Sharing My Art Journey … pt 1

“Naomi” TV series airs on The CW Network

February 2, 2022: Last night, an amazing thing happened, I literally watched fourteen of my paintings float across my television screen in the opening scene of episode 104 of Ava DuVernay’s newest show, Naomi – airing Tuesday nights @ 9pm ET on The CW Network and streaming for free on The CW App. It was surreal.

OMG!

Naomi’s Parents meet in an art gallery
(February 1, 2022)

On the same day that the show aired, my art was included in a curated group show I Like Your Work- Crop of Kismet, Winter Exhibition curated by Will Hutnick, wait… what?

Yes, three of my paintings are part of the month long show at the same time that Naomi airs on TV. Here’s the link: https://bit.ly/3ulNWyT

Crop of Kismet Winter Exhibition
(February 1, 2022)

Meanwhile, way up in Watersmeet, MI my art was showing in The Contemporary at Northern Waters Resort Gallery, tribally owned and operated by the Lax Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, curated Self-Made Genius Art Exhibition.

The Contemporary at Northern Waters
Art Exhibition, Upper Peninsula Michigan
(January 2022)

Meanwhile, a month earlier one of my paintings had won 3rd place in The Cultural Center of Cape Cod’s A Perfect Moment art exhibition.

A Perfect Moment (2021 Art Competition)

I’m excited to share my art journey, some of the bits and pieces look like they’ve come together seamlessly. But always there was my drive and determination, as I plotted and planned next steps. Add to this a fierce shamelessness…

I started painting in 2016. I’ve never taken an art class and have no formal art training. I’ve been called a prolific artist, archiving nearly two-hundred paintings on ArtworksArchive.Com. It’s a tedious task, logging details and information of every painting- when, where, how and what-not, when honestly, all I want to do is paint.

Two years ago, I approached a New York art gallerist, who looked at my paintings, listened to me speak and called me an “Outsider”.

It didn’t occur to me to be offended. It fueled me. I started a blog, this blog and artists like Chris Ludke, a trained artist on WordPress wrote to ask if she could share my art on her blog. And that one kind gesture gave me confidence.

But I’m finding time to write now, because last week, while I was building layers of textured paint on a new painting, my easel collapsed under the weight of the dried paint. So I duct-taped it back together, but realized it wasn’t stable. While I was waiting for my new easel… Naomi aired and well, I’m over the moon with happiness and speechless and humbled, so humbled…

By the look of things, this is going to be a long journey and that’s a good thing. Every couple of days or so, I promise I’ll come back and add to this story, my story about my art. Onward.

The Art of Boardgames

The Queen’s Jack

I don’t know who needs to hear this, but we need to get back to the basics, back to sitting around with our family & friends playing card games & board games, it’s key to understanding compassion & empathy.

It builds social skills, allows us to chit-chat, to strategize and to laugh. And the good thing is, it’s sustainable. Especially during a never-ending pandemic. Particularly this weekend, during a snowstorm in the northeast. Because as hard as it is to imagine, one day you’ll look back and these will have become your “good old days” (because you were younger 😉

So… Imagine sitting in a circle, in the original FaceTime position, it’s your turn. You zoom in, playing boardgames face to face, being human feels good doesn’t it? The ultimate, put down your devices moment.

And no worries, it’s not a physical workout! Having extra covid weight isn’t a detriment as you race around the board. Likewise, dealing out cards doesn’t require athleticism, just a little basic dexterity. And your skills improve with repetition & the element of luck levels the playing field so we all can win. But the very best part is that while we play, we all have a chance to effortlessly become our better selves.

Then there’s the memories we make, little gems that help make Hallmark moments.

For those who like lists:

1. Playing boardgames is networking👏 2. It builds confidence. 3. It strengthens relationships 4. Helps us put our devices down 👍

The Art of playing games makes us feel good when we see it.

#cardplaying #boardgames #sustainable #goodtimes #hallmarkmoments #FeelBetter

#theartofplayinggames #originalfacetoface

#networking #cardplaying #boardgames #sustainable #goodtimes #hallmarkmoments

Grateful For Art

From “Drama Queen” to “Playing Herself Blue”
Grateful

“Just another day, around the way. I’m feeling good today. Hip-hop-hooray!” Thanks #queenlatifah for putting into words, exactly how I feel💕

Taking my daily stroll down the hallways of my home and wishing I could play air guitar like a champion 🎸

“Playing Herself Blue”

#Art #ArtBoston #ContemporaryArt -#ArtistsonInstagram #ArtistsSupportArtists #Technygalleries #airguitar

Finally. My Art.

“Whist Queen Of The Rise-N-Fly”
(30 x40)

“Whist Queen!”

A story of “Rise-n-Fly”. Finally, finally. Found a moment to finish this one and I’m posting it immediately, before something comes up and I don’t have a second.

The lesson that I’m sharing is #DoEverything. Don’t worry about IG algorithms, they’re not meant for you anyway. Be #Shameless. Plug yourself. Plug your work. Plug into life & see what happens💯

Just a reminder… you are your own Brand. A walking, talking billboard. Be all of that, every single day. Shining!!!

Even from way over here, I see your light. Keep going Sis, we’re watching.

My new mantra… Rise-N-Fly. Et tu?

#art -#bostonartist #whist #cardgames #boston #dopeart #contemporaryart #queen

My Art. Five Days Into 2022

“A Cautionary Tale”
( 18 x 20)

This year is only 5 days old and already the results are in… I’m happy.

So, if you were one of the many people wishing me a Happy New Year, just so you know, yes, your wish was received! Thank you🙏

My painting “A Cautionary Tale” will be included in Hue exhibit at Msanii Hous Fine Art Gallery July – Sept 2022

I’m particularly excited about this showing, because it was curated by Dr. Valerie Gillespie and I received a wonderful letter from the gallerist. Sigh 🙂

This is one of my more serious pieces, but still intentional in dispersing hope, albeit in a small dosage. I wanted to show through knowledge of history, we can see a pattern to address & correct it.

#art #artboston #artistssupportartists #technygalleries #femaleartists #msaniihous #artexhibition2022

Art. Flying Off The Shelf.

“Pigeons On Set”
NFTs. Commissions

As the year comes to an end, a lot of people are assessing where they’ve been and what they’ve achieved. Someone from Targus might ask: “Are you still doing your laptop backpack line? “

And my response would be:
“Do pigeons fly?”

#art #NFTS #CommisionsOpen #technygalleries #thinkoutsidethebag #targus #bostonart #commissions #tech

The Art. Self-Made Genius.

“She’s Arriving. Right On Time”
30” x 40”

Humbled🙏Honored💯 Proud🥰
Words are a cheap replacement for all the emotions I feel upon receiving news that my work has been invited to “Self-Taught Genius” the exhibition at The Contemporary Art Gallery in the Upper Michigan Peninsula, tribally owned and operated by the Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians.

I suspect that my journey as a self-taught artist has varied by degrees of solitude, self-doubt and survival mode to that of a trained artist. But we’re alike in our intentionality in the creative process, that path in life where the work must come out and that the purest moment of accomplishment in art is when the artist stands back and lets the paint dry, to see and to know that the work is done. And it is good.

I’m deeply grateful for my journey and to those who have answered my many questions and offered words of encouragement. You have given me guidance through your kind reassurances. And I’ve felt love! I’ve no doubt why the word ART is inside the word heart ❤️ and yet, I never noticed that, until after I was able to call myself an artist.

In that way, I know that I’ve been blessed and I may never know in what proportions grace, talent and luck have been bestowed on me, but I feel it. I’m spiritual. So smudging and sending positive energy comes easy to me.

Here’s the exciting part, if you’ve been reading my blog and following me, get ready to buckle up! February 2022 is going to be a helluva ride.

Gratitude 🙏
“She’s Arriving. Right On Time”
(30” x 40”)

#art #artnation #contemporaryart #Chippewa #bostonart #bostonartists #tribalgallery #technygalleries #artistssuppportartists #selftaught #selftaughtartists

Art Grown Up

My Three Sons. All Grown Up
11” x14”

After last year, with Covid-19 restrictions, this year’s gathering for the “Holidaze” and realizing I missed my family.

But I didn’t know just how much I missed them, until I saw their smiles 🥰

#LoveIsLove #Holidays #Family #Art #BostonArt #ArtistsSupportArtists #Technygalleries #ContemporaryArt

On The Porch

On the Porch

On The Porch”
(20 x24)

We dreamt our best dreams out on the porch. We imagined our potential moves & talked about how great we would be!

Until the voices of self-doubt called us in and the chuckles of their discontent whistled our playfulness dead. We All-Stars sat on the porch, dreaming ourselves rich.

#art #bostonart #contemporaryart #artistsonInstagram #femaleartist #supportartists #originalart #artcollectors #artgallery #femaleentrepreneur #dopeart #technygalleries #artistssupportartists