ARTIST RESIDENCIES and RETREATS

Santa Fe, New Mexico

My Santa Fe Art Institute Master Residency with sculptor Anne Truitt during 1999 set in place my future travel and love of New Mexico. Since then, my internal compass points south at least twice a year when I hit the road and explore the many beautiful back roads of "the land of enchantment". Careful to not over plan and leave time for what ifs, I visit artist studios, take paints, brushes, canvas and inks in my kit bag. I love paper road maps and mine have been retaped countless times. 

I could go on for days about my fellowship at Ucross. The vistas, wind, snow, sky full of stars and the total lunar eclipse. But wait a minute, the huge studio, camaraderie between the other artists and delivered lunches was second to none. 

I spent a wonderful spring month in Wyoming driving the state, watching the endless stream of trains, hiking in the mountains, and attending my first hootenanny at the famous Occidental Hotel in downtown Buffalo. Painting almost every day and then continuing after dinner into the late nights was total bliss. 

Iceland first captured my heart in 2016 during my first month's residency with SIM Reykjavik where I lived and worked at Korpulfsstadir, (or K-puff as my flat mates referred to it). My second and third residencies during the months of February and April several years apart were spent living and working at the Hafnarborg Museum of Culture and Art located in Hafnarfjordur.

Most recently, my fourth artist residency was spent in West Iceland. I spent my days and evenings painting in Hvitahus, road trips exploring sea cliffs where migrating birds filled with skies, hiking volcanic lava fields, and meeting friendly locals, their dogs and sheep in Hellissandur.

After six visits I am bound to return to keep discovering new roads to glaciers, cliffs, and open lava fields. 

My travels through Ireland and Northern Ireland began with a train ride from Dublin to Ballycastle. It then included a print workshop at the Ballinglen Art Foundation located in the lively little village of Ballycastle. Navigating by short bus just inches away from spray-painted free range sheep on the surrounding villages two lane roads is not for the faint of heart. 

Without any driving instruction provided I was handed the keys to a rental car at the Ireland West airport.  Away I drove hugging the middle line. This was followed by road trips through County Mayo, the Wild Atlantic Way, Belfast, The Giants Causeway, breathtaking glens with rushing rivers, and finally returning to Dublin for additional shenanigans and sites. The paintings and prints which I made since returning from this lovely autumn trip have since found homes with many private collectors.

What is there left to tell you about the Cote d'Azur? I was inspired or perhaps over inspired by the views of the Mediterranean Sea, French culture and food from the day I landed. The surrounding hill villages towering behind the cities of Nice, Cannes, and Antibes are jaw droppingly beautiful.

My time at La Napoule-Plage Chateau was fantastic.  I met many talented artists during the art retreat. The Chateau was full of antique sculptures, paintings, lush gardens, and of course, modern art to complete the package. 

Later in the month I spent time exploring in Provence visiting bustling Wednesday and Saturday markets.  Staying in the Luberon region was the perfect setting for more exploration. I was deeply inspired by the Hills of Luberon so much as to return home to paint a 60" x 192" encaustic and mixed media abstracted landscape in my studio titled by the same name.