Honoured to be included in the latest issue of The Phoenix Soul online magazine titled 'Brave':

Phoenix, it's time to unleash your lion-heart.

What does bravery look like in your life? What's your personal definition, the one fluttering beneath your breastbone like a wild bird? What answer rises in your gut?

This is your truth. Your brave.

I know what you might be thinking: "But I'm not brave." In fact, many of our contributors in this issue said the same thing (even me!). But oh, friend, that's starting from the wrong perspective. We need to look inward at our own truth, rather than outward at another's expression. We are brave, each in our own way.

Kindred, it's time to honor your own everyday bravery. Simply to live with your heart and soul wide open, to embrace this aching healing grieving celebrating world -- and to love it all -- this, phoenix, is so brave.

Sometimes a painting just flows...and this was one of those times.  I had spent a few days preparing the ground but the entire time I had this lovely image in my head of what was going to happen, and it really did.  It's a rare gift.

This is the first elephant I have ever painted but I'm so glad it was requested as it was such a pleasure.  An elephant is full of good meaning but it all basically comes back to being a blessing.  Traditionally they are the most close-knit and loyal of any animals, living together for up to 80 years.  They love humour, play, community, companionship and are full of compassion for not only each other, but of other animals and people, too.  They are a symbol of blessing, of opportunities, of support, and of sharing with others.

When I was a very young woman I used to rent videos from the most fabulous place in Osborne Village when I lived in Winnipeg,  I stumbled upon a French movie (subtitled) featuring Gerard Depardieu (whom I admired) about Camille Claudel.  She was an amazing sculptor who was disregarded by her mother and envied by her siblings and who worked under Auguste Rodin, with whom she had a tempestuous affair.  After an abortion she terminated her relationship with him.  She was considered a genius, and it has been suggested that Rodin exploited her talents, claiming her work as his own.  Later she also had a relationship with Claude Debussey and after she ended it, in sorrow he wrote "I weep for the disappearance of the Dream of this Dream",  Because of her emotional nature, her family had her institutionalized as a paranoid schizophrenic though many disputed their claims, including the asylum where she died alone.

Many years ago I created mixed-media pieces that incorporated patterned backgrounds created with recycled material with the images of chairs on reclaimed wood (the series was called 'heART blox').  It was one of many incarnations of chairs that I painted for over 10 years, and one that I enjoyed immensely.  Now that I've been able to incorporate  layers of colour and pattern through the use of spray paint, ink and paint with animals, wildflowers, portraits, and canoes (and most recently a church), I decided to give it a try with the chairs.  For the largest piece i decided to create a wall-paper type backgrounds and with the others, which range in sizes from 6x6 to 10x10 inches, I just threw stencils down as usual and dripped and splattered paint and ink and I'm really pleased with the results. 

I have also finished a batch of graffiti-inspired ornaments in two sizes which I'm really loving.  As I was working on them, I hung several in the evergreen in the front garden to dry after I varnished them and another batch on the sandstone cherry bush in the back and they looked so pretty.  Who needs Christmas in order to decorate?

They have all just been delivered to Evanescence Gallery in High River...and if you venture out to that beautiful hamlet you may be surprised by a viewing of the filming of 'Tin Star' or 'Heartland'.

This article was one of my greatest privileges to write and when I saw this quote that was pulled to share online and in the magazine I was really happy.  One of the greatest things I have learned is that whatever each and every person has to share is of value.  I was extremely and painfully shy when I was growing up and still often feel as though I shouldn't have spoken up or shared something.  But then I began to receive the most wonderful feedback from other people who feel exactly the same way I do and now don't feel so alone.  So, I'm glad I've taken the leap to share publicly how I feel about things, especially about art in my life.  If what I share helps someone else to feel better, more connected, than I feel better, too.  There is nothing more wonderful than connecting with another person.

As an artist, I'm always looking for inspiration...not necessarily to bring to my work, but just to get my brain excited to make new connections.  It always amazes me, that if I look at artwork, objects, nature, interiors or anything not at all linked to the work I'm doing, I become inspired once again.  If you're looking for inspiration, I highly recommend a visit to Seth Apter's blog The Altered Page.  Not only is Seth involved in creating and teaching the most interesting projects and workshops, but he also shares links to other interesting art, artists and practices.  I have been privileged to be included in one of his previous books, The Pulse of Mixed Media, and also on his blog (the latest are here and here).

Mata Hari was a Dutch exotic dancer and courtesan who was convicted of being a spy and executed by a French firing squad during the first world war.  She initially studied to be a teacher but ended up married to an abusive husband, then left to become a circus horse rider and posed as an artist's model.  By the age of 30, she became widely known as a captivating exotic dancer and elevated the dance to a more respectable status through the use of a skin-toned body stocking and jewelled bra.  Unfortunately, because of her status and connections, the French encouraged her to spy on Germany and then later accused her of being a double agent though she always denied it and was later exonerated.  She remained courageous until the end, refusing to be tied and blindfolded but instead, wearing a new suit and gloves, defiantly blew a kiss to the firing squad. 

The other night I was speaking with the Writers' Group at the library and we began to discuss fear and how, as artists in any genre, we often allow it to hold us back.  Fear of criticism, rejection, humiliation, failure...it's terrifying.  And yet, throughout these many years, even after being on the receiving end of all of the above, I have learned that there is that person that really needs to see or hear what you have to share.  That there is someone, at least one person but usually more, that will connect with your experience and how you relay it.  It's unfortunate how often we let fear hold us back.  I have definitely been guilty of it but slowly...ever so slowly, I force myself to do things, like the 52 WEEKS project, to push myself past it.  I have found that there are ways to make it easier, like sharing online instead of in person, but more often I just jump in.  I have read my writing in front of a group of 1,000 women and the more often I teach and talk about what I do, the easier it becomes.  Plus, I find that focusing on what I love, it's much easier to take that leap.