This morning was dedicated to online research of art communities in Anne Arundel County (AAC), MD. I came across a plethora of information, recommendations, resources, and opportunities that can only be attributed to the AAC and MD peoples love of the arts.

Now that we are more settled in our new home, I'm looking for opportunities to become more involved, as well as expand my art offerings through prints, exhibitions, events, and shops.

The Annapolis Arts District and the Annapolis Arts Alliance provided so many helpful resources, leading me to Wimsey Cove to explore digital art scanning, framing options, and fine art printing options. I snapped this photo during the measurement process. Owen was a great help and answered every question in detail and more!

Stay tuned for more updates.

xx
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Creating this space was incredibly easy. After hatching the idea to digitally showcase my work in more than just a scrolling gallery page, a simple Google search and follow-on research led me to ArtSteps. This site is an incredible interface that offers templated spaces or a building and design option to customize your space.

The shop is closed as I focus all of my energies into preparing the Just Beyond collection. The shop will re-open on September 4th for The Collectors community only and September 6th for the public. If you would like to be added to the invitation-only private viewing of the latest collection, join The Collector community.

I have always had an interest what lies behind windows: who lives there? why do they put certain belongings on display? what does this say about them? what do they hope it says? why do some people leave curtains open all night and others leave them closed all day?

My fascination started as a photography project in Charleston, SC. The primary focus was nighttime as the homes façade looked so different with various rooms lit. The project never took off as I really didn't want to walk the fine line between artist and creeper. But my fascination has remained. I've moved to sketches and, more recently, paintings. This sketch is from a trip to Honolulu, Hawai'i. A huge sky-rise hotel was situated across from our balcony and each morning and each evening I would study the life that was on display or wonder about the life that was hidden.

My latest IGTV Monday featured the first painted window – check it out. This was a window from a Georgian home in Bath, UK. It had the loveliest front garden, full of color and life. And my children's shoes on the seat matched the palette.

Yesterday I took my children to Nene Park visitor centre where we each bought a drink: two apple juices and a coffee. As the girls played, I sketched the juice and coffee and maybe found my representational shapes: Rectangle and circle.

This morning at the coffee shop, following a call with a dear friend, I explored these shapes briefly. How does a female's body change throughout pregnancy? What shapes is she comprised of? What does it mean when one shape is forced into another shape, only to birth yet another shape? Sketches below.

I first learned of Louise Bourgeois in the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Gardens in Washington, DC. This was in our pre-kids era and we used to go for jazz and sangria on hot summer nights, dipping our toes in the pond. Wandering through the gardens, my intense fear of spiders kept me from one of the most fascinating interpretations of the "mother". It wasn't until I visited the Bilbao Guggenheim that I really felt a connection with these sculptures (still couldn't touch them though) and the artist Louise Bourgeois.

​Quietly exploring her exhibition space along, my husbands rocking our sleeping one year-old, I realized some of my negative feelings and experiences toward "Hollywood" motherhood were being validated in an unexpected and pleasing way. Even now, thinking back, I'm not sure I can put the experience into words; I just remember the experience being quiet and loud, and eerie and comforting, simultaneously. To say the very least, it was unforgettable.