Off to Telluride

It's been a beautiful week. Experimented with some new wax techniques. Unpacked and repacked for my next trip. Ran around in circles. Acted like I knew what I was doing. Finally did get settled down. 

The usual studio mess after teaching; after a frenzied bout of wax. This morning I got an e-mail from the person who is translating our book into German. I am floored. I have co-written a book that's being published in a foreign language. Is this really my life?.

Meanwhile the sun shines, the flowers bloom, the bees collect pollen and the days pass. I'll be taking a 4 day workshop with Rebecca Crowell this coming week. I know. I'm one lucky person.

This is another one of the wax portraits from last week's class. Somehow I missed posting it then and I really like it. Mary Beth Shaw painted it.

Happy journal pages. Summer is easy.

Starting a brand new journal. Always a momentous occasion in my little world. I start with a ceremony.

More wax play. 

And now I have a story you'll love. I've known Jessica Greene for over 3 years now after meeting her in New Hampshire. She has faithfully signed up for my classes wherever I've taught and we have formed a trusting and close friendship. She has been an eighth grade teacher for the past 5 years while her art dreams have been on the back burner. 

We met up again at the Encaustic Conference in Massachusetts where Jess was lamenting to my room mate Kimberly that she dreamed of going to an artist residency program where she could have some space and time to put together a body of work. An impossible dream; the kind we each have tucked away somewhere. The kind of thing that's too much to even hope for.

So Kimberly asked her how many programs she had applied to so far. Crickets. Jess had applied to none. Kimberly laughed and told her that to be accepted it was necessary to apply. This was in June.

Long story short. Jessica went home and applied to several residencies. She was accepted to one. OMG was she overjoyed!! She can go to Spain in October for one entire month if she can raise a little bit of money. 

Here's where we can become fairy godmothers. Even if you cannot contribute, reading her story here will warm your heart. It is a real blessing to witness a hopeful young artist as they strive toward their dreams. I hope Jess gets to Spain. I know the work that will come out of this will be thoughtful and will contribute to the well being of many people who haven't even met Jess. I love the way that works.

I'm wishing everyone's fondest dream could come true. Especially the ones that help others so that all might participate in the wide circle. See you down the road. xo