The Magic Of "Can I Just?"

Hey friends!

I discovered something wild about making art this month: the biggest obstacle isn't talent or time or even motivation. It's STARTING!

You know that feeling when you're curled up on the couch, scrolling through Instagram, double-tapping other people's art? When you really want to create something but somehow can't get yourself to move? I definitely know that feeling. I do it most evenings when I’m tired.

I found a ridiculously simple question that gets me out of a scrolling spiral and changed my art practice. Three words: "Can I just?"

Not "I should draw for an hour" or "I need to finish this sketchbook by March." Just... "Can I just draw one line?" “Can I just choose one art tool to play with?” "Can I just pick three cool objects from my kitchen to sketch?" "Can I just clean off this corner of my desk?"

It's like a magic spell that gets you moving. And once you're moving? That's when the good stuff happens!

Imagine your art practice like mountain climbing. Getting from the couch to the top of a mountain seems impossible and the gravitational pull of the couch is too strong. But every journey begins with a single step, and sometimes the first step is the hardest to take. So start small. Can you just stand up? Then once you are up and moving, walking becomes easier and climbing becomes possible. You can build commitment and ambition through small steps and practice. So I ask myself, “Can I just…?” and the answer is usually “Yes, I can!”

Yesterday, I decided to just draw one leaf, but I ended up filling two pages with botanical sketches. That’s what happens!

I filled those pages, not because I had to or because I should, but because that first tiny action got me going and then I wanted to!

The secret isn't in making big promises to yourself. It's in asking tiny questions that feel almost too easy to say no to. So today, instead of thinking about all the art you should be making, try asking yourself: "Can I just...?" And then watch what happens next.

Keep creating - one tiny step at a time! Love, Jess

P.S. My "Can I just?" for today was sending this email. What's yours?

Making Art When Sleepy

Hey friends!

Are you tired right now? I’m tired. I’m one cup of coffee into my morning and just yawned while writing this email. But don’t feel sorry for me. I did it to myself. I stayed up too late reading a book about the history of maps (seriously - it’s a page turner). I love maps and books about maps.

And now I am called upon to be creative while tired.

This is a common obstacle for artists that can stop us from making anything at all. But there’s something you should know: tired art is better than no art. Successful creators are quietly building their daily practice by showing up when showing up feels impossible or when they would rather climb back into bed and read more about maps.

Here’s my secret: It's not about inspiration. It's about infrastructure.

I keep a cozy creative space ready to go. I set it up like a professional sets up an office and channel that same discipline into my art practice. Clean brush. Fresh water. Pre-mixed palette. If you're a morning person like me, set out everything the night before. Night owl? Same deal – prep in the morning for your evening session. The resistance melts when the tools are ready. And you don’t have to think about

Here's another secret: Your inner critic is sleepy too.

That's your advantage. When you're too tired to overthink, you might just create your most honest work. And sometimes those sleepy sketches turn out to be the most authentic and loose – there's something magical about creating when your inner critic is too tired to pipe up!

And remember, tired art is still art.

Those wonky lines and imperfect colors? They're part of your story. Perfect isn't the goal. Making is. So the best time to make art isn't when you're ready. It's right now. Rise and shine friend!

Love, Jess

The Hidden Wonders Of Really Looking

Hello friends,

Art isn't just about creating masterpieces—it's about seeing the world differently. When we slow down and look closely, even the most mundane objects become portals of wonder and gratitude.

Take my socks, for instance.

Most days, they're just soft, functional foot coverings. But when I drop them inside out on the floor, suddenly I annoy my husband and see an intricate world of stitching I never noticed before. Tiny threads weave complex patterns, telling a story of craftsmanship that I'd completely overlooked.

The same magic happens with frost patterns on windows.

At 4:30 in the morning, I wake and my kitchen window is a canvas of delicate crystals. These teeny ice sculptures appear overnight, intricate as any hand-drawn mandala, with geometric precision that would make a mathematician weep.

During the holidays, this awareness becomes even more important.

A string of tangled Christmas lights isn't a frustration, but a web of memories— each twist and knot a testament to years of celebration. The imperfect homemade ornament becomes a treasure, its crooked lines and uneven paint speaking volumes about love and connection.

Art teaches us to pause and appreciate the beauty around us.

It whispers, "Look closer." A crumpled piece of paper isn't trash—it's a landscape of shadows and texture. A chipped mug tells a story of use and love. A worn wooden floor reveals years of footsteps and memories.

This practice of deep seeing transforms ordinary moments into extraordinary experiences. The artist's gift isn't just creating beauty, but teaching us how to recognize it everywhere. We are excited to see what you notice in 2025!

Love, Jess and the Slow River Staff

The Joys Of Iteration

Hello friends,

Let's talk about ITERATION this month - that beautiful, messy process of trying, failing, tweaking, and totally transforming. It's not just a technical term; it's basically the secret sauce of life, creativity, and personal growth.

Artists don't create masterpieces; they iterate them.

How many bulls do you think Picasso drew in his lifetime? Just take a guess. I am guessing 54,672. I’m guessing a lot because I know it’s was not magic that made Picasso great. It was iteration! He practiced and he improved.

The same is true for us! That stunning painting in our gallery? It probably started as a hot mess. Those first sketches were awkward, clunky, maybe even cringe-worthy. But each stroke, each revision, each moment of stepping back and looking with fresh eyes - that's where transformation and improvement occurs. 

Our lives improve through iteration too!

We're all just works in progress, constantly drafting and redrafting our personal narratives. Our careers aren't linear paths; mine certainly bounced all over the place (I was a fisherman, a bookkeeper, a chambermaid, a florist and so much more). Our relationships aren't perfect from the start; they're collaborative work that we continuously refine. Our dreams aren't static goals either; they're living, breathing entities that shift and grow along with us.

Iteration teaches us a profound life lesson: growing is fun!

Trying and changing direction and trying again fuels our curiosity and energy. We are alive and growing! Mistakes aren't failures; they're just rough drafts waiting to be enhanced. Every "oops" moment is actually an "aha!" moment in disguise.

So embrace the mess this month. Love the process. Dance with your drafts. Laugh at your first attempts. Celebrate every imperfect, glorious iteration. Because becoming is an art form, and you, my friend, are the masterpiece.

Love, Jess and the Slow River Staff

The Perils Of Perfection

Hello friends -

As a recovering perfectionist, I've been noticing how perfectionism and ideas about talent are woven together in a tight knot - like the stomach-churning anxiety I feel when working on a deadline and trying to make something "great."

Artists often dream of standing atop the creative mountain, banner raised high, having achieved something truly remarkable. But this romantic metaphor reveals a fundamental flaw: it is exhausting, and there's nowhere to go from the peak but down.

The rare moments of "success" become addictive peaks of confirmation that we have talent, while the inevitable valleys feel like total failure and verification that we totally suck.

Art doesn't emerge from those dramatic summits.

Instead, creativity grows in the quiet valley of consistent practice—the gentle, daily pressure of showing up to do the work, regardless of inspiration or mood. Maybe we should approach art more like breakfast—something we do daily, without expecting every bowl of cereal to be a masterpiece.

The real heroes aren't artists who occasionally birth perfection through tears and torment. They're the ones who show up daily, making perfectly imperfect art in their comfy pants. Creativity isn't a dramatic mountain climb—it's a casual neighborhood stroll where you might find treasure, or sometimes just step in dog poop. Both make good stories.

Let's swap perfectionist pressure for gentle persistence. Show up, make stuff, enjoy the process. Your art (and your therapist) will thank you.

Love, Jess and the Slow River Staff

Small Slivers Of Art

Hello friends - We have a guest writer this week! Jonti posted this beautiful reflection on her art routine and I wanted to share it with you. We all deserve permission to find our own way - especially in art!

From Jonti on instagram:

Do you have a morning art routine? Or even an art routine? I don't!

But I'm always looking for slivers of time to make things, not because I only have slivers of time, but because I like to work in small bits. I like to make something, then go for a walk. Or make something, and then head to work. Maybe make something, then make dinner. Or make something while I make dinner :)

I think the small slivers and quick bits are a routine, which makes me rethink all of the build-a-routine/art schedule advice that we sometimes hear. Maybe don't worry about doing something at the same time everyday, or in the same way, or even every single day. Maybe just do it your way!

So what small sliver will you carve out for art today?

Love, Jonti (and Jess)

One Last Beach Day!

Hey friends,

How many times have you been to the beach this summer? I’m embarrassed to say I’ve been exactly once. ONCE and I was in jeans. Ugh.

I think I’m having end of summer regrets. I feel this way at the end of summer because I start tallying up everything I did and comparing my list with the adventures I see on Instagram. Whew. I know that’s dumb, but I still do it.

I was whining to Jonti that I’ve only been to the beach once and she said something profound: “Don’t regret it, just do it!”

So, I’m taking her advice and planning some fun stuff to do over the next few weeks. I want to slow down time and savor every last sunny day. If you are feeling the same way, try these great ideas:

Do Some Beach Sketching: Spend some time painting or sketching the ocean views, colorful beach umbrellas, and capturing lively summer activities like volleyball. Use vibrant colors to reflect the warmth of summer or maybe cooler colors to represent the changing season.

Practice Painting Water: Experiment with new painting techniques to capture the fluidity and lightness of the ocean. Try wet-on-wet techniques to create soft, blended washes that mimic the gentle waves and sandy shores. Maybe even take some inspiration from these amazing paintings from Cara’s Rocky Shores class!

Do Some Outdoor Exploration and Nature Walking: Take your art supplies outside or set up your easel in a local park. Go on a nature walk and look for signs of fall. Sketch things up in the sky and down at your feet. Study how the late summer light affects colors and shadows. Draw an ice cream cone as you eat it - including melted drops and sticky hands!

As summer comes to a close, get outside and fully embrace and document the end of summer. Making art can be a wonderful way to capture the final moments of the season and embrace the inevitable transition to autumn. You may even create memories that stick with you forever!

We cannot wait to see what you make, so tag us on social media with #slowriverstudio or stop by our Open House on Friday, August 30th to show us your summer work! We would be so happy to see you!

Love, Jess and the Slow River Crew

Laughter And Art Go Together

Hello friends -
Do you laugh when you’re making art? I do! Every time I pull out my pens or paints, I hope for laughter.

I’m not laughing at my artwork, mind you. I'm not bullying my creations. It's more like that excited, nervous laugh when you're having an adventure. You are standing on the edge of a cliff. You know you're safe, but still... the edge is right there… and you start laughing.

I think artists should create from a place of laughter – not torture.

Are you grinding out your art like you’re working in a coal mine? That's toil. That's an old trope that needs to be broken up and sprinkled onto the ocean floor. Art needs a little bit of uneasiness to make us buzz with nervous excitement. Like the end of one glass of wine, but not quite two. That electric hum can fuel the next mark, making each artistic decision feel like an adventure!

We try hard to make students laugh at Slow River Studio.

We laugh in class a lot, but did you know its intentional? We try to design class challenges for you that are barely out of your reach, so you will laugh. But this is a balancing act for the teachers. A bit of discomfort can help people to create, but when it’s too big a leap, people get scared and angry. So we work hard to generate a little unease, some trepidation, a dash of doubt. That's when we can all laugh together!

I make art because I love adventures and I want to laugh. That's what I think art is for. It should frighten us just a little and make us feel like we have shimmied out onto the skinny branches where we might fall, but haven't – yet. That’s exciting. That’s fun. That’s what I hope for you today: a mix of art and adventure and laughter!

Love, Jess

Which Comes First: Art or Chores?

Hello friends,

My shed is full of nuts. Literally. I was out there yesterday looking for a pitchfork, when I moved a dusty sled and a pile of walnuts fell on my feet. Clearly the squirrels in my yard are storing up food for the winter. They are definitely not making time for art.

They are sturdy New England squirrels who work first and then play.

And as I stood there in a pile of nuts, something strange happened: I felt guilty. My squirrels reminded me of Aesop’s fable about the The Ants and The Grasshopper. It’s a cautionary tale about prioritizing work over play. The ants are busy stacking seeds all summer while the grasshopper plays music and when winter comes the grasshopper is in deep trouble. 

I felt guilty because I spent the day painting instead of doing chores.

Making time for our creative passions can be challenging, so we have to make a decision: should we handle our chores first and use art as a reward or should we to dive into our creative practice and let it fuel the rest of our day? I’m obviously struggling with this decision. Let’s work it out together!

Do Chores First = Art is a Reward

This is the Yankee strategy my squirrels are embracing and doing chores first has some advantages:

1. Clear Mindset: Getting chores out of the way can help you focus better on your art, free from the nagging worry of unfinished tasks.

2. Motivation Boost: Knowing that a creative session awaits can make those mundane chores feel less daunting. It’s like giving yourself a little treat for getting things done!

Do Art First = Art is Fuel

On the flip side, I want to make art first thing in the morning which can set a positive, energetic tone for the rest of my day:

1. Morning Kickstart: Diving into art first thing can boost your mood and creativity, making you more productive and enthusiastic about your chores.

2. Increased Ingenuity: The creative thinking and inspiration you gain from making art early can help you devise new, ingenious solutions to your other tasks throughout the day, saving you time in the longrun.

Finding Your Sweet Spot

Ultimately, both strategies are legitimate. I think the key is finding what works best for you and making the decision without guilt! Our goal should be to make art a meaningful and enjoyable part of our daily life. Whether we choose to use it as a reward or as a source of energy, the key is to integrate it in a way that feels right.

Happy creating, and here’s to a balanced and art-filled day!

Love, Jess and Slow River Crew

PS. To assuage my guilt, I’m putting up those picnic table squirrel feeders around my yard. Seriously. It will look like my squirrels are out there goofing off and drinking teeny tiny margaritas and I will feel better. - J

Flip Through Tony's Sketchbook

Artist and Slow River instructor Tony Lombardi worked in this sketchbook from October 2023-March 2024. It’s so fun to see this snapshot of his life!

Fast Painting and Slow Living

Hello friends, 

Have you ever watched me paint? I’m a really fast painter. I am almost supersonic, especially when I am racing to capture a scene before the sun sets. I start by slowly studying my subject. I carefully mix my paints. I put on headphones to discourage my family from interrupting me and play music that is fast and loud to drown out the ambient noise and set my pace.

And Then I PAINT - with speed, abandon and freedom!

The results are not always great, but I always feel better afterwards. I quell my fears and calm myself down by speed painting. I paint so fast that I don’t have time to think or worry or compare. I just paint. It’s like the Kentucky Derby in my head. The rail goes up and I start moving so fast - - creating long, fluid, relaxed marks - - making quick guesses and first impressions. I am not worrying. I am just moving towards the finish with a strong, confident stride.

Movement Actually Slows Me Down.

You see, I find delight in not thinking or weighing options or troubleshooting solutions. If you know Tony, you probably know that he meditates every morning. I admire that about him, but I can’t quiet my mind that way. Instead, I prefer motion to stop my perseverating. I enjoy watching waves crash or a fire crackle and I love to paint fast! That is where I find the most peace.

What Is Your Preferred Speed?

Do you calm down with slow, peaceful activities or do you find relaxation in quick movement? There is no right or wrong answer. I usually paint a still life in an hour. DaVinci took sixteen years to paint the Mona Lisa, so you have options. And there may not be one answer that works for you all the time. But it’s good to have a toolbox filled with ways to quiet your mind and soothe your nervous system when you just need a rest.

This June, You Can Speed Up Or Slow Down at Slow River!

We are hosting nearly TWENTY workshops in June! Each one will teach you new artistic skills in an unbelievably efficient way! You can fill your cup with berries, explore a new sketching spot, relax with neurographic art or learn to paint portraits all in just a few days!

Take a one, two, three or four day workshop - and jump in to learn something new in a few hours or slow down to really immerse yourself for days. Either way, you will be relaxed and prepared when summer classes start up again in early July!

We can’t wait to see you in the studio soon! Love Jess

Creativity In All Its Forms

Hello friends, 

I get asked a strange question all the time. People ask me: “What kind of artist are you?” That question makes me either giggle or grumpy and I’ve been wondering - how should I answer it?

How would you answer it?

I know people just are wondering what medium I specialize in or what I am good at. So usually, I giggle and say, “I am the artsy kind of artist!”

But sometimes the question is twinged with judgement and I get grumpy. The question itself makes me feel claustrophobic. It limits my creativity to just one medium and I have to pick only one kind of art to make.

The creative child in me gives that whole idea a big, huge bronx cheer!

I love to experiment and play and make weird combinations. I create lots of kinds of work and even push the boundaries of “art” Ultimately, the question does not fit me. You see, in the past month I created:

• Four oil paintings of canned corn and flowers

• Three essays - one on my sister and two about creativity

• 22 pen and ink and acrylic drawing/paintings (see below)

• Two weird dinners with wood ear mushrooms and peanut butter

• 43 pages of notes about improving Slow River Studio

• 16 gelli plate prints

• 5 sketchathon submissions and 14 sketchbook pages

Looking at that list, I see hours of experimentation and creativity!

And then I think, hmmm… I would probably get better at oil painting if I was a responsible adult and focused on just oil painting for 30 days. That’s what responsible adults do. Right? They focus. They practice. They select a major. They make a commitments.

But creativity can take many forms!

We can develop our technical skills by painting every day or increase our creativity through daily experimentation. Both are valid ways to be artistic. I just think I am the exploring kind of artist. I like trying new things, testing assumptions, and making weird pasta dishes. I enjoy being creative!

What kind of artist are you right now?

At Slow River, we certainly teach technical skills. If you want to finally master a flat wash, we can help! If you want to become more creative by mixing acrylic paints with collage or ink into your paints, we can help with that too! Creativity takes many forms at Slow River Studio!

Your Hidden Potential

Hello friends, 

If you know me at all, you know that I will debate anyone - at anytime - about the existence of talent. I don’t believe in talent. There. I said it. And I will keep saying it to anyone who listens because:

I’ve been a teacher nearly forty years and I know talent is an illusion.

Early in my career, I learned that I was terrible at predicting how much talent and capacity of my students. I underestimated them and I was shocked over and over when they surpassed my expectations - often by miles.

Look for tenacity, not innate talent

Think about it: How do we quantify talent when it’s hidden under the ground like early spring crocuses? How do we predict or anticipate what will come up? We can’t. We can only judge talent retrospectively - once we have some evidence of success - and by that time opportunity and instruction and encouragement have all taken hold.

In the beginning, we can just see the willingness to keep trying. My students taught me the importance of tenacity and opportunity and encouragement. I learned creative, patient instruction is essential and high expectations are the magic fairy dust we all need. But talent? Not so much.

Believing in talent also stunts our growth.

I see it all the time. People come into our studio scared and wondering if they have enough talent to take a class. And that is the wrong question to ask because the answer always primes us for comparison and scarcity thinking - the ugly twins of artistic defeat.

If we conceive of talent as a quantifiable, finite thing that some people have and others do not, then our first question is usually, “How much talent do I have?” To find out, we start comparing ourself to other artists and inevitably we fall short. We do not have as much talent and feel defeated before we begin.

And when improvement doesn’t come fast and easy, talent becomes our excuse for giving up. I hear people say things like, “Painting would be easier if I had more talent” or “This isn’t any good, I must not have enough talent.” These people give up and stop making art like I did at nineteen. It’s heartbreaking.

The problem is we give too much credit to innate ability and put too little emphasis on tenacity and education. We think talent makes art easy and we don’t give ourselves enough time to learn. We need to change the conversation!

Adam Grant’s new book, Hidden Potential supports this idea!

Grant is an organizational psychologist and the top rated professor at Wharton School of Business. He is a leading expert on how we can find motivation and meaning, rethink assumptions, and live more generous and creative lives.

According to Grant, success is not determined by talent or a magical cocktail of innate abilities. It is determined by our journey along a winding educational path and our willingness to stick to the path even when it’s uncomfortable.

We have posters around the studio that say, “Choose Courage Over Comfort” and that is what Adam Grant is proposing. We all need to become creatures of discomfort because learning stretches us out of our comfort zone and makes us braver, but that is not easy. As Grant explains, some of humanity’s greatest achievements have happened in the second half of people’s lives. The problem is most people give up before they get there. So do not give up!

Next time your art isn’t coming easily or turning out as you hoped, don’t use that as proof positive that you have no talent. Instead, use that as fuel to keep learning and practicing. Be tenacious!

Keep Learning and Practicing and Growing With These Resources:

• Hidden Potential by Adam Grant

• Adam Grant’s Wonderful Podcasts: ReThinking and Work Life

• Article About Late Bloomers by Malcolm Gladwell

• While You’re At It - Stop Being A Jerk To Yourself

Are you still wondering if you have hidden potential? Grant would say “YES!” He would tell you to uncover your hidden potential you need great instruction and the support of a teacher who believes in you. That is what we offer at Slow River Studio and with over forty classes a week, we can help you grow into the artist you dream of being!

Build Your Own Creative Forcefield

Dear friends, 
Let’s all take a minute to bask in the glory of this girl’s glitter and gorgeousness! Let’s admire her bravery and her ability to be bold. Let’s spend some time marching to the beat of her band!

And next - - let’s look at the expression of the guy behind her! Do you recognize that pinched face and judgmental stare? Can you write a thought bubble over his head? We all know what he’s thinking.

Ok. Now imagine creating a transparent bubble of protection around our girl. What thoughts would conjure a force field against his negativity? Let’s all give it a try - fuel her strength with your advice and love!

We did it! Our girl is safe and she marched away with a bounce in her step!

So here’s the big question - Why can we do it for her, but not ourselves? We all face fear and shame, comparison and scarcity. That part is inevitable. It’s how we react to negativity and judgmental stares that makes all the difference, especially if we want to be artists. If we want to keep creating and dancing, we need to craft our own protective force fields!

Here Are Some Force Field Ideas:

• Watch Someone Else Dancing. I recently fell in love with West Coast Swing, especially Sean McKeever and Alyssa Glanville. You should too!

• Get Inspired by David Bowie. This is a page full of his creativity advice!

• Bask In The Joy of Our Sketchathon Success! - Together we raised $1000 for Raw Art Works in Lynn. I can’t wait to do it again!

• Expand Your Sketching Skills With A New Tool in Jonti’s Watercolor Marker Class!

• Make A New Mash Up! Do you enjoy collage? Do you love landscape sketching? Do you want to mix them together and shake? Then try Tony’s Multimedia Landscape Class!

• Try One Of These Life Hacks for Joy!

Positivity For The New Year

Happy New Year friends,

As 2023 comes to a close and 2024 rumbles to life, let’s learn to look back with appreciation and forward with enthusiasm!

It’s easy to look back and see all the bad things that happened. As humans, we suffer from Negativity Bias, which makes our bad memories stand out and positive events generally have less sticking power. This bias helps to keep us safe because we learn to avoid danger, but it can also damages our ability to feel gratitude, optimism and enthusiasm.

Awareness and intention are the solutions to this psychological dilemma.

First, we need to recognize that negative bias happens to all of us. Next we need to intentionally recall and appreciate the good moments in our lives. Art helps with this, especially sketching because I can look back through my sketchbook and remember all the wonderful moments I spent on vacation or sitting in a sunlit spot in the studio, appreciating a flower my son gave me for Mothers Day or watching the water sparkle at Singing Beach.

We can all look back and search for the positive moments. Try it! What will you miss from 2023? When did you laugh loudest? What moments are you grateful for? What people do you want to thank?

To make this easier next year, start collecting positive memories now. It’s simple and really effective!

Just put a pen and a stack of post-its by your bed. As you relax on Sunday evenings, recall a positive moment from the week and write it down! It can be a big or small moment. The note can be long or short. Size doesn’t matter. It just matters that you save the post-its (a mason jar works great). Then next December 31st, open the jar and you will have all the evidence you need to combat negativity bias!

If you need more help creating positive memories, just stop by Slow River Studio. Positivity is our specialty and we would love to share some of our joy with you!

How Do We Define JOY?
I like this definition: Nostalgia for the moment you are currently in!

Pass The Peace and Spread Joy

Happy Holidays, Friends!

I am starting a “Campaign For Peace And Joy” this month and I need your help!

We all know that watching the news is disturbing and the divide between people seems to be growing again. Most adults feel lonely even though we live in crowded spaces surrounded by other lonely adults. I think winter weather exacerbates this problem because people walk faster and their faces are covered by masks or scarves or stressful frowns.

But, I have a two part plan to combat this problem!

#1: I am going to smile and say hello to everyone I pass this month! Seriously. I am doing it. When someone is ten feet away from me I am going to smile. When they get to five feet, I am going to say “Hello!” This is a radical act of connection that is so easy and weirdly challenging at the same time, but it gets easier with practice. Plus the looks of surprise and the warm smiles you get in return will make every shopping trip really entertaining this month!

#2: I am going to leave random notes of love and joy everywhere this month! I got a stack of red post-its last week and every morning I‘ve been writing out a few to stick on cars, telephone poles, my annoying neighbor’s mailbox, shop windows. I am hoping my happy notes will help people feel less scared and alone in the world - or just make people smile, which should help with plan #1. Here are a few samples:

The cold air makes your cheeks all warm and rosy!
I love those boots - stylish and super sexy!
Your eyes are sparkling in the streetlights.
You are so brave for trying today!

You can also write notes to specific people. I gave one to my Dunkin Donuts barrista last week that said, “Your positive attitude warms my cold morning. Thank you!” You can also make sketches on index cards and just put them up all over town. Free sketches are fun and will certainly make people smile - including you!

Whichever idea you like best, do something to spread the joy and pass the peace this month. The world needs us! Just reach outside of your bubble and be brave enough to smile at a stranger. We got this!

Express Your Artsy Side

Happy October, Friends!

Does that girl on the left look a bit familiar? Wow! She was something - all Pat Benatar haircut and snarling 90s attitude, with Marlboro Lights and bright red nails.

It wasn’t Halloween, just a regular Friday night. And I wasn’t going out to a fancy club.  My friend Mia and I were just going to a college dance in the cafeteria and we wanted everyone to know we were artsy!

The reality was very different.

I looked brave and creative on the outside, but on the inside I was afraid and ashamed and not creating anything at all.  I had dropped out of an art program the previous year because I compared myself and my work to everyone else and I was always felt less than - less talented, less imaginative, less good, less, less, less.  My inner critic was so loud that I couldn’t be an artist anymore. I pushed those desires down and decided to become an English teacher instead, which felt safer and much quieter.  

Eventually, I gave up cynical t-shirts and cigarettes and red nails too.

At age 56, I look all suburban on the outside, but I am actually artsy on the inside.  I make something every day.  I experiment without fear. I laugh without regret or worry that I am too much, too loud, too bold.  I even teach art, but I don’t look very artsy. That is changing.

When Mia sent me this picture a few weeks ago, I stared at it for a long time. I remembered the frustrations and deep sadness I felt. I offered that young woman some compassion and I could feel her best parts rise up. I could feel her energy, her bravery, her desires again.  She was still in there waiting to come out.

And the first thing she wanted was red nail polish!

This month, let’s all be a bit more artsy on the inside and the outside. Let’s give ourselves permission to express our desires and create without fear. Maybe put together an outlandish Halloween costume or just wear a t-shirt that announces your love of Billy Idol. You can put purple in your hair or start wearing a beret. Whatever it is, take the chance and make an artistic statement!

Take it from me - it was so much fun driving home from CVS with red nail polish riding shotgun, singing Pat Benatar at the top of my lungs!  

Gratitude Fuels Art and Action

Dear friends, 
Remember my plans for a restful August?
Well, the universe had a very different vacation in mind for me.

As many of you know, my husband Kimo’s family is from the island of Maui and on August 2nd, we left Boston bound for a vacation in Lahaina. We took this great family picture on our first morning and a few days later much of the island we love was destroyed by fire.

We were very lucky. Although we were stuck in the massive traffic jam that contributed to the tragedy, we got out before the fire started. We were on the other side of the island when the hurricane scattered embers across Lahaina. Thousands of people on western Maui were not as lucky. They lost their homes, their jobs, their friends, their lives.

Being involved in a tragedy, even tangentially, impacts people in many ways. It can split us apart or bring us together. It can make life feel chaotic and overwhelming or super simple. My family took on the challenge of living in a truck for three days with a sense of gratitude and adventure. We talked a lot. We wandered. We played weird games in Walmart. We argued. I sketched a lot. Overall, it inspired us to love each other and feel thankful.

As you climb into bed tonight, you can share in some of that gratitude. Create a moment of appreciation for the luxury of the bed, the home, the life you are blessed to have and the people you are lucky enough to love. That gratitude can fuel art and lots of other actions too.

HOW YOU CAN HELP THE PEOPLE OF MAUI
Friends, there is tremendous need on the island. It is impossible to feel the scale of this tragedy through a 15 second TikTok clip or an 8 x 10 newspaper photo. There are two charities I’ve chosen to support. I hope you will join me in these efforts:

• Consider participating in Artists For Lahaina. This online art auction is collecting and selling artwork to support local artists living and working on Maui. I will be bidding and I hope you will too!

• Maui Family YMCA - This was a haven for us during the early days of the fire and it is a place where many people find assistance for challenges and fuel for their aspirations. You can donate directly to the YMCA or to one of the relief agencies listed on their website.

I know our community is filled with wonderful people. Together we can make things a bit better for struggling artists on the other side of the world.

Rest and Refuel

Dear friends, 
I am resting this month. After a busy spring, a hectic summer and a fantastic twelve hour Sketchathon last week, I definitely need some rest!

But every time I commit to resting my mind starts spinning: Rest is sooo boring … I can’t rest while everyone’s still working … I want to finish those sketches I planned and what about all those cool projects … (and two cups of coffee later) … I will rest later. Does that happen to you?

Friends, this is not healthy or sustainable. We really need to up our rest game! Here are the solutions I am going to practice this month. I would love it if you would practice resting with me:

BUILD “QUIET TIME” INTO YOUR DAY
When my boys were toddlers, we switched them from naps to “Quiet Time” or screen-free time for peaceful, sustained, independent play like building legos or drawing or sorting a crate of Pokemon cards.

My adult quiet time is usually sketching or reading. When I sketch, I fall into a flow state, my brain focuses on the object I’m sketching and I rest. After thirty minutes of sketching I definitely feel more relaxed than thirty minutes of instagram scrolling.

I also love reading books with actual paper pages because I’m not tempted to “just check that weather app” or “send my cousin the electronic birthday card I forgot to send last week”. That’s not resting. That’s multitasking and multitasking is exhausting. For tips on starting a quiet time ritual for yourself and your kids, check out this great blog post.

ADD SOME RESTRICTIONS
Our bodies need rest and our minds need rest too! How can we rest our minds? Restriction is a great way! Why? Because we suffer from Decision Fatigue - which builds up every time we have to make a choice and the stakes feel high and we do it all-day-long. Making decisions is depleting.

So I restrict my choices all the time to give my brain a break:

• Tuesday is Taco Night!

• You can only paint with these three colors today

• I have a capsule wardrobe of just 15 pieces of clothing

All of these restrictions (and many others) help me reduce decision fatigue and rest my brain.

PRACTICE LOITERING

Finally, I am learning to loiter this month! The poet Ross Gay introduced me to the wonders of lolligaging and laziness in his wonderful poem “Loitering.” You should Listen and Learn to Loiter from Ross Gay too!

Once you know how to loiter, you will have to practice giving yourself permission to loiter. Actually, I think this is the hard part because we have such shame triggers around laziness in our culture. But if we persevere and practice we can get the hang of lingering and lounging this month. Then we will be all rested and ready to start learning in September!