 311 Gallery’s opening reception for Your Place at the Table: Rooted Exhibition!

Liminal no. 5: Moonwalk Finished

I am moved by the innocence this piece communicates --- maybe that of my 17 year-old self or the innocence I could/would grow old gracefully (hence the unraveling thread). Giving tours for NCMA's Mucha show last year also had more influence on me apparently.

Ironically the text is taken from chapter 1 Ecclesiastes which eludes to a life that has lost all innocence and wondering what's the point?

What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun?
A generation goes, and a generation comes,but the earth remains forever.
The sun rises, and the sun goes down, and hastens to the place where it rises . . .

See the Liminal series HERE

D.A.G. 68th Annural Juried Exhibition || Opens Oct 21

The Durham Art Guild’s 68th Annual Juried Exhibition has some amazing work! There is something there for everyone. Enjoyed seeing my piece in the Truist Gallery space and there was a large turnout at the opening night reception. Exhibition runs through December 03, 2022. For more information check out D.A.G.’s website.

This image courtesy of D.A.G.

In the Studio

When your studio flip flops (nga Jumbo në Kosova) matches your artwork 😂

Not loving painting on the floor. Trying to keep my focus and remember I create because it’s how God made me. It’s easy to give up, to listen to a thousand voices on IG or in my head that convince me to stop. But painting is many times a deeply spiritual experience for me. So here I sit, on the floor feeling grateful with every paint stroke and new color mixed.

Painting in its home

Love seeing how the owner of the painting Transition: Divided Heart no. 1 has it paired with another painting in their home!