It’s kind of like trying to learn a new yoga pose for me. I hear directions and I try to follow them with one part of my body, but other parts of my body start to unexpectedly rebel. … More Learning Spencerian, Continued
. . . Rebooted. The first time I learned Spencerian script, I got caught up in client work. I put my pages away in a folder for later study. It’s almost been a year! Note: I don’t intend this to be an educational post, just a log of my experience with the script. I learned … More Day One of Spencerian Hand
It’s late April and the saguaro cacti are blooming again! Simple white flowers cluster atop the arms of the cactus, resembling crowns. I love the elegance of the lines in the flowers and I wanted to include the blooms in my I Left My Heart in Tucson series. Here’s how I created this set of … More Saguaro Blooms Linoleum Cut
I really couldn’t help thinking, as I sat down before the blank canvas, “Well I may have to start over, but I’ll try it anyway.” I mean, I’ve been making art for about 20 years. And I tell you, I thought, “I wonder if Van Gogh thought that about his work.” If he had that … More “Have I Told You Lately” Wall Hanging
As I worked on Letters this year, this being the 3rd year I’ve done them, I realized that they measure my progress in calligraphy and in business. This year, I advertised them and posted about them a lot and got great feedback from peers and potential clients. This upcoming year, I’m developing an email list, … More Santa Letters 2016 and A Year in Review
When my client, Jennifer, came to me with the idea of this piece for her nephew’s bedroom, I already had these versal calligraphy letters floating around in my head. The alphabet is called Lombardic and lends itself to wonderful illustration and ornamentation. These letters are entirely drawn, line by line. Some letters are based on … More Versal Calligraphy For Nursery
Couple Brad and Ana came to me with dreams, a sweet sketch of an art piece, and an 8″ x 10″ picture frame for their son who is graduating with a Master’s of Art in Administration from Grand Canyon University. They brought a photo of him to me with the inspiration for this project: a suit of … More Medieval Themed Graduation Gift
Pretty sure this was a gift to soothe a broken heart. The quote reads, “Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.” Many times after any kind of stormy night, it can seem astounding that the sun can rise after so dark … More Dr. Seuss Watercolor Excerpt
When I describe what a “Santa Letter” is to people — a return letter from Santa to the beloved child or children in their lives — the trickster inside me is scheming a way to surprise the children with facts Santa knows about them. I imagine the looks of surprise on their faces when they … More Santa Letters 2015