BE BRAVE, STAY KIND, MAKE ART…

”Be brave, stay kind, make art…”  Robert Redford (1936 - 2025)

These were the last words Robert Redford said before he passed away on September 16, 2025.  And, these words is how he lived…..

Robert Redford believed that art is a powerful, essential tool for storytelling, social change, and the expression of the human soul.  He believed that art and nature are deeply interconnected, creating a space for artistic creation that is influenced by the environment.  He believed that taking risks is essential to the creative process and that failure is a part of that journey.

He prioritized authentic self-expression and emotional honesty over the mere factual, using the creative process to convey personal, subjective experiences, inner realities, or deeper, often emotional, truths and giving it a voice. 

Robert Redford’s belief in making art was rooted in the idea that art is a "language of the soul" that has the power to lead social and environmental change. He viewed creativity not just as a profession, but as a vital tool for human connection and cultural stewardship. 

To Redford, the "joy" was found in the "making of something". He believed that once a work is finished, it no longer belongs to the artist but to the audience

Robert Redford continues to be an inspiration to me as a man who lived through image but sought meaning in invisibility.

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WHAT GOES INTO THE MAKING OF A PAINTING?

One of the most important elements of my painting practice is what I call “ softening.” It is a state of kind and gentle openness.  It is a space where I simply “be”, pure and simple.

It takes time to “soften.”  Daily chores cannot be nagging at me.  The chaos of the outer world must fade knowing it is time to let go.  Then my mind starts to relax so that something larger, something deeper more true can come forth. 

This openness is crucial for me in my work for it is where I connect with the paints, the process, and curiosity.  The outer world drops away and I am only in this moment, the moment of seeing, the moment of doing, the moment of wholeness and oneness. 

I cannot rush the process of creativity but I can relish it and commune with it.  I can respect the materials and let them speak.  I can honor the undeniable strength and the vulnerability of my life as I soften. 

As I soften, there is a surrender to something more powerful, to something larger more encompassing.  When this comes into my work, the art feels more alive and richer and with a voice of its own. 

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WINTER IS FOR WONDERING

Forrest, 40 × 36 × 1.5 inches, acrylic on canvas, 2025

Winter is the perfect season for being an artist. It is a great time to slow down, be still, go inward, shelter in place…..all the qualities that are essential for creating. Naturally we think of summarizing our year and thinking of what we want our lives to bring us next year, and, so it is also the perfect time to wonder, to be curious and to ask questions. and tend to the unseen.

There is something about endings that invites this curiosity. Winter seems like an ending or a pause and I liken it to the finishing of a painting or a body of work. It is an affirmation of a cycle, a wholeness, and a chance to review the process and the results. A chance to go deeper into the heart of what really matters.

I take time to enjoy who I am and what I am doing. I feel how special it is to nourish my creativity and to share it with others. I fall in love all over again with color, shape, my studio, and everyone who shares this world with me. And, I rejoice in my happiness.

So when I wonder deeper into my what and why, I feel the very essence of my being—— joy, love, creativity and all flows naturally.

With a heart full of love, I wish us all Peace on Earth and Love and Kindness to all Beings.

WARMTH ON A GRAY DAY IN FALL

A cool fall day with the warmth of the yellow leaves .

One of the greatest joys this time of year is the changing color of leaves. Routinely I walk in nature in one of the many beautiful parks or trails in Sonoma County. Little by little, life changes and I relish the smells, sounds and sights.

The earth gets full of cool moisture and smells rich with nutrients. The birds’ tunes seem less frequent and more urgent while the animals look in earnest for places to nest. The winds picks up and have a brittle sound. Trees and plants become more inward; leaves begin to let go and their colors change.

As days and nights get cooler, cloudy, and rainy, the leaves turn bright and colorful before they fall. One color in particular lingers and is the most prevalent. That is Yellow.

Yellow is special because it is bright and reflects a palpable warmth. It lingers and holds on the longest. The yellow is a bridge of fall joy to the short dark days of winter when we turn on lights and stoke the fire.

This all happens in small increments each day as Fall turns into Winter. I hope that you may enjoy the warmth of yellow this Fall and the daily changes that are always moving us forward.

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