The Pretender, Masquerade Mask Painting in Process

The Pretender is an acrylic painting that honors when hiding who you are feels right. I started by painting the top parts of the mask and thoroughly enjoyed the challenge. Today I realized how far the project has come. Here’s a photo of the painting in the early stages. I find acrylic painting a fun and fascinating …

Does Painting Cause Wordlessness?

I’ve noticed an interesting change in my creative composition. The more I become enamored with acrylic painting, and want to paint, the less words I have to write. It’s the oddest thing because I’ve never been at a loss for words or lacked something to write about. In fact, I’ve processed my thoughts, feelings, and …

Forest Adventure: Mask Portrait in Process

Forest Adventure is my recent portrait painting in process. Lately, I’ve been on a roll with portrait painting, so I decided to use one of my photographs as the inspiration for this new painting. My daughter, Elya, painted this mask and is the model in the photo. One of the many reasons I love this photo so …

Masquerade Masks: Ideas for Decorating

Whether you make your own masquerade mask or buy a blank one online, decorating your mask is a fun creative project packed full of potential for self-expression. Check out this Mixed Media Mask-Making Essentials list on my Amazon Storefront for products I use. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Recently, my daughter, …

New Year’s Resolutions

Rose Parade, New Year's Resolution, 2013 here I go! I love this time of year! The hustle and bustle of Christmas has passed and a fresh start stretches out before me. I sit cuddled up on the coach watching the Rose Parade and thinking about my New Year's Resolutions. This year my list is sliced …

“Lord, help me to endure my blessings.”

A tiny refrigerator magnet reminds me to be thankful when coffers of heart and home bulge with abundance. The words etched into the middle read, “Lord, help me to endure my blessings.” My mother gave me this magnet as a gift during a particularly busy time of my life. Now the words comfort me as …

Refrain Book Tour Musings

I just returned from four days of speaking about creativity and my book, Refrain from the Identical: Insight and Inspiration for Creative Eclectics. These three luncheons, hosted by Women’s Connection (affiliated with Stonecroft Ministries), were located in the Central Coast region of California: San Luis Obispo, Morro Bay, and Paso Robles. I was the feature speaker who …

My New Year’s Writing Resolutions

I’ve decided to add a new section to this website entitled: “For Writers and Other Word Lovers.” My intent is to organize platform components, share helpful resources, and provide a peek into why writing has consumed me so. This first post features my writing resolutions for 2012. I’d love to hear about yours, or any …

The Pearl of Hope

Despair burrows, grain of sand embeds in oyster’s flesh. You cry out to God to take away your despair. Yet the dark chamber clenches its teeth even tighter. You grope for the light so you can climb out of the darkness and yet fail to see that The Light is within. “The light shines in …