My last blog shared our family alienation crisis that began last June. These last 8 months have begun an exploration of health challenges and finding new ways to help me express what I'm personally going through. Not all my artworks are about beauty and peace. Though my intent is to find peace amidst my health and emotional challenges. On that blog it was using a photo of my grand daughter and creating a reduction wood carving and letterpress printing class with Linda Taylor. I then shared turning photos of my grandchildren into 3D models that I printed on my 3D printer. Not all prints are successful. In the gallery of images you can see one of the failed prints. I saved it as a model of when life shows up in ways that can't be controlled. In my last class with Linda, the prints has a registration misalignment that one of my friends said was a perfect example of what your family is going through. The 3D print failure I have in the gallery similarly expresses that. I needed help with my health and my helplessness, so I asked my health insurance for support and I began working with a therapist. I haven't felt the need for therapist help for 3+decades, and I really took a turn as 2026 began, as my life boat was filling with water. I wondered with worry if my life would end and the family alienation would continue. As a peace builder, I was needing support and with the helping hand of this therapist, I'm doing much better as I use art, and my life experience to help heal myself, and my family. I have lived by this creed, Art Heals Lives. I drew the image of "Tsunami of Grief and Loss" and that was really helpful. I also felt that this image might resonate with others going through similar emotions, with what is going on here in the US and other parts of the world. My therapist asked me how I see myself in a couple of years. I said that I will be of great support for those that are going through what I am navigating now, and I can be of help and support for them. I was then invited to take a still life painting class with master painter Carlos Grasso. "Moment of Solace" was the result of that class time. With the intense concentration in representing what was the still life model, it helped keep me in the present moment and release my emotions from the past and future. Though this was my first painting experience, I could see the value of this being a mindful practice. Not about making art for sale, but making art for healing. After another therapy session examining and inquiry of my Tsunami drawing, the questions arose about "What's Next". The images that came up were about my lifeboat sinking, and I might not live to see my grandchildren again. I created the image of my "Heartache". This was a photo montage created in Photoshop. This helped me release much of my emotional sorrow, and once it was visually expressed, it no longer weighed heavily on my heart. Next I imagined a still life model with my granddaughter for Carlos' next class. I've included the model, but I didn't take a process photo. Will see how well I can express this model in future classes, or maybe I go back to painting vegetable and fruits. I've left town for a few days to retreat and break free from my dailies. I'm hopeful that I can explore artistically, what's in my heart and what's next for me. I will have a display of these images and models for the Second Saturday mini tour March 14th from 10-5pm, just a month away. Thanks for reading my blog, and I hope to see you next month at my Mini Tour. If you don't get to see a map, usually posted on the OSA Website a few days before the mini tour.

I've painted people going about their daily lives all over the world. I've rarely painted at home in Ojai before. Our beautiful town attracts people from all over so I decided to pass the day watching people enjoying Ojai's Libbey park and arcade. So nearby and such a treasure.

It's almost Valentine's Day, when love is in the air and red heart balloons are filled and ready to float aloft. This year, while my love life is still full and bright and shiny, the state of our country doesn't seem so. This painting of a red heart balloon, stuck mid-air, semi-deflated, speaks quietly to the times. 8" x 11" oil on paper, framed.