Welcome to my new website and blog! It has been a long process revising and recreating my presence on the World Wide Web. I am excited to share my new works from Windy Porch Studios here in beautiful Asheville, N.C. and my desire is to connect with all of you like-minded, creative souls, and those who love and support the arts and artists.
In these blog posts, I will be discussing a wide range of topics beneficial and relevant to artists, art lovers, and art collectors. I will also be referencing and providing links to sites that I find interesting to my readers, and updating my web site with new art works as they are developed.
I feel this is all a new beginning. Moving from California to North Carolina was a big change but from West Coast to East Coast was another change. Not without its challenges but now we live up on a hill overlooking the Pisgah mountain range, with lots of evergreens, foliage and a view of the sunsets and sunrises. Truly a refreshing source of subject matter for my painting — but bugs are everywhere! And wildlife too but not all of them are bad. Ladybugs and leaves dominate the garden and the porch in autumn. Summer evenings we have fireflies which I love. But not the mosquitoes. Oh well, I realized we live in a temperate rain forest. The birds wake us up in the morning. I must have seen over 20 species of these adorable creatures! The cardinals are my favorite. They perch on the dogwood tree just across our bedroom window. Sunday mornings we watch the deer nibble on some of our plants. Seems like they love to visit on Sunday mornings. And yes there was Teddy Bear one afternoon who toppled down the bird house to enjoy the bird seeds. The pros and cons of living in the midst of Nature. We are thirty minutes away from downtown Asheville so we often visit the galleries to view incredible art. Blue Spiral, Haen, Momentum galleries are some of my favorites and the River Arts District are always a treat. Another favorite past time is dining at Asheville restaurants for the eclectic and farm-to-table good eats. The Asheville chefs have a knack to elevate any recipe. For one, I love the Kimchi fries at the White Labs brewery and restaurant. Yum! It’s a another Asheville fusion of Asian and American cuisine. Oops, this is an art blog but I can’t stop talking about food!
I am looking forward to exploring the terrain of North Carolina with its luscious, enchanting beauty as it continues to inspire me, and open my heart and soul to new visions.
In my website, there is contact info for those who wish to reach out and engage with me and other readers. But most of all, enjoy the journey with me. I am happy to connect, or chat via social media or even a visit to my studio!
Here are a few of my activity highlights:
Color Your Heart Painting Social is a group I started here at my Asheville home studio (Windy Porch Studios) to bring together art enthusiasts, hobbyists, and those who love to dabble with paint and brush while enjoying social interaction and making new connections and friendships. I enjoy sharing my studio and artistic skills with others as part of my intention to connect with the local community! My studio is open most weekdays and weekends for two-hour sessions. Join us at Windy Porch Studios for creative time, snacks and refreshments, and ample gab! I will post regular updates on my new schedules.
I have joined outdoor paint-outs with these fun groups: Asheville Plein Air Artists and Preserving a Picturesque America who meet on Tuesdays, Thursdays or Saturdays at selected scenic locations of Western North Carolina. During wintertime, they have indoor sketching sessions at selected coffee shops/restaurants. I have joined many of their events and met wonderful, talented artists. I enjoy the camaraderie and sometimes an exchange of thoughts on art and life. It is a real treat to paint plein aire amidst Asheville’s gorgeous landscape. All types of artistic media are welcome to join for its weekly painting sessions. It is free!
