I depend upon grace, beauty, and inspired words to keep my emotional life, and therefore my physical and creative life, on an even keel.

I look for, and find reassurance from the world around me, reminding me that I am loved no matter what. Daily, I see hearts formed by tree roots, rocks, and leaves. Hearts peeking out to remind me that I’m mot alone in the massive world.

Still, I often forget — that’s why I need daily reminders!

I'm okay with that because I’ve learned to seek out reminders on my daily walk. In this way, I actively participate in my physical and emotional well-being.

I’m not looking for Big Leaps forward, although that might be a good idea. I look for little things, the things most people don’t notice, to guide my way. That’s where I find inspiration to begin again with each new day.

Yesterday I shipped four paintings off to my photographer/printer (he’s been on Maui during the pandemic). Wow! Four paintings all finished this past week.

Which means, it’s time to begin again, from scratch, on something new.

Tentitive titles: “Miles to Go” and “Exponential Potential” Do you have a preference?

Having more than one painting in progress at once, allows time for me to “get stuck” if I don’t know what to do next or my energy flags. It permits time for me to allow one painting to dry while I work on another. It eliminates delays if I don’t know what to paint, but I have the time, and want to paint!

No matter how many paintings I seem to have in progress at once, they often finish up at the same time — or near-enough the same time that they get shipped off together, leaving me with a blank sheet of paper.

Colors of Love

Then it’s time to look for fresh inspiration to paint my way forward once more.

Ever since painting “Hitch Up to Your Own Special Star” I’ve been collecting “tropes” about stars.

The painting feels like it belongs on the cover of a book of star stories.
Please let me know if you have one to share.

I’ve yet to write a successful star story — other than my own, and that one’s a work in progress. Still, I’m enjoying the collection process and am hopeful something fun will come of it.

Recently, I woke up with this in my head:
”Twinkle, twinkle, little star
How I wonder what you are.
Up above the world so high
Like a diamond in the sky,
Twinkle, twinkle little star
How I wonder what you are.”

With that, I knew it was time to begin a new star painting.

I’ve long said I’m a “hearts and stars kind of gal,” meaning I like all things related to hearts and stars.

These iconic images are my personal symbols.

To begin, I sketched several stars on watercolor paper. Then I added texture and paint and let it dry.

Each painting is an experiment. I never, and I do mean NEVER know how it will turn out.

I have a keen awareness of color, which helps me keep them bright.

I learned how to design a page in my previous work life — another key component.

Color and Design are two essential elements I stress in ALL of the classes I teach.

This painting was created with the intention of turning it into a jigsaw puzzle.

That’s why I kept painting and painting and painting, finding more and more stars (and hearts) as I painted.

One of my very very good friends reminded me of a song this morning that illustrates why this kind of painting feels important to me.

On the surface, it’s a sweet little painting, a painting without much substance — different from some of my other paintings.

Please enjoy this version of “Accentuate the Positive,” music by Harold Arlen, lyrics by Johnny Mercer

Remember:
We’ve got to accentuate the positive
Eliminate the negative
Latch on to the affirmative
And don’t mess with Mr. In-between.

Yes, of course, I get scared. How could I not have moments of fear? The Hilton Hawaiian Village, my marketplace, is a ghost town — which is as it should be. The islands are on Shelter-in-Home orders.

This is out of our hands, out of our control. We like to feel in control and these times are bigger than us.

It’s comforting to know that none of us are alone in this. We’re all experiencing this at the same time. We’re all human, feeling the panoply of emotions, going through quite the equalizing experience.

Introverts use alone time to recharge their energy before going out in public. Extroverts recharge while out in public.

My coach/friend Aletta de Wal calls herself an “extroverted-introvert.” I’ve adopted the moniker as well. We’ve learned to monitor our times in public and balance them with alone time.

I imagine the amount of alone time we’re experiencing now is more difficult for extroverts than for introverts.

From SARK, I learned the Inner Feelings Care System. It’s important to feel your emotions as they move through you. It’s important to let them move.

Emotions = Energy in Motion. If they get stuck or tamped down, they can wreak havoc on your body.

Feel your emotions and then send them thanks. Talk to them.

Your emotions are your personal
“emergency broadcasting station.”

They have messages for you, it’s okay to ask for clarification.

Often the message is to not take your thoughts too seriously, especially if you’re starting to freak out.

Freak-out moments can mean that you’ve moved off the truth of who you really are. You are love incarnate.

We don’t have to believe our panic or fear. Acknowledge it, yes; believe it, no.

Name your emotion. “Oh, this is fear” or “Oh, this is panic.” It is not YOU, it’s an emotion running through you. Rather than push it away, recognize it for what it is. Feel it and it will move on.

This is a Sacred Moment in Time.

Our fears are reminding us that we’re human. Our personal divinity is knocking at the door wanting to be let into our life, waiting to be acknowledged.

“Accidental Angels” and the three heart paintings I’ve painted the past three months came in preparation for this moment of time.

We’ve been preparing for this moment our entire lives. Live well and mind your heart.

Thank you, Spirit. Thank you, Inner Wise Self. Thank you, hands, paints, brushes, paper, & the past almost 20 years of painting!

October is “Adopt-a-Pet” month. It’s the perfect time to order an original watercolor Pet Portrait. Today I’m sharing one of my recent Hawaiian-style Pet Portraits. They're also available in the true colors of your pet.

I live in an apartment that doesn’t allow pets, but Keanu and I both love animals. About two years ago, we heard a tiny mew coming from a drainage ditch behind our house.

It took a few weeks for us to find the kitten living there and calling to his mom

I like to start the portraits by painting the eyes, nose, and mouth.
If I can get that right, the rest is sure to follow suit.

Alas, we found the kitten too late to save him, but we caught and spayed his mom.

“Mommie Cat” remains our feral cat today. I suspect she once belonged to a student in the neighborhood who either couldn’t find her when it was time to move or couldn’t take her along.

Mommie doesn’t want us to touch her, but she expects, and receives, food and water whenever she asks.

“Mommie” has a boyfriend, “Tom," who’s part of the package deal. We haven’t been able to capture him, but I suspect his “tom-catting days” are numbered. He’s a beautiful, but a scrawny specimen of a once handsome cat.

Our pets carry within them seeds of love and sprinkle them freely on our days.

It’s been said that domesticated dogs, unlike wolves from whom they’re descended, remain puppies their whole lives. They never fully mature into full-grown, “I can take care of myself” animals.

The play behavior exhibited by all baby animals turns into much-needed survival skills by wild animals.

Our pets rely on us for their care, allowing them to remain young at heart.

Our pets keep us young at heart with the ever-present love they convey in a myriad of ways.

“Puppy-dog” eyes are eyes filled with love — and sometimes a question. When we respond with approval, a “smile” engulfs the entire countenance of our pet.

The love our pets bestow upon us and stir within us, far outweighs the cost of food, shelter, and medical attention we provide.

If you’re able, go to your nearest pet shelter and take a new pet/friend home with you. Or volunteer your time to walk a dog, or foster some tiny kittens or puppies too young to be adopted.

ONCE you find the “love-of-your-life-pet” remember that when you order one of my pet portraits, whether a realistic one or Hawaiian-style one, $25 goes directly to the Humane Society.