Creative Journeying

Not JUST an art teacher.

2012-09-14T05:23:00.002-07:00

To us art teachers, art is more than what hangs on a museum wall, it's everywhere. It's the way we interpret, react and respond to the world through creating. Art serves so many purposes, but mainly art shows us what it means to be human. We teach the most important subject in school so I never think to justify it. We teach students what it means to be human, how to express who they are, how to search for who they might become, and how to work with others in the act of expression and exploration. Art class has become the most holistic class in the whole school if you ask me. Mostly because we do have the freedom to explore what interests students. Through that exploration we can teach the core art skills, but our focus lies in higher level thinking skills, not always as easily "testable" as the state would want. I think that's part of the reason we are not state mandated. They don't know what to do with the arts because it doesn't fit into any of the boxes they've created. When they do try to make the arts fit (I've seen some versions of a mastery test) their efforts are poor at best and don't represent what we really teach, how to be human.

Creatively blocked to creatively blossoming

2012-09-06T10:51:00.001-07:00

Are you in a creative slump? Need a kick start to creativity? We've all been in this purgatory for creativity, just waiting, and not even sure how to get started. Here's how I move from creatively blocked to creatively blossoming!

I seldom wait for inspiration, because inspiration seems to come to me when I'm working. It seems that simply starting is all the inspiration that I need, even if that means just doodling. While I work ideas come, in fact so many ideas come to me when my hands are moving that I often have to edit all that inspiration into what it is I feel is the most relevant. I've found that it's usually that nagging thought that keeps reoccurring which I use as inspiration.

I usually only work on one painting at a time & complete it, then move to the next one. I begin with a simple idea that I can elaborate on with many different paintings. Sometimes that simple idea is a question, sometimes it's a statement. No matter if I begin with a statement or a question, my ideas and the images that come to mind always evolve. That first painting, the one that answered the question, or punctuated the statement, is seldom my favorite by the time the series of paintings have been completed. Those evolving ideas always get better and better. Knowing this seems to push me forward, knowing that the next one will have a more developed idea, or a new take on the overriding question. An example of this type of question might be: How can I depict construction/deconstruction? Just simply asking a question seems to catalyze my brain into what I call "solve it" mode. Questions seem to jumpstart my brain to find a solution.

I also know, that when I don't give myself a few parameters to stay within, I often feel overwhelmed and it's harder to begin working. When I give myself a few parameters, I can get out of the hamster wheel of ideas and begin working much quicker. For example, I'll decide how many figures I want in the image, how many objects, what color palette I want to use, what kind of perspective would work best. So if I set the parameter to using only one figure to depict an idea, then the outcome would be completely different than if I'd set the parameter to 2 or 3.

I try not to get to attached to a particular idea or image and instead relax into the realm of possibilities. When I do this I allow my work to evolve and grow naturally. When I'm conscious that my art is growing and evolving, I'm less likely to be blocked by fear of failure and more likely to laugh and enjoy the whole process.

So as you can see, waiting for inspiration (which is the title of the image in this blog), doesn't work for me. I jump right in and begin asking myself questions, sometimes those questions are even as simple as "What can I paint that will inspire me?". I've even made a painting about "having no ideas", I began by asking "what to do next" because that at least was doing something more than not doing anything.
I hope that this blog has helped you understand my creative process, and also given you a couple of ideas to help kick start your own creative process.

When did you know you were an artist?

2012-09-06T09:46:00.001-07:00

I first knew I'd be an artist when I was in the 3rd grade. I had a teacher who saw potential in me, and invited me to TAG art. Tag art was an acronym for "Talented and Gifted", I didn't know what that meant at the time but instead saw it as an opportunity to do something that I loved, and get out of doing math (which has never been my forte). Our first assignment was to draw the following picture, but there was a catch, we had to draw Picasso's line drawing of Sravinsky upside down. It was from that point on that I was fascinated with drawing and painting what I saw, as they were, not like I thought they should be.

Line sketch

2012-05-20T20:24:00.001-07:00

Line sketches are great to help you become familiar with objects and shadow shapes, and identify rhythms of lines and shapes within your composition. Plus they are meant to be quickly rendered, so therefore if you do a line sketch before you begin painting, it will also serve as a warm up exercise. Here is an example of a line sketch.

Hiking the Appalachian Trail

2011-12-12T07:05:00.001-08:00

Last night I must have had a wild hair in an unmentionable location, because I decided that I'd like to Thru-hike the Appalachian Trail. An excitement came over me and I stirred about the idea like a kid around presents at Christmas. What I've come up with so far is that in order to hike the trail I will have to be able to hike with my dog and also be able to stop and paint from time to time. These two things present some obstacles, but I'm sure they are things that can be solved with a little ingenuity. What I could foresee as requiring a little more creative planning is the fact that my dog would somehow have to carry her own food and water. She would have to carry enough food for at least 5-7 days. The second thing would be how to pack painting supplies in such a way that they don't weigh me down, and how to transport wet paintings. I've considered just taking a small pad of watercolor paper and pencils for black and white drawings, or even a small watercolor sketches. Oils seem to be out of the question for a few reasons: their long drying time and they need a lot of extra equipment. I.e. palette, turpentine, linseed oil, the tubes of paint, etc. I would prefer to paint in oil, and because that is my preferred medium, I will continue to brainstorm ways to make that a possibility instead of watercolors.

Handy tools for choosing a composition

2011-11-09T05:19:00.000-08:00

I've decided to show you a few of the tools I work with to find the most pleasing composition. Here are a few pictures of what I use.

This is view catcher is a wonderfully durable tool that I have used though all the elements. It's made of durable plastic and the slider moves easily to which enables you to choose the format and image that you like. I also like that it is grey and has two view holes, these are great for matching colors as well as values.

I'm all about saving a buck or two when I can, and subscribe to the motto "work smarter not harder", so I created this value scale by going to the local hardware store and used a hole punch to create view holes. This helps me match values.

The back of the guerrilla painter composition finder has useful golden section information.

The Guerrilla Painter Composition finder is not as durable since it's made of card stock type paper, but it has a value scale and color compliment chart for easy reference.

Sketch your subject

2011-11-08T03:00:00.000-08:00

One of the best ways to fully understand the forms and nuances of what you will be painting is to do a rough sketch. Start by outlining key shapes and lines, then add 3 to 4 values to describe it. Dark, medium-dark, light grey and lightest or white will be all you need to group values and create enough differences to create subtle and strong contrasts.

Value Sketch

Abigail Howe is a professional artist and art instructor.

Interested in purchasing one of her paintings? Visit her online store.

How to "block in" your painting with light and color.

2011-11-07T16:16:00.000-08:00

"I never succeed in painting scenes, however beautiful, immediately upon returning from them. I must wait for a time to draw a veil over the common details.". -Thomas Cole

To begin painting from life, loosely sketch out the shapes of the interlocking unique areas of color. This is called massing in the shape. This is where you become a translator, you convert the complexity of all the tiny details that you see into a simple single shape. It really doesn't matter what your subject is, it could be a person, a landscape, a still life, or any combination of those three. When painting a landscape, this process requires you to abstract those details, by simplifying. Some of the greatest paintings ever made, regardless of the artist, were able to see beneath the surface of the details, and simplify the underlying structure in a way that makes a fluent translation of the vast variety of details that makes all of life unique, such as the unique colors, shapes, etc.

When you begin, try not to see the objects as simply objects, instead look at them as areas of color, and value that relate to the whole. It is best to begin looking, drawing or painting the largest shapes, then the medium sized shapes, then continuing to work smaller and smaller as you continue. When you do this your painting may not initially look like the specific objects that you are trying to replicate, but as you work from large shapes to smaller shapes, shifting colors, and the chromatic value as you go. You will create a rough but still meaningful translation of form with the various shifts of color and values. The goal is to capture the color of light on the structure of the form, and work toward the specifics. Here's an example: An evergreen's structure is a cone and a cylinder. The cone is the top, where you see all the pine needles, and the cylinder is the structure of the trunk, when you understand this it's easier to see the light as it falls on the cone, then gradually as you paint more specifically then you can paint in the detail of the branches and pine needles.

In the painting shown below, I blocked in the shadow areas first depicting them with bold and dark color. The painting surface was prepared with a reddish orange acrylic ground. In the foreground I let reds of the primed canvas shine through the yellows of the grass. This warmed up the foreground and gives the illusion that it's closer to you than the same yellows used in the grasses closer to the horizon.

This is an example of a color block in. In this painting the colors have been massed, or blocked in. Blocking in a painting is akin to the cliff notes version of a novel. Cliff notes give a organized summary of highly detailed texts in the fewest number of words. Blocking in gives the viewer an organized and brief visual description in the fewest number of paint strokes. (Abigail Howe: Copyrighted Image)

Alley Springs Paintings

2011-11-03T05:58:00.001-07:00

Recently I took a weekend trip to Alley Springs Missouri. I was able to see many great views of the Ozarks and was inspired to paint a few of them. Here are the latest of the paintings from that trip.

"Mill Stream" Oil on Canvas 11"x 14"

"Alley Springs Mill Stream" Oil on Canvas 3.5" x 5"

"Alley Springs Lake and Mill" Oil on Canvas 8' x 10"

Summer Travel Paintings

2011-08-31T10:07:00.000-07:00

2011-08-31T10:06:00.000-07:00

"Cathedral Rock" Oil on Canvas 8"x10" unframed $272.00

"Cathedral Rock" Oil on Canvas 9"x12" $367.20

"Grand Canyon Pipe Creek Vista" Oil on Canvas 9"x12" $367.20

"Three Rivers California" Oil on Canvas 9"x12" $367.20

"Mendocino California" Oil on Canvas 9"x12" $367.20

"Northern California" Oil on Canvas 9"x12" $367.20

"Cannon Beach" Oil on Canvas 9"x12" $367.20

"Astoria, Oregon" Oil on Canvas 9"x12" $367.20

All images are copy-written by Abigail D. Howe

Heading toward the Pacific

2011-06-27T22:21:00.001-07:00

What a great day! I imagined leaving a lot sooner than I actually did, but because I left later two great things happened that wouldn't have happened otherwise. #1. I dodged a teaching Liscense problem and now I know I'll have a job when I come back home. #2. I drove through the flint hills right as the sun was setting, which intensified all the colors and made the shadows long and wonderful. It was an artist's dream.

Pochade and Tripod set up for mobile art making.

Here is the result of the quickly set up art excursion.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Montclair Dr,Salina,United States

Saying goodbye and Gearing up

2011-06-27T00:50:00.000-07:00

If you ever wonder why you have a bad hair day, this picture explains it all.

If you look closely at the reflection it looks like... Michaelangelo's "God" was touching my head.

Relaxing and chatting @ Randy's Pool

Ella trying on her gear

I carry my own gear
My doggie is such an expressive model, it looks like she's smiling in the first picture. The second it looks like she's winking, then finally she looks like the well behaved gal I know she is! I recently heard that dogs have a karmic pact with their human to reflect their human's energy. Now before you get any crazy thoughts, I may have been smiling, but I sure the heck wasn't winking at her. She's her own dog, that's for sure. :) I like her, in spite of her sarcasm. Ha!

"Don't I look *hot Mom?" *wink* *hint*

Having a great time with the gal's before I leave

The only person who's missing in these pictures is Brandi. She must have been gearing up for dancing with me. If we weren't dancing we spent the rest of the night cracking up at one thing or another. In this case, they said I was bobbing up and down to the music while the camera girl kept saying "hold still, hold still, no..seriously hold still!"

Hugs

:-)

Flint the "Organ Player", I assure all of you there were absolutely no inappropriate jokes for his career choice.

Add caption

I repackaged all the food into ziploc bags to save space and organized it into this tub. It's got a hinged lid for easy access to snacks while driving. Technically speaking, it's probably just as dangerous to snack and drive as it is to text and drive, but I'm sure I'll hedge my bets and leave the phone alone for this trip, as for snacks... I'm going to assume its way safer since there's no fines for sneaking snacks on the heartland highways.

Packing the Portable Studio

Oil Painting Supplies

Paints and Pochade Box (notice the thumb hole, it work like a palette handle/thumb hole)

With a panel inserted to show how this works as an easel

Limited palette

This is what I use to carry wet paintings

I decided to bring quite a bit of art supplies so that I would have a variety of choices. Some of which are oil paint, pastels, watercolors, and a variety of drawing media to choose from. Most of the gear that I have, I've purchased a bit at a time and haven't had to purchase a single piece of art equipment for this trip. Just like with the other supplies that I've packed, my art supplies in the below bags are as simplified as I could condense down without sacrificing the benefit of having quality materials and tools on hand. The blue bag/fanny pack is a wearable watercolor studio. (And let me tell you, it's one styling fanny pack! No joke, I think I may start wearing one daily). I got the bag free when I subscribed to an art instruction book club. The Plastic box has extra canvas and miscellaneous supplies. Miscellaneous = tape, scissors, pliers, pochade box, palette knives etc. The gray bag is my dry equipment carrier which holds pastels, and dry papers. The Khaki color tan bag holds the bins of oil mediums and drawing papers.

Art gear takes up more space than my clothes.

The prelimary packing list

2011-06-26T10:04:00.000-07:00

This is the preliminary list, so if you see anything that I may have missed let me know. I will add things as I remember them or have to purchase them on the road so other people who decide to do something like this may use this as a resource.

Toiletries

Soap (castille soap: Great for the environment and 100's of practical uses)
Razor
Towel (super absorbent camp chamois type towel)
Tooth brush and paste
hairbrush
Tweezers
handkerchiefs
personal face and hair products.

Dog Gear

Retractible Leash and regular leash
doggie backpack (She can carry her own water and misc. supplies)
Food
Water
Tennis Ball
Flea and Tick Drops (apply before leaving)

House "To Do's:

Cancel Cable
Close/lock all windows
close all blinds and curtains
AC off/ fans off
Hotwater heater off (no need to heat water that you wont be using)
Unplug all appliances (saves electric bill)
Turn off Ice maker
Coordinate a house plant sitter

Camping gear

Tent
Thermarest Trail Pro mat and 2 Yoga mats (there's a child seat notch on the folded down seat back that needs a bit of padding)

I also decided after the trial trip that the mattress didn't leave for enough headroom for my preference, so I purchased the ThermaRest mat. Which is comfortable and can be compacted for storage.

Coleman Cook stove and Perculator Kettle
Camp chair
Cooking utensils
Aluminum Foil
matches
bucket (for washing clothes and dishes)
scrubber and dish towels (I chose to pack these instead of a sponge because they will dry quicker)
Twin bed sheet
Sleeping bag
first aid kit
multi-tool (has a saw blade, file, can opener, screw drivers, etc.)
hand hammer/axe (for cutting wood and staking tent pegs)
Pot holder
Flashlight

Clothes (I plan to pack light because each outfit can be worn 2x's)

4 tank tops
3 T-Shirts
Keen Hiking shoes and Flip Flops
2 pairs of socks (I don't need them daily, just for hiking purposes and warmth. It gets quite cool on the West coast in the summer)
Jean Shorts (Normally I wouldn't pack this but when I get to Arizona I plan to slide at Slick Rock falls/Canyon)
Sweatshirt/hoodie
Beach Towel (Which will double as a thin blanket for sleeping, picnicking, and beach gear)
One outfit for a nice dinner out (should I decide that I want to do that).

Art and Electronic Gear

Tripod(s)
Pochade Box supplied with paint, Turp., and meduims
Watercolor Kit
Pastels
Watercolor and Drawing Paper
Clipoard for a drawing painting support.
Sissors
Computer
iPhone
Camera
Sync cables

Pantry Box (Food Stuff)

Dry Milk
Quick Oats
Minute Rice
Dehydrated Black Beans
Chicken Bullion
Salt and Pepper
Peanut Butter
Dried Fruit and Nuts
Loose tea and a Tea straw
Whole grain Bread
V8 juice
Applesauce
Honey/Raw sugar
Coffee and re-usable tea bag filters to brew

Misc.

Audiobooks downloaded into iPhone
Music in both computer and iPhone
2 paperback books
1 disc golf disc (maybe 2 if there's room)

Things that I forgot initially, but was thankfully friends have reminded me to bring:

Light - in case matches get wet. I would get wind proof one.
Small tarp - can be used shelter, shade, ground barrier for tent, etc.
Nail clippers
Wet wipes - I always have these in the car and my backpack.
Small bucket to wash in and carry water.
Small sewing kit and super glue.
Cash/travelers checks spread out and not kept together.
Emergency numbers and contacts.
Lester work gloves
Small tool kit with wrenches, screwdrivers etc.
Atlas - RV or trucker one would be my choice.
Rain gear- go with Frogg Toggs. You can pick up a set with jacket and pants for about $50-60.
Tashbags and assorted ziplocks.
Collapsible water container with water spout.
Headlamp - easier to use then a flash light.
2-3 bungee cords.
30ft nylon shock cord (rope). Can be used as clothes line or anything else were a little cord might be needed.
Binoculars to see all the cool things out there.
Swimsuit
Small fire extinguisher - in case you have a fire while cooking.
Duct tape - don't leave home without it.
Collapsible shovel.
Bug spay
Sun glasses
Day pack to carry what ever you might need when out and about.
Extra set of keys and magnetic key holder to hide on frame of car. They also have a key hider that mounts behind you license plate.
OC (pepper spray) - you never know.
Try the Mountain house backpacking meals. I think they are great and they are easy to cook and pack.
You also might check your phone plan to see what type of coverage you will have with the route you are traveling. Also keep in mind the weather conditions for the different parts of the us you will be traveling through.
Vanilla Essential Oil for bug repellant
Sunscreen
chap stick
lotion
long pants
nail clippers

Preparing the car for a month long painting road trip

2011-06-26T08:58:00.000-07:00

It's amazing how much preparation is required for a month long painting trip with my dog. The goal is to simplify and bring only exactly what is needed, yet remain as comfortable as possible.

Preparing the Prius RV


I used tracing paper to make the window covering patterns, then cut them out of black felt.

I chose black felt for a few reasons, but mainly to be as inconspicuous as possible. Safety is my first and foremost concern and I don't want to advertise that I'm camping in my car when I'm out on the road. When the felt window coverings are up it looks like I've tinted my windows and the average passer by can't see into the back. I also chose black because when inside and turn on the lights it makes it more difficult to notice the lights on inside. Black also will help keep the heat out, which both my doggie and I will appreciate.


Divider Curtain separating the back living area from the front driving area.

Storage and bed supports

Food storage

Dog Storage. :)

What's the purpose?

2011-06-24T02:59:00.000-07:00

Some friends have lovingly asked me why I'm taking this trip, and if I'm running from something. No, no, no, I'm running to something. I'm doing this to be inspired, instead of relying on the pettiness of life to inspire the dead end yet, repeating false beliefs and fears of lack. My purpose is to love myself first, so that I can demonstrate that true love is the most fundamental building block of all things worthwhile. My purpose in life is to be extraordinary, and so is yours. There are no other versions of me or you. We are all unique, and this mold can never be remade. I want to find all the ways that I am the extraordinary co-creator of my life. I intend to leave behind the energetic and actual baggage of things that are not in my greatest good or the greatest good for others. Through doing this I intend to prove to myself that less is actually more and prosperity is a consciousness. I'm doing this because I believe these things to be true, but so far for me they have only been small examples of this principle. What happens when you truly live in your faith or in love? What happens when you live BIG? What happens when you stop hiding in your small fear, and come out in BIG truth?
Perhaps the whole world shifts and aligns to your greatest good. I've always been an highly positive person, & I've always been blessed with dumb luck. What if it's really not luck at all, what if it's a karmic wink from the universe saying "You done good kid, keep doing what you are doing".
I do not believe there are any mistakes, everything is perfect and in divine order. I've heard mistakes called "miss takes", which is great because if take 1 didn't work, there's always take 2. Einstein was a great example of persevering beyond miss takes. It took him 100's of experiment miss takes, before he got it right. Now, that's why he's the genius, and I'm not. I try a few times, usually the same way over and over each time then decide it can't be done. I teach my students that they CAN do anything, anything they put their mind to do. If I can't live it, then I have no business teaching it (Airforce basic training lesson from my Training instructor).
I believe that every experience I've ever had has brought me to this place, this "right here, right now" place. Believing this allows me to forgive others with ease, because in any perceived wrong doing, there's a valuable lesson, a catalyst, or something that has helped me move away from it and toward the song of my own heart. I believe that listening to my heart doesn't require some fancy meditation, but it does require slowing down and really listening to what it yearns for most. My heart yearns for me to be a full wonderful amazing expression of the beauty and mystery of that thing behind our thought. I call it God, it's the thing before the nothingness that created everything. It's the builder that constructs in nano particles and macrocosms with the same energetic force that constructed me.
A wobbly faith has gotten me this far, but what could happen if I give that wobble a compass complete with a full range of motion needle to point to magnetic north, without jamming the needle with my finger? I believe through trusting the original artist, the original maker of all, the impossible is possible and anything can be transcended through a simple act of love.
The original creator created all things, why couldn't God and man co-create a better world filled with beauty at the heart of everything. Beauty is an expression of love, and love is a product of creation. Art and any act of creation, is an act of love. I know this every time I'm in my studio painting away. The creative force takes over and nothing else matters besides what is transforming right in front of me. It's a beautiful experience.
No, no, I'm not high, haven't been huffing paint fumes, no Mary J., though I'm certain I must sound like an old hippie. Which by the way is no judgement, I love musky tree huggers, and Dolce and Gabanna Cologne alike.
I had a romantic relationship once, ok maybe twice... ok, ok...the last few were the kind where the only thing we created was a slow and painful destruction of each others truth through believing in our lack. You know... the they don't love me enough, they won't accept me, they don't respect me enough, they lie or are dishonest with me. So my take away was this: Romantic relationships are NOT necessary unless the beauty you create together would be greater than what you can do alone. I'm not talking making babies here, although that is a great example of co-creating something greater than could be done alone.
If the relationship doesn't lift you, if it weakens you, if it limits you, or degrades your spirit then bless it, be thankful for it and walk away from it. If the relationship with yourself limits you, take off the limiting beliefs that are holding you back and challenge your false beliefs by proving they are wrong through living a life that embraces the infinite possibilities of what you are here to become.
My biggest fears are of the dark/the unknown and being alone. Which is exactly why I'm going to push myself outside of my comfort zone and take this trip alone, camping in and out of my car in the dark unknown of night. Sure it scares me, but it also exhilarates me to know that I can do it, to know that fear is just the false belief of the mind. My hero, Bill Broeker, used to always tell me "There's nothing to fear, but fear itself". The Truth is I'm not alone, we are never alone. Sometimes I get lonely, and when I am lonely my conversations with myself get especially creative. The Truth is that the unknown or dark is always happening, even in the light of day. The unknown, or as I like to call it, "the no plan, plan" is often just the thing that enables my natural curiosity, my zest for adventure, and has offered me some of the greatest Joy in life. So if the night gobbles me up in sleeplessness because the hoot owl is hooting above my head and is sounding like a gremlin on approach to my juggular, what's the harm really? The woot owl, won't get me, it's way more afraid of me than I am of it. I'll just sleep more soundly the next night. If I feel lonesome and in need of company, I'll make a new friend. Life is wonderful like that, with every obstacle overcome there is a great gift on the other side. So with that, I sign off for the night ready to prove my fears wrong and tackle an obstacle or two.!

Here's the tenative map... or dream ride :)

2011-06-22T07:23:00.000-07:00

View Larger Map

Will you be anywhere along or near my path? If so let me know, and I will meet you. Journeys are more fun when you have someone to share the experience with.

Your mission and journey, if you choose to accept it?

2011-06-16T11:48:00.000-07:00

We always have the choice to choose our path as we go through life. I am so grateful for having so many choices and I'm grateful to accept this one. While some paths are a little more rugged, some smooth, some playful, some serious, some sad, some complex, some simple, some paths take us directly, and others we have to circle around and round again... One thing is for certain, all roads traveled lead to our greatest good.

As I prepare to embark on my newest journey by making lists, packing, and envisioning what the road ahead may offer, I also acknowledge that some things must be left behind. I'm choosing to simplify so that I can release and let go of "things" and free up the space to allow into my life all that is yet to be. Some of the "things" I'm letting go of are actual objects and other "things" are people because this is a solo journey. I want to thank everyone who has been there to teach me great lessons and help me prepare for this, this is not a goodbye, this is a "until we meet again". I also will be letting go of ideas, and false beliefs. I intend to free up the space in myself and in my life to know the truth of who I am, and who I've come to be.

So even though my journey will be an actual journey westward toward Portland and camping in my Toyota Prius with my Dog, it will also be a spiritual/creative journey for making art and creating the life of my dreams. I'm going to go bold here! I'm going minimalist and packing only the essentials, preparing for the beauty, the amazing, and unexpected wonders of the great American west (like a good girl scout does). and am going to co-create with the infinite potential of my spirit (like a good pioneer does).

In this blog you will read about my preparations, about life on the open road, about art, love, joy and prosperity through activating the creative process, you will find stories of interesting places and people I encounter along the way, learn what it requires to take the road less traveled and how to apply your internal compass as an internal G.P.S. system which gives you precise turn by turn directions. This will be an exciting adventure, prepare to be amazed..

The security of a bird is not in it's nest, it's in it's wings. I'm getting prepared to soar!