Mid-Winter Studio Update 2026

May the light of the flame at Candlemas imbue you with the love and warmth of St. Brigid. This ancestral agricultural celebration of rebirth at Imbolc can brighten your soul. The first signs of spring are showing. This quiet space gives me time to share what’s been happening since mid-autumn with you.

For the first time I am sharing some thoughts and images that emerged from the December retreat. At this St. Brigit’s time of motherhood this picture of me as a young mom perfectly conveys my word for the year – confidence. All my conditions and desires are present in the mandala that is my daily charging station.  This is the last art of 2025 and the first of 2026. But I’m getting ahead of things.

The solstice is my favorite time of the year! It is ironic that on the shortest day, our home welcomes the greatest amount of light. This means that early winter is enjoyable because of the sun’s warmth and brightness. The paperwhites just start to sprout. Evergreens and eucalyptus make the air fragrant.

We have time during the solstice Christmas season to host friends. Our annual neighborhood party is a highlight; both the preparation and event bring cheer indoors. Followed by the Day Out of Time when Phillip and I dissuaded Greg from gathering mistletoe from the Elm tree. And visit friends who we live a few hours away. Like Jennifer and Jim who regaled us with a huge feast that was complete with her Toasted Snowflakes, cookies that could rule the world.

 

I love the Christmas spirit that celebrates the Light of the World, and the tree embellished with ornaments cherished through generations. I also love the practice of giving and receiving gifts, spirit of Santa.

 

We toured Yuko-en Japanese Garden to get inspiration for some of the projects we were able to start because of mild weather. We are trying to reclaim our prime location south bed from pesky crabgrass. It basically amounts to digging everything out so we can give our herbs, tomatoes and flowers a chance. At the same time, resetting the rock of the terraces. One learns how powerful roots are.

The autumn art events turned out to be well attended and grand fun to converse with art lovers. The best part is the conversation, and I love that people want to acquire my paintings and jewelry. The 17th Annual Autumn Open Studio and The Shaker Village Christmas Market both gave opportunity for this. Click here to see a slide presentation of how the studio looked.

 

 

 

 

Shifting out of show mode back to studio creative mindset requires less push, and more permission to review. Composing the Year ReView is helpful way of remembering the highlights. Much of my daily art practice was on writing in my journal. There were few paintings in it as well as a few watercolors.

 

 

I had waited until December to start with the Painting Birds Workshop with Dina Brodsky. All the assignments were done in a mixed media journal, as I was learning masters’ techniques using watercolor, gouache and inks. It is quite a challenge that I attend to when I have a lot of patience. And when I don’t overuse my right hand making the small strokes of the brush. It’s almost the opposite of free painting with acrylics. Both give me a sense of accomplishment.

 

 

Selling my favorite necklace, Talisman for Happiness, at the beginning of the year was a nice surprise. It made me happy because it involved a surprise for the recipient. I also felt a twinge of loss because it has some of my best beads. As a present to myself I made a new Talisman for Happiness, referring to the first one before I sent the necklace. The idea was to duplicate it with as many of the similar beads I still have. Maybe I’m superstitions, or just Irish, but I wear it because it makes me feel happy to have it on.

 

For your listening enjoyment. This version of “When You Wish Upon a Star” performed by Leon Redbone and written by Ned Washington and Leigh Harline in 1940 always pauses me to listen. Phrases like “when your heart is in your dream, no request is too extreme” and “like a bolt out of the blue, fate steps in and sees you through” perhaps touch you also. These are good reminders as we plan our new year. https://open.spotify.com/track/6kSS4JbSKmqahwuJW7aRiK?si=tiHFIFPwQCm6arTw1xjv5Q