Inspiration in 2021

Waiting for 2020 to be over, I had great optimism that the world would breath a sigh of relief and get on with a feeling of change and forward thinking. Well, the events of the past week have burst that bubble, for me anyway. It's sometimes tough through the holidays to stay optimistic and positive, especially when my family has experienced deep personal loss. I

felt blocked from any creativity. I know I'm not alone in feeling this way. Many people I have spoken to have felt confusion and have had a lack of ambition or creativity in the last year.

So, how to get over it? I pulled out my painting supplies to start another painting in my current series, Women Who Have Guided Us On Our Path, and started my latest work in a tribute to Marie Madeleine Fourcade, the inspirational resistance leader in France during World War II. The only woman leader of a resistance network that contained over 2000 agents, her devotion and bravery helped the Allies win the war against Nazi Germany. She is certainly someone who needs to be celebrated.

The work has been tough. As with every painting I begin, I have self doubt. Is what I am doing any good? Does it mean anything? I think every artist feels these feelings of negative self criticism. Sometimes it's hard to get beyond that, but the only way I know how is to just continue. I can let everyday events and responsibilities take precedence over painting. Some days it's a delaying tactic from me facing my canvas. But, eventually I break the block and once I start painting I go to that other place in my brain that totally engages me and turns my thinking around. That is the wonder of creativity and I am so grateful that I have it in my life.

Christmas Week

It's taken me several days to get happy with my new website. It's something I've been contemplating for years, but never could make the time to do it. I finally decided I needed to get my art inventory in order for two reasons. First, to help me get a handle on what I've accomplished for the past few years, and also to try to establish a marketing strategy. As most artists, I've avoided the process of marketing my work. Why? I think it stems from a fear that no one will want to buy what I produce. There's always a lack of confidence and worry about criticism, so I've just told myself that it doesn't matter if people appreciate what I do, I am just painting for myself - for the pure joy of creating. Maybe that's true, but I'd also like to see if all my hard work has any meaning.

In thinking about my next painting, I'm continuing on my series of "Women Who Have Guided Us On Our Path." I'm so inspired by the women I want to paint, but then again, will anyone else care? My next work will be of Marie-Madeleine Fourcade, the French resistance network leader, who amazingly controlled several thousand resistance agents in France during World War II. She was the only woman who had this role, was so brave and saved the lives of so many. In thinking about how I want to portray her, I've been looking at old photos of Paris during the German occupation, and that made me admire her even more. It would have been so terrifying to be surrounded by the enemy, to have been tracked and hunted by them, and to have ultimately survived after being captured on several occasions. I hope young women learn about Marie, hopefully my painting will remind us that standing up for and fighting for what you believe in is what separates us from those who try to control us.

Along My Journey Through Art

This year has been a challenge for the entire world. We've had our personal challenges as well, dealing with a profound loss in our family, moving to a new state, caring for older parents, and just dealing with the restrictions on our lives that Covid 19 has brought.

I've been thinking about the bravery of women through the ages, all of the roles that we must assume, and the tremendous strength of character so many women have shown and continue to do so in fighting for equality and dignity. I'm inspired by all the women who have fought in war for freedom, women who have stretched their boundaries by demonstrating tremendous acts of bravery, humility, and unconventionality, women who have raised families alone, and women who show self sacrifice in everyday life. I want to honor them in the only way I know how. By painting them. My latest work is a tribute to all the of the women who have guided us on our journey.