2023

  With 2022 coming to a close, I'm thinking about what's coming up for 2023.  2022 involved a lot of contemplation as I felt stuck and then had breakthroughs as an artist.  I'm a perfectionist when it comes to my work so it's never an easy process to look at my own paintings.  But my first priority in 2023, as always, is painting.  I want to go deeper into my own style as an artist and to see what works I can produce directly from nature.
  The next thing on my mind is to prepare for my 3 month artist residency at Claude Monet's estate in Giverny, France.  I was awarded the Munn Fellowship back in 2021 so it's been quite a countdown and has given me ample time to focus on my craft and artistic goals.  I can't even really describe how much this award means to me; I wish I could go back in time and tell my younger self all the things I'm doing now.  And also to gain recognition for my en plein air work has really been amazing.  I'm currently planning some extra projects to do while I'm in France so I can share my experience with others--this includes a book/memoir and possibly a video series so stay tuned for more details..
  This Fellowship means that I need to postpone my final semester at the Florence Academy of Art.  So, I'll be traveling to Florence during the summer of 2024 to finish my Master's Degree.  Being a student again at such a great school has also been a dream come true for me.
  As a teacher, I'm also very glad to continue teaching painting and drawing in person at the Ridgewood Community School.  My last semester was fantastic and I was able to connect and share knowledge with a lot of wonderful people.  I plan to always teach because it's a way for me to continue growing and learning as well.
  I'm also marking my 10th year of blogging since I started this blog back in 2013.  I was just a young pup at the Pennsylvania Academy back then when I decided to make a website and start a blog to document my work.  Since then, I've written about art techniques, materials, art history, teaching, traveling, my philosophies and lots of other topics.  I love writing so this blog has been a sanctuary for me to document my journey.
  In addition to my blogging and private journaling, I've also started to write more poetry.  I started writing poetry when I was a teenager and it's just something I do for myself and I really enjoy it.  I filled a full book of poems in 2022 and I started another longer book that will take up 2023.  Who knows, maybe I'll even try to publish some someday.
  Well, I guess that's a good way to wrap up 2022 and to see what's coming down the road in 2023.  I hope everyone has a very Happy New Year and to stay motivated as another year comes into focus.