Come Join me in Wyoming. My signature workshop–photographing horses, Eaton’s Ranch and the lifestyle of the American West is such a special experience. So if you’re wondering where to go next with your images. Or it’s been a long time since you’ve ‘played’ and felt totally free in your art. Maybe you want to Or… Read More »An Interview with Elizabeth Patrenos
Stay Motivated! Lately, I’ve been feeling a little unmotivated. After pouring all my energy into creating my newest course, Embracing Tissue Paper, I’ve hit that familiar post-project slump where I don’t feel like doing anything at all. Motivation has been on my mind, so I asked my creative circle what keeps them inspired. Almost everyone… Read More »How to Stay Motivated as an Artist: Simple Rituals to Spark Creativity
Nothing about this moment feels normal. I’m not even sure what to say in this post. I’m just trusting that the words will come as I type. I’ve been self-quarantined for 2-weeks now and I’m feeling defeated, sad, powerless, exhausted, anxious and bored. It’s an incredibly fearful time for many of us and I know… Read More »Creativity as Medicine in Uncertain Times
This is one of my favorite things. Protecting the edges of encaustic artwork can feel nearly impossible—especially if you’ve ever damaged a piece during storage, transport, or shipping. The edges are the most vulnerable part of any encaustic work, and even small bumps can cause chipping or dents. One of the best studio hacks I’ve… Read More »Easy Studio Hack to Protect Encaustic Artwork Edges
Invest + Bet on Yourself. Every artist hits moments of hesitation—those days when we procrastinate, second-guess ourselves, or sit frozen at the computer hitting “refresh” instead of creating.That was me this Monday morning. But the universe has a funny way of nudging us forward. Just as I was struggling to find today’s direction, an email… Read More »Invest in Yourself as an Artist
The Care and Feeding of Your Creative Mind. Every artist walks their own creative path. None of our journeys are better or worse—just uniquely ours. But one thing we all share is the need to stay inspired. Without ongoing inspiration, our creative energy dims, and our work suffers. A big part of nurturing your creative… Read More »Nurturing Your Creative Mind
What’s your upgrade plan? I’ve been thinking a lot about upgrading recently. We had an abundance of water this year in Minneapolis and although we haven’t had an issue in the past, it seems this was to be our summer of getting water in our basement. Every time it rained; we were vacuuming up water.… Read More »Upgrade Plan
Get your work reviewed! I’ve known George Slade for many years. He’s a photography curator, writer, historian, and consultant—but what stands out most is his gift for helping artists find meaning in their own images. Critiques can feel intimidating. Sharing work that comes from the heart often brings vulnerability, and it’s never easy to hear… Read More »Finding Meaning Through Image Review
Where does inspiration come from? If the answer were simple, none of us would struggle with creative blocks. I’m no stranger to the moments when everything feels stagnant and nothing new wants to emerge. And then—out of absolutely nowhere—something sparks. That’s exactly what happened this year in Wyoming while teaching at Eaton’s Ranch, where I’ve… Read More »Finding Inspiration in Unexpected Places
Success Secret. Creating beautiful backgrounds for tissue paper images and photo transfers doesn’t have to be complicated—or frustrating. I remember one student telling me: “I’m not an artist. I don’t know how to paint. Show me a way to create backgrounds where I don’t have to imagine it all from scratch.” If you’ve ever felt… Read More »8 Creative and Easy Background Ideas for Photo Encaustics