Artist Strong

Hi Reader, For a long time, I described my work through skill, process, observation, and learning how to see. But recently I’ve been realizing something deeper has always been there too. When I look back at my Anonymous Woman series, my caregiving and motherhood work, and even some of the newer pieces I’m developing now, I can see that I’ve consistently been interested in context. How changing context changes meaning. How assumptions shape what we see as important, neutral, invisible, safe,...

Hi Reader, I want to talk about a moment that almost every artist hits at some point. You’re working from reference, trying to get it right. And you’re improving. And then this thought creeps in: “Is this actually mine?” I hear this all the time. Recently, a student told me she didn’t really see her painting as original because of the photo she used. And I get it. But that question can quietly stop you if you don’t understand what’s really happening. Think about it: when you are learning, you...

Hi Reader, For the past 5 years or so I’ve told myself I didn’t have enough time for my art. Between motherhood, a changing schedule, and trying to squeeze it in wherever I could, it felt like I wasn’t really making progress. And honestly, after years of rejection, it was easy to believe that story. But recently, I pulled out my work to start applying for opportunities here in Calgary… and I had a completely different realization. I’ve actually made a lot more art than I gave myself credit...

Hi Reader, You signed up for an art class. You showed up for the first lessons, maybe even got some feedback, and then life happened. Maybe a kid stayed home sick. Maybe a parent needed you. Maybe work got in the way. And then… you missed another session. Suddenly, showing up feels too hard. Posting your work feels impossible. Your inner critic starts whispering things like: “This is why we don’t invest in classes.” “This is why we don’t make time for art.” “You just wasted your time.” Sound...

Hi Reader, Have you ever felt like you’ve lost momentum in your art? Like you used to feel connected to it…but now everything feels harder than it should? I want to offer you a different way of looking at that. Your art practice has seasons. There are times when you’re in flow, making consistently, ideas clicking into place. And there are times when things slow… down…life gets full, energy shifts, and your art feels… distant. Most artists think something has gone wrong in those moments. But...

Hi Reader, Have you ever told yourself: "I don't have time to make art today." Too many artists believe real progress only happens during long studio sessions. (Hours of uninterrupted time. The perfect setup. The right materials.) But what if that belief is exactly what's holding you back? In my newest video, I talk about why 15 minutes of art a day can transform your skills and why small daily practice often leads to bigger creative breakthroughs than occasional long sessions. Inside the...

Transsphenoidal surgery is when a doctor goes through your nose and cuts open your sinuses to reach parts of the brain. It was 2006 and I was scheduled for this very procedure in two weeks’ time. After months of headaches and doctor’s visits, I had an answer. I was 25 and in my 2nd year of teaching high school art. And I still wondered if I was any good at art. * * * After the surgery I had an elder colleague come up to me in the hallway, dart his head from side to side to see if anyone was...

Hi Reader Have you ever looked at a piece of art and thought: I could do that… but why is this art? That uncomfortable pause that follows?It’s not a lack of talent.It’s not a lack of creativity.And it’s definitely not proof that art is a secret club you weren’t invited into. It’s a lack of visual literacy. I just published a new video where I talk about: What visual literacy actually is Why it builds confidence instead of pretension How it helps self-taught artists stop second-guessing...

Hey Reader, There’s a quiet idea many artists absorb without ever agreeing to it: That art is extra.That it’s decorative.That when the world gets serious, art should politely step aside. History tells us something very different. Again and again, when power feels threatened, artists aren’t ignored. They’re controlled. I just published a new video exploring: Why artists matter in society Why autocratic systems censor art first How art protects perspective and internal freedom And why this...