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In my last post, I wrote about jealousy in the creative world and how easy it is to compare ourselves to someone else's success. But it's also important to remember that we rarely know the story behind the accolade, the sale, or the opportunity we wish had been ours. Sometimes, what looks like overnight success has been years in the making. Last week, I attended Noah Kahan's (unfortunately, no relation!) sold-out concert at Nationals Park in Washington, DC. With more than 40,000 fans in attendance, the lines for everything were long—the bathrooms, the concession stands, and especially the official merchandise booths. One item caught [...]

You Never Know Where a Conversation Will Lead Get out into the world and you never know where it will lead. Even on vacation. While visiting the charming coastal town of Dingle in County Kerry, Ireland, my friend and I spent the morning bouncing across the Atlantic on a rib boat tour, spotting seals, seabirds, and some of Ireland's incredible marine life. Afterwards, we settled into a cozy café with a lovely outdoor patio for lunch. As we arrived, I noticed a woman sitting on a bench near the entrance with a sketchbook and watercolor palette. I smiled to myself, thinking how wonderful it [...]

Creating artwork in a series offers numerous advantages for both the artist and the audience.    Not familiar with a series?  It's all about a cohesive unified body of art work that has similarities. The similarities could be the subject matter, size, similar techniques, connected colors, the use of mediums, or all the above. When viewing a series, it will be obvious that the paintings are a related family, according to Arrachme Art.     Creating a series of artworks can indeed be a fulfilling and impactful endeavor for multiple reasons: In-Depth Exploration: Working in a series allows artists to delve deeply into a particular theme, idea, or [...]

It is uncomfortable and awkward when people make assumptions based on your artwork and appearance. I have been asked this question tons of times over the years, especially by people who have seen my work but had not previously met me in person, and I still don't know the best way to answer it.   "Wow, you paint a lot of sweets.  You are not what I expected. How do you stay slender?" Umm, AWKWARD!   Of course, when I am asked this question, I typically get flustered and don't answer the way I would like to, as I believe they are trying to pay me a [...]

My latest collection of Whimsical Macaron Flowers is making it debut in NYC at the Affordable Art Fair, starting tonight!  So, I thought I would share a bit about the series and what prompted me to mash up flowers and macarons on canvas.   I have been toying with the whimsical macaron flower idea for a couple years.  It first appeared in my work during the summer of 2020 (Growing Macarons, 2020, oil on panel, on right).  Perhaps it started as an escapist idea from covid’s lockdown phase, or maybe it was just a lovely notion.   Whatever the deep psychological reasoning, I have not been able [...]

Collecting art is a complicated dance.  It is a dance with your personal esthetic, your home decor, the other people in your house, and your wallet.  For years we had freshly painted walls, art prints from our first apartments, and an expensive growing family, which translated to no original art purchases.  I would walk into others home and always jealously look at their cool artwork and yearned to add unique art to my home; however, it was not the right time for us.Eventually our kids got a bit older and our first original art purchase came from the Strathmore Draw for [...]

It is that in-between time of the summer.  Summer activities are winding down, time moves very slowly, and it seems like all of the DMV heads out of town.   But, if you are in town, it is the perfect time to explore the great DMV outdoors (especially with the respite from the heat) with less of a crowd.  Here are some of my favorite places that not only have I enjoyed, but have inspired me to create ART! Botanical Gardens: The region has some spectacular places to find amazing botanical gardens that only bloom for a short period of time. Perfect fornature lovers, photographers, plein [...]

To follow up on my last blog post:  While most of us will get to Paris anytime soon, I wanted to share a few places closer to home  (DC Metro region) to satisfy your taste buds: Ladurée (Georgetown, Union Station, Bethesda) Tout de Sweet (Bethesda) Boulangerie Christophe (Georgetown, Potomac) [their croissant featured in my posted painting & is available through HorseSpirits Art Gallery, link here] La Bohemia Bakery (Rockville) Fresh Baguette (Bethesda, Georgetown, Alexandria, Rockville, Mclean) Any other recommendations to share?  I always love good "work" field trips to local bakeries!  A new one just opened in Rockville Town Center, Paris Baguette, that I need to check out.  Feel free to message me on [...]

Everyone is itching to get out of town and take the trips that have been postponed throughout the pandemic!  One of the most popular destinations I have heard people visiting is PARIS!  And I do not blame them!  It is one of my favorite cities in the whole world and I am very fortunate to have visited it numerous times.  Each time I visit I find a new place to explore and/or new food to eat.  Over spring break this year my husband and I traveled with our children (ages 14 and 11) to Paris and it was thrilling to share this [...]

Happy Passover!  I wanted to share one of the yummiest and easiest Passover desserts out there!  You do not need to be keeping passover to enjoy.  Food is always inspiring me and I hope to pass that on to you.  Enjoy! Reposted from Epicurious.   Ingredients 4-6 unsalted matzohs 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter or unsalted Passover margarine 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar 3/4 cup coarsely chopped chocolate chips or semi-sweet chocolate Step 1 Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line a large (or two smaller) cookie sheet completely with foil. Cover the bottom of the sheet with baking parchment — on top of the foil. This is very [...]

Over the New Year's holiday I joined a talk/workshop that Elizabeth Gilbert (yes, THE Elizabeth Gilbert of "Eat, Pray, Love" and "Big Magic") gave via The School of Life in Amsterdam.  My mind was blown by the way Elizabeth summed out our society, while simultaneously pointing out its flaws.   She stated that society teaches us, from a very early age, to seek out our gifts (whether it be art, theatre, athletics or academics).  Yet it is not enough to discover our gifts, we must then monetize them.  Once we monetize them, societal drive pushes us to be the BEST in that commercial [...]

Have you heard of the artist Mary Blair?  I had not either, until watching a documentary on Walt Disney.  As it turns out Mary Blair was one of Walt Disney's favorite artists!     Here is a little bit about Mary Blair, according to illustrationhistory.org: Mary Blair learned her craft at The Chouinard Art Institute in Los Angeles in the mid-1930s. She joined The Walt Disney Company in 1940 where she created concept paintings for projects related to Fantasia (1940), Dumbo (1941), and The Lady and the Tramp (1955).   She developed a distinct look to her concept art by using vivid colors from gouache and tempera to create swirling, highly imaginative images that influenced many of Disney's feature films [...]

Yes it is that time of year again when the search for the perfect gift is on!  I have already scrolled through too many lists that include impersonal slippers and vanilla scented candles scented.  Looking for a gift that is unique, thoughtful, and appreciated by your art lover? Check out my list below.   1.  Subscription to "The THERE IS NEVER TOO MUCH ART Society" This daily art newsletter delivered to your inbox from Danielle Krysa, aka The Jealous Curator, is a little blast of joy my morning.  Danielle features living artists from around the globe, from all mediums.  Her quirky and cute sense [...]

The weather is getting cooler and it is time to hunker down with some good reads.  Here are my top 5 suggestions to hone your art knowledge, be mindful of your talents, and grow your practice.   1.  The War of Art by Steven Pressfield:  "Think of The War of Art as tough love...for yourself.  It inspires people to defeat "resistance"; to recognize and knock down dream-blocking barriers and to silence the naysayers within us. Resistance kicks everyone's butt, and the desire to defeat it is equally as universal. The War of Art identifies the enemy that every one of us must face, outlines a battle plan to [...]

Almost every art lover can name one: the exhibition that brought him or her to their knees and tears to their eyes.   They will remember the location, works of art, and circumstances that surrounded their visit. It will have crept into their soul and they would have left slightly transformed. Regardless of the medium, the message, or the venue, the exhibition will stay with them forever. In summer of 2002, after 2 years of practicing soul-sucking transfer pricing, I was luckily laid off from the obliterated Arthur Anderson. From there I embarked on a European journey with a friend and a rental car. [...]

My mother-in-law is a fabulous baker!  Her specialties include all things baked, but pies and crisps are her go-tos.  Her crisps or cobblers with fresh, seasonal fruits are (at least) two servings worthy.     I must admit that "Let's Bake: Peach Crisp" was more of a reaction to this summer's bountiful peach season, than having peach crisp and then wanting to paint it.  Peaches, apricots, nectarines, plums...my mouth is watering now just thinking about them.  My son and I probably consume 95% of the stone fruit that enter the house in the summer, sometimes competing for the last bite.   There is something fun about [...]

Did you know I was an Economics major in college?  I even went on to work at the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve.  I have my photo with Alan Greenspan to prove it.  Yes, it was several lifetimes ago.   There is an economic principle that often comes to: the scarcity principle.  The scarcity principle basically states that the rarer or difficult a product is to obtain, the more valuable it becomes.  Not a lot of widgets in the world?  Then the price for those available diamonds is high.   The scarcity principle explains exactly how I feel about Laduree, the famed Parisian [...]

This June I was able to check something off my bucket list and visited the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health in Lenox, MA.  What does this have to do with my art?  Apparently everything. I spent four blissful days practicing yoga, hiking, apreciating the natural beauty of the Berkshires, reading, and focusing on only myself! My version of perfection. I attended Kripalu's rest and relaxation retreat, where I chose my own adventure based on the classes and experiences they offered on that particular week.  One evening I attended chose to attend a "mindful art class."  I had not idea what I expected, [...]

Some girls idolized Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Toni Morrison, or Marie Curie, but for me it was Georgia O'Keeffe.   I began painting the same year Georgia O'Keeffe died at age 99, in 1986.  My art teacher from elementary school through high school, Marjorie, introduced me to O'Keeffe: her life and her artwork.  Through O'Keeffe I learned about inspiration, color, New Mexico, and that women can be famous and important artists too.   Over the years, I have read numerous books about O'Keeffe's life, studied her paintings, and made a bee-line to her work in every museum I have visited.  Experiencing Georgia O'Keeffe's adopted home, Santa [...]

My kids have always been obsessed with my mom's blueberry muffins.  She bakes them especially for my kids, regular size or mini, and keeps them in the freezer for every visit.  So, when I think about baking recipes my brain always goes to blueberry muffins first!  So naturally I had to take it to the next level and paint the ingredients to make this mouth-watering recipe. Bostonian's, do you remember Jordan Marsh Department Store?  Well, this recipe is based off of their award winning blueberry muffins!  Thanks Nana for letting me share: Nana's Jordan Marsh Blueberry Muffins     INGREDIENTS:1/2 C butter -unsalted 2 tsp. baking [...]

I never met the man, I never was going to meet him, and he clearly had a long life, but today, when I heard of the passing of Wayne Thiebaud, age 101, I became deeply saddened.     Why am I so sad about his death?  He is offering me the same ideas and works of art on the internet or in the museum as he did two days ago, when he was alive.  Why does an artist like Wayne Thiebaud make me think twice when his obituary shows up in the New York Times?   I keep coming back to the same answer: it's [...]

Since my art and food go hand in hand - or eye and fork - I thought I would give a big shout out to all the Thanksgiving Chefs out there!  A  GIGANTIC shout out to my favorite of all of them - my husband Matthew.  Since permanently being handed the Thanksgiving roasting pan by his mom a couple years ago, he has stepped up to the oven and happily spend countless hours preparing Thanksgiving each year.   I wanted to share our family's favorite gourmet Stuffing from Epicurious by Jeanne Thiel Kelly:   Sourdough Stuffing with Sausage, Apples, and Golden Raisins Cranberries For best results, [...]

Welcome to year 5781. Monday evening began the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.   I love that the Jewish new year starts in the fall.  The fall really is a time of new beginnings - kids go back to school and start a new school year, jobs typically pick up steam , cooler weather makes you less sluggish, and we start making plans for the rest of the year.  It is a great time to make plans and start anew.  Say goodbye to past indiscretions, start new hobbies and nurture new relationships.  In the case of the pandemic world [...]

To make marriage work we all compromise right? Well, my agreement with my hubby is to only roast cauliflower when he is out of town on a business trip, as he can’t stand the smell. We all have our quirks, and this was a suitable agreement until you know, covid, and he has not travelled in 1.5 years. Missing regularly munching on my favorite cauliflower recipe from Gwyneth Paltrow: [...]

Why do you paint food?  I get this question all the time.  The simple answer? Food is nourishment. Food literally feeds the body, creates memories, and engages all the senses.  It can be gorgeous to look at, ripe with color and texture.     People's livelihoods, passions, and creativity revolve around food.  From the farmer to the distributor to the chef to the consumer.  Everyone has at least one of those roles.     Yet, in our society there is a battle that wages around food and weight.  Eat healthy, avoid sugar, organic is best, dairy is evil, paleo is life - so many mixed messages, it [...]