Book Review: The Nine

I wouldn’t call myself a history buff, but I have always been interested in looking back to learn about the world through the lens of historical documentation. In school, I really loved history assignments, literature reviews, biopics, geography challenges and researching about any topic that brought me back into a previous time. But for some…

Book Review: Color—A Natural History of the Palette

As I have expanded my artistic career over the past few years, I’ve taken a particular interest in the materials I buy. Wanting to sell quality art made with quality materials, I usually conduct research before restocking paper, paints, canvases, pens and packaging supplies to consider multiple options. I not only want to invest in…

Book Review: So Long as It’s Wild

Ever since the book So Long as It’s Wild: Standing Strong After My Famous Walk Across America (2023)by Barbara Jenkins was announced, I’ve been highly anticipating reading it. A few years ago, I read (and loved) To Shake the Sleeping Self, written by one of her sons, Jedidiah Jenkins. From following both Jedidiah and Barbara…

Buy the Book

A few years ago, I came across Bookshop.org. This online book retailer sources its stock from local bookstores, some of which don’t have the means to maintain their own online storefronts or might not have the ubiquitous reach that mega retailers have. Beyond the benevolent idea that my shopping would benefit small-to-medium sized businesses, I…

Book Review: Wintering

In mid-November, a friend of mine randomly said, “I have a book I think you’d like.” If you’ve ever been the recipient of that kind of statement, you may understand the slight bristling that I initially experienced. How does she know what kind of book I like to read? I thought, while also gamely writing…

An earthly cry

A lament to the flowers that didn’t bloom: I planted some seeds that didn’t germinate.Nothing materialized at all.The soil seemed good enough,the conditions ideal.But, there were no light green tendrilsstretching toward the sun.Just disappointment. Fatigue. Worry. Scorn.A bitter earth. I planted more seeds,initially they were strong.But they also failed miserably.From delicate new budsto a shriveled…

The Artist Restored

A piece of paper, blank page of stark white,holds little value except potential.For adventure seeks; its purpose unknown,a journey awaits. Ink suddenly stains!No longer a void, now littered with joy.Gifts bestowed. Letters, words form sentences,pages yield chapters: action, story, light. Pulled from the mind of an artist restored,not she who creates—the master provides.Merely she copies…

Book Review: The Art Thief

My primary career goal lately has been to maintain my status as a non-starving artist. I keep telling people (why does everyone keep asking what I’m “up to” lately??) that I am a full-time creative with multiple part-time gigs. This is basically what my entire post-graduation career has looked like, I just now know how…

Being alone doesn’t have to be lonely

Recently I found myself pitying a 60-something-year-old man who was eating ice cream by himself. Ohh, that must be hard, I assumed while I indulged in a latte in the coffee shop across the street. It’s sad to not have people around to share simple joys like a weekday afternoon frozen treat, I mused as…