After more than 2 years, I finally finished this painting… and it wasn’t easy. In this week’s Artist Diary, I’m taking you inside my studio as I complete *Vibrant Flight*, a piece from my Needle and Brush series—a collection of mixed media paintings created with both wool and paint. What surprised me most about this process was feeling completely stuck at the end. I usually know exactly what the next step is in a painting, but this time, I didn’t. For weeks, I avoided finishing it… until I finally worked through the resistance. If you’ve ever struggled to finish a creative project, this video is for you. I’m also sharing a little behind-the-scenes of my evolving art practice, what’s next for the Needle and Brush series, and why I’m feeling pulled back to my Backwards Beauty paintings (and possibly a new landscape series). And stay until the end—I’m reviewing two new studio products I recently tried and sharing my honest thoughts.
Birds and Botanicals
Where I’ve Been Lately — A Creative Reset
There’s something strange about posting your life online each week — when you step away, it can feel like you owe an explanation. In this video, I’m sharing where I’ve been lately and why I’ve needed to slow down. While working on Vibrant Flight, an oil painting from my Needle and Brush — Birds and Botanicals: Paintings of Wool and Pigment collection, I talk honestly about energy, health, creative pressure, and what it means to put your body first. Living with adrenal fatigue and a sensitive nervous system means I have to be careful about how much I stretch myself. The colder months, busy seasons, and long days can take more than they give. And sometimes something has to give. For now, that has meant stepping back from weekly uploads and allowing space to rest and rebuild. If you’ve ever felt behind, exhausted, or guilty for slowing down — this is for you. My hope is to continue cultivating serenity through creativity — even if the pace looks different than before. Thank you for being here. I truly appreciate every single one of you who watches, listens, and shows up.
Cozy Snow Day In The Studio | Calming and Inspiring
We had a snow and ice storm here on the East Coast of the USA and I am sharing with you what I got up to in the studio. I made this a silent video with some calming music so you can join me and enjoy the peace or have me in the background as you create. I mixed in some backyard beauty of the snow and ice and the birdies. The birds are so fun to watch. I also start working on a painting that I started a few years ago and is part of a series called Needle and Brush Collection and the collection is of Birds and Botanicals, paintings of wool and pigment. I take the same composition and create it in paint and wool. Today I am working on Vibrant Flight and I am painting it in oils. I hope you tune in and stay a while and leave me a comment. I would love to hear your thoughts.