Some things I've been thinking about recently: It's hitting me really hard recently how important it is for me to paint and draw from life and create work just for me.  It's probably the most important thing for me to do.  The other thing I've been thinking a lot about recently is focusing intensely on my teaching.  I was just given an incredible teaching opportunity and I want to do the best possible job I can.  I don't want any extraneous things and I need some things to be just for me.
  I'm also reading some books (The Power of Now, Eckhart Tolle and Power Vs. Force by Dr. David R. Hawkins) that are making me think about my own perceptions.  It's all just stuff that I'm going through and I need to do it on my own and with those I love and who love me.  I feel at a crucial point in my journey.  I'll always be sharing some thoughts on this blog but I'll mostly be focusing on myself.

  I'm very happy to announce that I'll be teaching one section of Art 101 at Bergen Community College for the Fall 2019 semester.  I first taught there from 2015 to 2018 and I'm very proud to be a part of Bergen again.
​contact me at esantoli@bergen.edu

  I've been painting a lot from life and every time I do, I realize how important it is to do so.  I had a correspondence some time ago with the portrait painter, Everett Raymond Kinstler, and he urged me to always paint from life (ERK is a wonderful man and I'm truly appreciative all of his kind words and encouragement).  At the time, I had been working from photos for commissions and my work was lacking a lot of vitality, it felt wooden and stiff.  There's a magic quality to work that's done from life and I'll only be working from life from here on out.  
  To give a quick update about Novus Atelier, I'm very excited to begin classes on June 24th.  I'm currently gathering supplies for still life paintings, easels and getting some work ready to bring over to the space.    I'm also very proud to say that our atelier is going to be a community partner with Patch.com (a community news site).  It's very cool to see my hard work paying off.
  Stay tuned for more art and more updates!

  I'm so excited to announce that I found a great option for a space for Novus Atelier!  I thought I had a place set, had some setbacks BUT now I've got a really solid option.  I'm still going to look at one more place in Ridgewood on Thursday, but it's really nice to know that I have a strong place set.  Once I make a final decision then I'll update the website and create an official announcement.  Really exciting stuff for this summer!