Getting back out there

I've been getting back out on the trail taking walks or long hikes these days. It is something I used to love doing and for one reason and another it just stopped happening. The stars are aligning though, and making it super easy for me to carve out the time for me to say yes.
As we all know, the benefits are many. For me it is a reviving connection to nature and the natural harmony that exists at every turn.
It is hard to resist taking endless pictures, thinking I will want to use it as reference for a painting or in my art somehow. I catch the urge to do so, reassuring myself that I can remember what I am taking in better if I stay present and just observe. I do take some just so I can share, and yet I know that the lens wont capture the true poetry, I try.
I am so profoundly moved by the natural harmonies that exist. We are so fortunate.
Here are some paths I've walked this past year. I'm a total amateur, nonetheless I want to share.

Will this inspire my art, no doubt. With deep gratitude of every step I took this past year. xo

Connecticut

My personal journey around the sun -
aka my birthday at exactly the time of my birthday 

New Mexico

New Mexico

New Mexico

New York

Rhode Island

Connecticut

Connecticut

New York

New York

Connecticut

Connecticut 

Connecticut

Quartz vein in a granite ledge

Connecticut 

The New Studio

Once again, it has been longer than I'd like since I've posted, so I decided a little something is better than nothing. 

This past Fall I moved from my studio of 20 years at the Anderson Arts Building in Rochester, NY to a new studio at The Lower Mill building in Honeoye Falls, NY. As of December 19th, I am still not at all settled. This will definitely take me some time. Lots to adjust to and I'm already on my second time of rearranging the space. 

I've already held workshops here and my Open Studio days are up and running and I am getting more comfortable by the day. 

Hopefully, I'll get a few more images that show the space a little better than these, but wanted to give you an idea of where I am now. 

And, I'm already working on my art which is fantastic!!!

Summer Happenings

I can't believe it has been since May that I last posted. Time has really flown by this summer, and a full summer it has been with lots of travel, both for business and personal. In addition to all the travel a wonderful opportunity was presented to me in August and I accepted. Please read the letter I sent out to my mailing list with my exciting news. 

Dear Friends,  

Soon after sending out my August newsletter to you, Denise Heischman, founder of The Mill Art Center and Gallery in Honeoye Falls, contacted me and after several conversations, asked if I would like to become the next director there. It is one of those things that felt like it came out of left field, but in fact, I had been seeking this for a while. I’ll be honest, when I said yes, it was from a purely intuitive place. Every time I let my brain in on the decision, I just found myself getting in my own way, that overly protective inner voice was at an all time high with all the reasons not to. Still, I found myself repeatedly driving to The Mill and imagining all the what ifs. 

I’ve had the whole month of September to let my decision to really sink in and now it is time to begin my move.  I am truly excited to step into this new world and new direction. 

I will dearly miss my studio of 20 years at the Anderson Arts Building. If I could hold onto both, I would. The friends I have made there are very special to me and I will miss bopping down the hall to say hello to them with ease. 

I also know that my new position at The Mill and studio will ultimately be as rich a place for me, and for all of you. I look forward to welcoming you there. I should be all moved in by the end of October, but you are welcome anytime.  

With Love, Kathryn 

For those of you who are the Rochester, NY area, please feel free to contact me for a visit. Those of you who live far away, you are certainly welcome, too. I look forward to hosting artists from around the globe at The Mill, which is located in a small western NY town just minutes from the city of Rochester. My personal joy is the drive to and from my new work. 

Here's to a beautiful place that I considered my second home. 

Painting With Fire...Creative Alchemy at Ghost Ranch

A week ago I returned from teaching my workshop, The Inspired Landscape to nineteen women who attended the Painting with Fire workshop at Ghost Ranch. The workshop was also shared with Lora Murphy who taught portraiture along side me.  

I often ask myself if teaching is the direction I "should" be going in. Am I really suited to lead people in workshops? Am I walking the path I was intended to walk? In other words, am I walking my talk? 

If some how the rug gets pulled from under your feet and you have to pick up the pieces, isn't it time to really make sure that you only pick up the pieces that feel right??? Even if the rug didn't get pulled, doesn't it feel right to ask yourself (over and over again) is this right? does this nourish me? am I aligned with this direction I am heading? 

As I said to the group at Ghost Ranch, I faced a lot of vulnerable feelings. I felt being open and transparent would be honored in their presence. Somewhere within me, there is a voice that keeps pushing and prodding me to step forward, share what I know, and trust that it will be beneficial to another person's growth. Courage is my world for 2018 and it seems to be serving me well. During the workshop, I tuned into myself many times, asking all the questions again. I can tell you, that I felt true joy being in the midst of these women. I felt deeply connected to myself and to them and their process. Sharing what I know seems effortless. Being in the midst of creativity feels amazing. 

I know I will continue to asks these questions of myself, have self doubt, wonder if this is the right path, but I also know that I have the courage to find out and course correct if need be. 

To all the wonderful women who were on this trip with me, my eternal thanks for being such an open, creative, and supportive group of tremendously talented and gifted people. You are a gift in my life. Your ability to create wonderful art in the midst of the unfamiliar, the pioneering spirits that came forth within each of you, the sharing of community, bonding at lightening speed with new friends and deepening relations was profound.  I thank you for your courage. 

Please enjoy examples of art that was created in The Inspired Landscape portion of Painting with Fire at the amazing Ghost Ranch. The instruction was to let the surroundings find itself in their unique vision. This could be interpreted as an outer landscape as well as an internal landscape.