The older I get, the more I appreciate the simple things.

Seen here on a sunny February day, our dog goes for a ride and sticks her head out the window.

All I can think is how great it feels to make this happen for her.

Taos, New Mexico holds a special place in my heart. The landscape is mind-boggling. The history is complex, multi-cultural, troubling, caring, and rich in lessons for us all. The people are amazing.

I love, love, love it there.

So I thought to share this photo taken on a quiet snowy morning on the Taos Pueblo. To remind me of this place I love.

It’s been a minute since my last post. Lots happening, of course.

I’m hard at work on my next book. It’s a doozy. So it may take a year or two before it’s ready to share. Hang with me.

In the meantime, I’m strumming this electic guitar when I need a break. So much fun.

My fingers hurt. Wack buzzy sounds in every direction. And the occasional clean progression that rings true, too.

Being a beginner again is the best. It’s slow. It’s clunky and ham-fisted. But the gains are many. And, you know, learning feels good.

Back from three amazing weeks in China.

It was my first trip and I’m excited to visit again.

Truly amazing.

I dug up a digital copy of this pencil drawing from years ago (2005?).

What fun to find old work kickin’ around the corners of the hard drive!

Thinking I should start making time to draw again…  Or get in shape…

Art or fitness? Art or fitness?

Hmmmm…

2018 has been a great year in the garden. Lots of work; lots of delicious food for family and friends.

This past weekend, I gathered the potato, tomato, and squash seen here. They struck me as an elegant suite of colors, so I paused for a quick photo. Right after rinsing, freshly picked vegetables sometimes seem to glow.

A simple life’s alright.

Mango and Fudgy are our closest neighbors. They live in the field at the end of our driveway. They’re awesome.

This morning Mango asked if you can still be an artist if you don’t follow the art world.

I dunno, I said. Not sure it matters.

Well… if you need us we’ll be over here in the shade, Fudgy said. It’s awful hot today.

Helen Day Art Center in Stowe, VT will be showing Reclamation, an exhibition featuring nationally acclaimed, contemporary figurative women artists painting women from their perspective and experience.

Go see it!

Reclamation \ ˌre-klə-ˈmā-shən \

June 15-September 8, 2018

Opening Reception: Friday, June 15, 5pm – 7pm
Public Program: Reclamation \ ˌre-klə-ˈmā-shən \ TALKS, August 4th, 7pm at Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center

Rachel Moore – Director and Curator, Helen Day Art Center
Diane Feissel – Artist, Co-founder of Women Painting Women, and Co-Curator
August Burns – Artist and Co-Curator

Whitefish Review releases our 22nd issue on June 1, 2018.

The Stories We Tell shares art, poetry, and writing from 40+ incredible people, from award-winning authors at the top of their powers through emerging artists being published for the first time. William Kittridge, Annick Smith, Rick Bass, and Jake Tapper are all featured in The Stories We Tell. Cover art is by Jennifer Li.

Copies of Whitefish Review can be purchased online or at brick and mortar booksellers across the United States, including Barnes & Noble.

Whitefish Review is a nationally-acclaimed, non-profit journal publishing the distinctive literature, art, and photography of mountain culture. Author Doug Peacock has called it, “One of the most refreshing journals to hit the literary scene in years.” Learn all about Whitefish Review here.

This website redesign is exciting.

And fun.

And time-consuming.

And exhausting.

I have so many projects to draw from, ten years of images and write-ups in the bank that was my old website design — but all of them are formatted incorrectly for this new layout…

I wonder if I’ll ever get them posted. Or if it’s a better plan to move on and make new news instead…

This is a Funes, the Memorious moment, if there’s ever been one.