I like a good stroll through town. And I like it even more when that stroll is in Frederick! What a cute Maryland town? Have you been? If not, head that way as you will find historic streets lined up with locally-owned shops of all kinds. Yummy food at restaurants, trees lining the streets, colorful spires of churches. One of these small shops is called The Muse and it now carries my line of scarves called "Frederick Lovin'"!

Take a look below at these beauties that honor the beauty of this town. I walked through the streets on a sunny days not too long ago and snapped a lot of photos. Here we go with a selection of three: church spires, house windows, and town skyline. Yes, I did go to the top of a parking garage to get a great view and capture it for one of my unique textiles. 

If you love Frederick or if you have never been - it really doesn't matter - stop by The Muse and check out an amazing selection of handmade gifts at this store. And take a look at my RADOST scarves to see if you can find where exactly I snapped photos that made it into the patterns of these scarves. Enjoy!

As teaching artist, I am intrigued with the opportunities within a classroom: the potential to find out what's on the inside and how one can express creatively with color. My favorite classes are watercolor studies. I teach at a variety of setting, one of which are independent living communities. My students are in their 80s and 90s; some of them have never held a brush in their hand. Yet, they have a blast! They play around with colors, mix them up, and create such distinct art pieces. So, in this week's Monday Dose of RADOST, I wish for you to keep learning and to try new things. Enjoy your day!

I love color. Yet, sometimes it's just so nice to see things in black and white ... I snapped this photo of electric lines with air plants living on them in Granada, Nicaragua. And speaking of color, that's all Nicaragua is about. I looked up and saw these adorable lumps of plants and loved the interaction between the lines and the circular shapes. And of course, since it's Friday and thus Textile of the Week day, I turned my picture into textile patterns! Enjoy!

Art is funny. Yes, sometimes it is actually hilarious. And sometimes, it's funny how it evolves and what happens with it. I took a class not too long ago: watercolor on yupo, which is a synthetic paper. It's an exciting surface for watercolor and Alexandra Sherman, the instructor in my class, has worked with it for years. 

So, I am sitting in class creating this abstract scene, mixing colors, waiting for the watercolor to dry. Alexandra encourages me to test out a variety of techniques and not just stick to what I often do with watercolors. So, I start creating shapes in my piece ... and loving the process! What started as a play of color ended up being a scene with a storm approaching a meadow, with a few trees bending in the wind. Interesting, the moment captured in my art work reminds me of a trip to Kenya I took several years ago. While watching the horizon and admiring the beautiful animals strolling by, a powerful storm came through quickly bringing in wind and rain and then being gone in a minute or two. 

I finished my piece almost surprised about how my abstract actually captured a scene I have experienced a few years back. I just love this about art: the potential for memories and new creations; the potential to bring in experiences and turn them into something new. 

I am excited to share that my "Storm on the Horizon" is on display until March 11, 2018, at the VisArts in Rockville, MD. It got juried into the annual Student Exhibition.  

I hope you can stop by this fun art show and take a look at the painting. All artworks are for sale. I truly enjoyed creating this colorful scene and it's so wonderful to be able to share it with all of you. Check out my Facebook page for this event and VisArt's opening times. 

It's a day off for many of us. I am sitting by my computer and preparing for a solo exhibition of my photographs thinking about the opportunities that come our way. I love rust and textures and colors and have a series of photos that explore rust as an artist - as a vehicle to create modern pieces of art. My photos will be on view at The Muse in Frederick, Maryland, during the month of March 2018. This show is an opportunity I did not expect to come my way; it's a lovely experience to have. So, on this Monday off, I wish you a day full of lovely experiences you may have not expected. Enjoy!

I just finished a class at a local art center. I love watercolor and this class explored this medium on a new type of paper called yupo. Yupo is actually not paper; it's completely synthetic and the paint sits on top of it. The teacher, Alexandra Sherman, is an amazing artist and guided us through the process of creating incredibly colorful and interesting works. Below is an example. And it would not be me if I didn't take this piece and turn it into textile patterns! Don't these look like kaleidoscope creations? 

Valentine's Day is all about love ... for our family members, friends, partners ... Yet, I like to think of it as a good day to remind ourselves of love we need to have our ourselves. Kindness and care toward ourselves is an important basis for the love we can share with the world.

I am a big believer in the power of our thoughts and intentions. And of course, this reflects in my textile design work. I use original artwork to tell stories in my fabrics so that when you bring them to your home or closet, you have a constant reminder of joy and goodness. It's no surprise than that I have a collection of scarves called "Note to Self".

​Take a look below at these colorful creations that all use sound waves of powerful statements to bring insight and empowerment into our days. Once these scarves around your neck, let the message sink in and go about your day with your head high and your heart open. Plus, you will be fashionable too! Who can say no to that? ​

So, happy Valentine's Day to you! Take care of yourself and surround yourself with reminders of the beauty you hold within. Enjoy your day!

Happy Monday! Today's dose of joy comes to you from Nicaragua. I spent a lovely week exploring this striking country. While there, we had a full moon. At dinner, as I looked up, the moon peeked around a tree and lit up our table. It was a lovely moment. Hence, this week, I wish for you to have many moments of looking up and seeing magical things!

I enjoy scribbling random shapes in a thin black pen on a piece of paper. It's calming and a fun way to explore the power of a simple line. In the example below, I colored my lines in with a touch of watercolor: a few shades of blue added much interest. And then, of course, I played around creating several textile patterns. And what a small sketch can do! Look at the lovely variety in the prints! Which one is your favorite? Why? Let me know!

The photos of these art pieces do not do them justice. Hop over to Silver Spring and stroll through the Gallery to admire these intricate designs in person. Many of them are for sale so you may end up with a unique piece for your home. I had such a fun time meeting the artists and can't wait to see where their creative journey takes them next!
 

Betty Mae Kramer Gallery and Music Room
Silver Spring Civic Building
One Veterans Place, Silver Spring, MD 20910
Monday – Friday from 10 AM – 6 PM ​

I am looking out the window. The sun is shining but it's cold and there are no leaves on the trees. Yesterday, I was sifting through a few photos and came across this brightly colored tree from a few years ago. Isn't it amazing to enjoy the seasons? Nature has such an incredible way to change, to regenerate, to take a break. Hence, this week I wish you may find moments of calm giving yourself a change to renew your own energy. 

The word RADOST is the Czech word for JOY. Every Monday I share with you a photo and a thought or two to bring joy into your week. Check back as those Mondays just keep coming up and up ... ​