Hello, friend,

There was a gap in my website updates and social presence that lasted from September through to the last week of January. You may or may not have noticed that I was gone for that half a year,, but I feel guilty, and like I should probably explain my absence.

I would like to say it was because I was in a terrific flow state, and my time away has been artistically productive. Unfortunately, that’s not the case!

It hasn't been a disastrous time, either, though.. In short, I simply have been busy in areas of life that are mostly outside of art. For one, at home, we finally started some long-overdue renovations that closed my studio (and upset everything else about our living conditions). Second, I have been mostly single-handedly running the AlightbytheBrook homestead, which, with a bumper harvest of fruits and flowers to manage last fall, a new flock of young chickens to set up, and the daily requirements of horses, occupied much of my time. In each of those areas, there were moments of beauty and abundance, balanced with some rough and dirty times, too!

With the little time I had remaining, I did try to keep up with an art practice, but it was in the form of learning to use digital art-making tools. You may have seen some of the resulting pieces here (in the "Latest Work" section) as well as in a handful of recent Instagram posts.  I know, I know, I need to get back to posting more there again!

I tell you all this not to make excuses, but to provide honest and full disclosure, knowing that your life, most likely, has also been much different in the past year than what you expected, or what you are used to. I hope that for you, any darkness was offset by moments of light and levity. (For me, I discovered the playful antics of a fluffy chick is reliably cheering!)

Here are some of the scenes from my highlight reel from the past 6 months. These are some of the things I can look at with pride, knowing that a lot of long hours and hard work have been worth it!

Today, the calendar year is still new (hello 2022!), we’ve just begun a new lunar year (hello Tiger!), I am also entering a new birth year (hello 51!). I am optimistic that a new era of cooperation, compassion, and harmony can be found. This seems like the right time to refresh my practice, find my focus, and make artwork that speaks to people (like you!) in a meaningful way. 

Thanks so much for catching up with me. I don't know how to set up comments below, but I would love to hear how you have been. Drop me a line if you're willing!