What my friends are teaching me about art

They’re sharing beautiful pictures of deer and roadrunners in backyards. Sunsets from porches and wildflowers on the side of the trail. My sweet friends send them with little notes like "saw this and thought of you." I save them all!

I've realized that my friendships and my art making are more connected than I ever understood. When I'm in the studio, I feel my girlfriends' energy around me. Their encouragement, their stories, their words of wisdom. The hikes we take through the forest that calm my nervous system and clear my head. All of it inspires my art.

And somehow, without meaning to, I think maybe my art has changed the way they see things too? They're noticing beautiful things in nature. Maybe they always did, but now they're stopping to capture it and share it. Either way, it feels like a gift going both ways.

I think that's what art does. It takes us out of our heads and into our hearts for just a little bit. A tiny vacation from the noise.

When these texts pop up randomly during my busy days I feel the love and it makes me happy. I love scrolling through them when I'm getting excited about starting a new piece.

What are you sharing with your lovelies? Recipes, patterns, potholders (you know who you are!), new hiking trails?

Happy new year to my beautiful community of friends, followers, collectors and inspirers! Here's to sharing our joy with those we love.

XOXO

Ruth